Analysis
Graham’s strip of Manning seals Florida’s comeback at Texas
The Gators erased a 17–3 deficit, ran 31 more plays than Texas and held on for a 27–24 win.
Texas got the ball at its own 46 with 2:32 remaining, down three points. Two plays later, Myles Graham knocked it out of Arch Manning’s hands. Florida recovered with 1:58 left to finish off a 27–24 comeback win over No. 7 Texas.
The strip was Florida’s fifth sack. The Gators had spent much of the second half keeping Manning off the field, with Tramell Jones Jr. throwing two touchdown passes to Lacota Dippre.
Florida ran 81 plays to Texas’ 50 and held the ball for 38:11. The Gators averaged only 3.9 yards per play, but they converted eight of 19 third downs and both of their fourth-down attempts. Texas converted two of ten third downs and failed on two of its three fourth-down tries.
A fast Texas start, helped by Ryan Niblett’s punt-return touchdown, had put Florida two touchdowns behind. Jones found Dippre with 18 seconds left in the first half to cut the lead to 17–10. The Gators then opened the second half with a 15-play, 69-yard drive that consumed 8:03. Another Jones-to-Dippre touchdown tied it.
Texas went three-and-out on both of its third-quarter possessions. Florida followed the tying touchdown with another long drive, this one covering 57 yards in 14 plays. Patrick Durkin’s field goal put the Gators ahead 20–17 with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter.
After Florida stopped Texas on fourth down, Jadan Baugh scored on an 11-yard run with 6:22 remaining. That made it 27–17. Manning answered with a long completion to Emmett Mosley V, then a touchdown pass to Cam Coleman with 4:21 left. A Florida punt gave Texas one last opportunity before Graham’s strip ended it.
Jones finished 22 of 35 for 155 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Baugh carried 25 times for 91 yards. The Gators scored on all four of their red-zone possessions and did not turn the ball over.
