GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators return from a bye week and will host the UCF Knights this weekend. The Gators come into the contest with a 2-2 (1-1 SEC) record while the Knights limp into Gainesville coming off of a 48-21 blowout loss to Colorado at home last weekend.

This will be just the fourth time the two teams have met in program history. The Gators have won both contests in Gainesville, while the Knights won the last meeting in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl.

“This week is a big week. UCF obviously in-state opponent right down the road that’s recently made the jump into the BigXII and P4 football. And they have a very established staff. You know, I think Coach Malzahn just a tremendous amount of respect for his career, all that he’s accomplished as a head coach and offensive coordinator,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said.

“Their identity as a team reflects that. He’s a really good coach. Their rushing attack, the quarterback run game, the three level shots, the complementary plays, really a challenge there for our defense. And I think Ted Roof has been around the block and got tremendous experience as a coordinator, and I think they have good personnel on defense. Special teams, very much a game plan outfit. Can cause some headaches for you. I do think they have an explosive returner, so got a good football team coming into The Swamp on Saturday night. We’re looking forward to competing with these guys.”

How to watch the Florida Gators vs Texas A&M Aggies

Date: Saturday, Oct 4
Time: 7:45 p.m.
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field (88,548), Gainesville, Florida
TV: SEC Network — Channel (Cox): 68 / 1068 [HD]— Channel (DirecTV): 611 [HD]
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: SiriusXM Channel: 374
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On The Call
Play-by-Play: Taylor Zarzour
Analyst: Matt Stinchcomb
Reporter: Tori Petry

Betting lines

Spread: Florida +2.5, UCF -2.5
Over/Under: 62
Moneyline: Florida (+120), UCF (-140)

Game Notes

• Week 6 marks the fourth all-time meeting between Florida and UCF, including the third in Gainesville.
• Florida is 2-0 vs. the Knights in Gainesville with its lone loss in the series (2-1) coming in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl.
• UCF defeated Florida, 29-17, in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
• The all-time series dates back to 1999 in Gainesville, with the Gators posting wins in 1999 (58-27) and 2006 (42-0).
• In two previous games vs. UCF in Gainesville, the Gators have outscored the Knights by a combined score of 100-27.
• The Gators totaled 500-plus yards and 350-plus passing yards in each of the previous-two home meetings with UCF.
• Across the previous-two home meetings, UF outgained UCF, 1,138 yards to 600 yards (+538, +269 YPG).
• Florida and UCF are also scheduled to play on Sept. 14, 2030 in Orlando and Sept. 3, 2033 in Gainesville.
• This is the first meeting between UF HC Billy Napier and UCF HC Gus Malzahn as head coaches.
• Napier and Malzahn have coached on opposing sidelines six times with Napier 4-2 (more on Page 9’s ‘Crossing Paths’).
• In Week 4 at Mississippi State (W, 45-28), Florida’s two-QB tandem of Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway finished a
  combined 26-of-28 (92.8%, UF single-game record) for 277 yards, connecting with 10-different receivers.
• Florida’s 17-point win tied for the team’s largest road victory vs. a Power 5 opponent under Napier (2022 at TAMU).
• The win tied for the third-largest margin of victory by the Gators over a P5 opponent in the Napier era.
• Mertz and Lagway are one of four FBS QB duos with 450-plus passing yards apiece (Texas, W. Kentucky, NC State).
• Led by first-year senior analyst Joe Houston, Florida ranks third in the FBS in net punting (45.54), t-10th in punt
  return defense (0.50), t-17th in kick return average (24.67) and 20th in punt return average (16.67).
• Florida enters Week 6 ranking 18th in the FBS in passer rating (168.4) and 30th in passing offense (278.5).
• C Jake Slaughter grades No. 1 in the FBS in pass blocking (90.3) and No. 7 overall (78.3) out of 281 FBS centers.
• He pairs with Week 4’s SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in T Austin Barber, who became UF’s first OL to score a
  TD in 300 games in the win at Mississippi State, as well as one of two FBS OL to score this season (more on Page 4).
• Florida owns the No. 1 strength of schedule in the country, featuring eight Preseason AP Top-20 opponents.
• Dating back to the 2018 season, Napier ranks 15th in the FBS with 53 total victories. He has more wins than Mario
  Cristobal (52), Mike Norvell (51), Sonny Dykes (50) and Mark Stoops (50) in that time, among others.

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