OGT #5 Florida Gators @ Ole Miss 9/26/2020 Noon

Florida Gators (0-0) at Ole Miss Rebels (0-0)
September 26 // 12 p.m.
Oxford, Miss.Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
ESPN Play-by-Play: Joe TessitoreAnalyst: Greg McElroyReporter: Marty Smith
Channel (Cox): 26 / 726 [HD]Channel (DirecTV): 206 [HD]
Gator IMG Sports NetworkPlay-by-Play: Mick HubertAnalyst: Lee McGriffReporter: Tate CaseyStation Freq.:
Local Affiliates Sirius Channel: 137 / 191 [XM]

 

• GATORS WERE AIRBORNE IN 2019

• After taking over Florida’s offense at the start of the fourth quarter at Kentucky last season, redshirt seniorKyle Traskwas 233 of 349 (66.8%) for 2,901 yards and 24 touchdowns (plus four rushing touchdowns), and turned the Gators into one of the most effective passing teams in the nation.

• UF finished last season ranked 16th nationally in passing offense (300.8 yards per game), which was the first time in nearly two decades it threw the ball that consistently. UF’s highest national finish in passing offense since the start of 2010 was 79th (in 2016), and it finished outside the top 100 in four of the nine seasons from 2010-18.

• Florida last finished in the national top 25 in passing offense in 2004, when it was 14th with 271.1 yards per game.

• UF was also 16th nationally in yards per play (6.5) last year, far and away its best average since 2009 (7.0 per play).

• Florida closed the 2019 season with four consecutive 300-yard passing games, marking its longest streak of 300-yard passing outings since 2001, when it had 300-plus yards in all 12 games.

• Last year was the first time the Gators had eight 300-yard passing games in a season since 2001 (all 12 games), and it was the third time they accomplished the feat since the start of 1997 (UF also had nine 300-yard games in 1998).

• UF threw for 300 yards against five SEC foes, marking the first time it did that since 2001 (eight times).

• Florida threw four touchdown passes in three different games (four apiece at LSU, at South Carolina, vs. Florida State) for the first time since 2001, when it did it in eight games.

• Even with the sudden offensive shift, Florida kept firing on all cylinders, and the Gators have logged 400-plus total yards in 12 of their last 17 games.

 

INFORMATION FLORIDA Head Coach: Dan MullenCareer Record: 90-51 (44-44 SEC) [12th season]Record at UF: 21-5 (11-5 SEC) [3rd season]Record vs. OM: 5-4 (0-0 at UF; 5-4 at MSU)Rankings: 5 (AP) / 6 (Coaches)2019 Record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC (2nd in East)

Ole MissHead Coach: Lane KiffinCareer Record: 61-34 [9th FBS season]Record at OM: DebutRecord vs. UF: 0-1 (lost, 23-13, at Tenn. in 2009)Rankings: Unranked2019 Record: 4-8, 2-6 SEC (6th in West)SERIES

HISTORYOverall: Ole Miss leads, 12-11-1Last Meeting:No. 25 Florida 38, No. 3 Ole Miss 10(Oct. 3, 2015 - Gainesville)Recent History: Seven meetings since start of 1990(UF won four of those seven)In Oxford: Florida leads, 5-2In Gainesville: Ole Miss leads, 6-4-1Neutral: Ole Miss leads, 4-2

NUMBERS OF NOTE 3 National Championships // 8 SEC Championships // 733 All-Time Wins // 3 Heisman Trophy Winners

53 First-Round NFL Draft Picks // 70 First-Team All-Americans // 254 First-Team All-SEC Selections

This will be the first season since 1968 the Gators are scheduled to play 10 regular season games.Saturday will also mark the first time since 1992 UF opens the season against an SEC team (it beat Kentucky, 35-19, in Gainesville that year)

• Florida opens its 10-game SEC season with its first meeting with Ole Miss since 2015, and its first trip to Oxford since 2007.

• Florida begins its season with a true road game for the first time since 1987, when it traveled to No. 10 Miami.

• Florida’s No. 5 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll is its highest ranking since 2012, when it climbed to No. 3.

• The Gators ended the 2019 season at No. 6, their highest final AP Poll ranking since 2009, when they finished No. 3.Dan Mullen is also the first head coach in UF history to post top-10 finishes each of his first two seasons at the helm.

• In addition to consecutive top-10 finishes in the AP Poll for the first time since 2008 and 2009, the Gators are coming off consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins for the first time since 2008 and 2009 (both 13-win campaigns).

• Florida’s 11 wins last season marked its highest total since 2012, and was the eighth 11-win season in school history.THE STORYLINEGame 1#5

 

GENERAL GAMEDAY INFORMATION
As established by the State of Mississippi’s latest executive orders, Ole Miss home football games will be at 25 percent capacity in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to begin the 2020 season. Fans must keep six feet of social distancing between persons not in the same household.

Fans will be required to wear face coverings at all times when possible and particularly upon entering and exiting the stadium and while traveling around the concourse.

Stadium gates will open two hours prior to kickoff, and fans are encouraged to arrive early as lines will be socially distanced. Fans will be required to enter at the gate listed on their ticket, as gate entry corresponds with the section of each ticket.

Per SEC guidelines, signage shall be installed at all gates and ingress/entry points that outlines mandates for all guests to wear face coverings, maintain physical distancing and mandate guests do not enter the stadium if they display any COVID-19 symptoms as outlined by the CDC. Hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout the venue.

To accommodate a touchless operation, all tickets and parking passes will be digital-only, while concessions, Rebel Shop and other points of sale will shift to cashless transactions.

Fans are encouraged not to bring bags to allow for quicker entry into the stadium. However, for those that do, the clear bag policy will be enforced for stadium entry.

TICKETS

• Ole Miss vs. Florida selections begin Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 8 a.m. CT. All selection times are assigned in red priority point order.
• The Alabama and Auburn games ticket selection will begin at the end of September.
• The South Carolina and Mississippi State games ticket selection will begin at the end of October.
• Season Ticket Holder account credit is calculated as the amount paid as of September 1, 2020.
  • Your account credit includes payments made towards tickets, parking, Rebel seat cushions, and priority seating donations.
  • All football donation payment plans are suspended as of Sept. 2. The final payment for football priority seating donations was charged on Sept. 1.

PARKING
Fan parking is included in the ticket price and will be allocated based on the selection process that occurred in June. Season ticket holders that did not previously select a 2020 parking pass will be allocated to the best available lot based on priority. Fans will be allotted one parking pass per game for orders of one-to-five tickets and two parking passes for orders of six-to-eight. Due to limited inventory, additional parking will not be available.

Parking passes will be digital-only and distributed via email. Duplicated digital parking passes will not be accepted, and lots will open three hours prior to kickoff.

Only fans with a parking pass will be permitted on campus on gameday. Off-campus shuttle service will not be operating this season. On-campus ADA shuttles will be available.

RV PARKING
RVs will be limited to parties of 10 people at each parking stall, which will be chalked to designate the area permissible for that group. This limitation will be strictly monitored and enforced by campus authorities.

Assigned RV stalls in the South Lot and Baseball Lot will be accessible by pass holders after 5 p.m. on Fridays of home weekends as they become available. Ole Miss students retain rights to park in both RV lots until that time and will not be asked to move to accommodate an RV prior to that time.

From Thursdays at noon until Fridays at 5 p.m., RVs may be staged at the Whirlpool Lot across from the South Campus Recreation Center on Chucky Mullins Drive. Space is limited in this lot and will be first-come, first-served.

CONCESSIONS
Concessions stands will be at limited capacity and include a reduced menu. New this season, in-seat delivery will be available in both the seating bowl and the premium areas. As introduced last year, beer will continue to be served.

All concessions locations will be cashless with the exception of one stand in the south concourse.

Each fan will be permitted to bring in one sealed bottle of water, as water fountains will not be available.

TAILGATING
As mandated by Mississippi’s executive order, tailgating and other social gatherings on campus will be prohibited on gamedays. Fans attending games should limit their time on campus to the game only and not events before or after the contest. The Grove and Circle may only be used as pedestrian walkways.

In addition, the Walk of Champions will not take place, and FanFest will not be available.

 

• PRESEASON PUB

QUICK FACTSGeneral Information Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Enrollment: 56,567
President Dr. Kent FuchsAthletic Director: Scott Stricklin
Conference: Southeastern (SEC)
Nickname: GatorsColors: Orange (PMS 172) & Blue (PMS 287)
Stadium (Capacity): Steve Spurrier-Florida Fieldat Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)
Surface: GrassPress
Football History All-Time Record: 733-420-40 (114th year)
First Season of Football: 1906
National Championships: 3 (‘96, ‘06, ‘08)
SEC Championships: 8(‘91, ‘93, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘00, ‘06, ‘08)
Bowl Games: 45 appearances (24-21)
2019 Record: 11-2 (6-2, 2nd in SEC East)2020
Coaching Staff Head Coach: Dan MullenDefensive Coordinator: Todd GranthamOffensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks: Brian JohnsonTight Ends: Tim BrewsterSafeties: Ron EnglishWide Receivers: Billy GonzalesCornerbacks: Torrian GrayOffensive Line: John HevesyRunning Backs / Special Teams Coordinator: Greg KnoxLinebackers: Christian RobinsonDefensive Line: David TurnerDirector of Strength & Conditioning: Nick Savage

PRESEASON PUB• The Gators had eight representatives on the Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team: quarterback Kyle Trask(first team), tight end Kyle Pitts(first), linebackerVentrell Miller(second), defensive backs Kaiir Elamand Marco Wilson (second), Kadarius Toney(third all-purpose), defensive linemanZachary Carter(third), and kicker Evan McPherson (third).

• Trask is the first Gators quarterback to be a preseason first-team selection since Tim Tebow in 2009. Below are Trask’s FBS rankings among returning players (regardless of their team’s status for the 2020 season).»Passing Yards Per Game: 18th [245.1 yards per game was 33rd in 2019]»Passer Rating: 10th [156.09 rating was 15th in 2019]»Passing Touchdowns: 15th [25 touchdowns ranked 27th in 2019]

• Pitts was a Coaches and Associated Press All-SEC First Team selection last season; his 54 receptions last year lead all returning FBS tight ends, and his 649 receiving yards last year rank fourth among returners.

• Elam was a 2019 Coaches Freshman All-SEC Team selection; he was one of seven FBS true freshmen with at least three interceptions last year. Of the seven, Elam and LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. were the only two from the SEC.

• Wilson earned a 2017 Coaches Freshman All-SEC Team nod, and recorded three interceptions in his 13 starts as a redshirt sophomore last year (his 2018 season ended midway through the second game).

 

• FEROCIOUS GATORS DEFENSE LOSES FEW TEETH

• Florida ranked fifth nationally last season with 49 sacks -- which led the SEC by a whopping 12 sacks and was the fourth-highest total in program history. Gators responsible for 28.5 of those sacks are back this year.

• Florida also tied for 11th nationally with 102 tackles for loss -- which led the SEC by six. Gators responsible for 58.5 of those TFLs are back, led by Zachary Carter (7.0), Jeremiah Moon(6.5), and James Houston IV (6.0).

• UF’s only other seasons with more than 45 sacks in school history came in 1999 (48), 1997 (53), 1996 (51), 1989 (50) [Note: figures include bowl stats, which the NCAA did not count before 2002].

• Aside from the 2019 Gators, the only Florida teams since 2000 to post at least 100 tackles for loss in a season are the 2015 Gators (101 in 14 games) and the 2010 Gators (100 in 13 games).

• Florida was the only SEC team which featured more than six players with at least 3.0 sacks, a total eight Gators reached. Another four Gators had 2.0 sacks last year. Those returning are: Carter, Mohamoud Diabate- 4.5; Houston IV - 3.5;Ventrell Miller, Moon- 3.0; Khris Bogle - 2.5; Trey Dean III, Tedarrell Slaton- 2.0.

• Florida and N.C. State were the only FBS teams with multiple 8-sack games last season. UF had 10 in its season-opening win over Miami, and capped the regular season with eight in its win over Florida State.

• Takeaways were once again a driving force behind the Gators’ stout defense last year, with the unit amassing 16 interceptions -- tied for the ninth-highest total in the country.

• UF and Florida Atlantic were the only FBS teams featuring four players(Shawn Davis,Elam, Donovan Stiner, Wilson) with at least three interceptions last year. All four Gators are back in 2020.

• Stiner led UF and was tied for second in the SEC with four picks; he entered 2019 with two in 24 career games.

• The Gators, Florida Atlantic, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, and Tennessee were the only FBS teams with at least three interceptions in three games last year (UF had three against Kentucky, Tennessee, and Auburn).

• Florida totaled 23 takeaways last season, which was tied for 20th nationally. And the Gators’ 49 takeaways since the start of 2018, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s first season, rank sixth among all FBS teams.

• UF finished seventh nationally in scoring defense (15.5 points), posted three shutouts for the first time since 1988, and was one of two FBS teams (Oregon being the other) to hold five opponents without an offensive touchdown last season. The 23 offensive touchdowns allowed by the Gators last season were tied for the fourth-lowest total nationally, and the fewest they surrendered since 2012.

• Florida also ranked third nationally in red zone defense (65.7 percent / 23 scores in 35 trips), and opponent red zone touchdown percentage (40 percent / 14 TDs in 35 trips).

• The Gators are not without significant losses on defense, though. Jonathan Greenard led the SEC in both sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (15.5) and was a third-round pick in the NFL Draft. FWAA All-America Second Team defensive back CJ Henderson was the No. 9 overall pick in the NFL Draft, and Jabari Zuniga (3.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss in just six games last season) was a third-round pick

 

1. TRASK RESEMBLED GATORS QUARTERBACKS OF OLD

Trask was one 27 FBS quarterbacks with at least 25 touchdown passes in 2019 -- but Trask’s 354 attempts were tied for the fifth-fewest in that group. Others with 355 or fewer attempts were: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama [33 TDs, 252 att.]; Layne Hatcher, Arkansas State [27 TDs, 310 att.]; Tanner Morgan, Minnesota [30 TDs, 318 att.]; Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma [32 TDs, 340 att.]; Justin Fields, Ohio State [41 TDs, 354 att.].

• Trask ranked 15th nationally in passer rating (156.09), becoming the first Gator to finish inside the top 35 nationally in passer rating since 2009, when Tim Tebow’s 164.2 rating led the nation.

• Trask’s 156.09 passer rating was the ninth-highest rating for a season in school history, and the highest passer rating by a Gator since Tebow’s nation-leading 164.2 in 2009.

• Trask threw for 300-plus yards four times last season, finishing with 363 yards against Vanderbilt, 343 yards against Florida State, 310 yards at then-No. 5 LSU, and 305 yards against No. 24 Virginia in the Orange Bowl.»Trask’s outings of 343 and 363 yards were the highest totals by a Gator since Tim Tebow’s 482 against No. 4 Cincinnati in the 2010 Sugar Bowl. His 363 against Vanderbilt marked the highest total against an SEC team since Rex Grossman’s 375 against Kentucky back on Sept. 28, 2002.»Trask’s 305 yards in the Orange Bowl made him the sixth Gator in history to throw for 300 yards in a bowl game.

• Trask joined Chris Leak (four in 2004) as the only other Gator since the start of 2003 to post four 300-yard passing games in the same season. Trask was also the first Gator since Leak (three in 2004) to have two 300-yard outings against SEC opponents in the same season.»From 2010-18, Gators quarterbacks combined for three 300-yard passing games.

• Since the start of the 2000 season, the only Gators to throw for 300-plus yards against a top-25 team are Trask (at No. 5 LSU; 2019 Orange Bowl), Tebow (2010 Sugar Bowl), and Rex Grossman (nine times from 2001-02).

• Trask threw three touchdowns at No. 5 LSU and followed it up with a career-high four touchdowns at South Carolina. He was the first Gator since Tim Tebow (2008 - at Vanderbilt and Florida State) to throw at least three touchdowns in consecutive road games.

• Trask also became the first Gator since Rex Grossman (Nov. 3-10, 2001) to throw for three-plus touchdowns in consecutive outings against SEC teams.• Trask’s three touchdown passes at No. 5 LSU made him the first Gator since Tebow to throw at least three touchdowns on the road against an AP top-10 team (Tebow threw four Oct. 20, 2007 at No. 8 Kentucky).

• Trask’s 310 yards at LSU were the second-highest total by a Gator in a road game since the start of the 2005 season. He also posted the fourth and fifth 300-yard passing games on the road or at a neutral site since 2005.»Tim Tebow - 482 yards vs. No. 4 Cincinnati - 2010 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 2010); Chris Leak - 319 yards at Kentucky (Sept. 24, 2005); Tim Tebow - 304 yards at South Carolina (Nov. 10, 2007)

 

PITTS AMONG THE TOP TIGHT ENDS IN ALL OF FBS
​

Kyle Pitts enters the year as the Gators’ top receiving threat following a breakout season in 2019.

• Pitts became one of nine FBS tight ends since the start of 2015 -- two of which are Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews (2017) and Ole Miss’ Evan Engram (2016) -- with over 50 catches, 625-plus yards, and five touchdowns in a season.

• Only one other Gators tight end posted such a season since 1996, which was a John Mackey Award-winning campaign in 2009 (68 receptions / 850 yards / 5 touchdowns).

• On the season, Pitts had 54 receptions (second-most by a UF tight end since 1996 -- 68 in 2009), 649 receiving yards (second-most by a UF tight end since 1996 -- 850 in 2009), and 5 touchdowns (tied for second-most by a UF tight end in a season since 1996).

• Pitts’ 54 receptions were tied with Antonio Callaway (2016) for the fourth-most by any Gator in a season since the start of 2007 (2009 leader - 68; Percy Harvin, 2007 - 59; Andre Caldwell, 2007 - 56).

• Pitts was one of 10 FBS tight ends with five games of 60-plus receiving yards in 2019; he is one of three Gators tight ends since 1996 with five such games in a career (most is 8; Jordan Reed - 5).

• With his 108-yard outing at LSU, Pitts became just the fourth Gators tight end since 1996 with a 100-yard game (the previous three combined for five 100-yard outings).

• Pitts entered 2019 with three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in his career.

 

BIG HOLES TO FILL ON OFFENSE​

• UF lost 173 career starts from last year’s offensive personnel, mostly from its veteran receiving corps.

• Florida’s deep stable of pass catchers last season was led by four senior receivers -- Tyrie Cleveland, Josh Hammond, Van Jefferson, Freddie Swain. Those four combined for 2,006 total yards, 17 total touchdowns, and 139 of the team’s 317 receptions last year (43.8 percent). Three of the four made 53-man NFL rosters -- Cleveland (Denver Broncos), Jefferson (Los Angeles Rams), and Swain (Seattle Seahawks).

• Swain’s team-leading seven touchdowns tied Demarcus Robinson (2014) for the highest single-season total since Riley Cooper had nine touchdown receptions in 2009.

• Lamical Perine became one of the nation’s top dual-threat backs as a senior last season, as he finished with 938 scrimmage yards (676 rushing, 262 receiving) and 11 total touchdowns (six rushing, five receiving).

• Perine and Washington State’s Max Borghi were the only FBS backs to finish 2019 with 40-plus catches, 125-plus carries, five rushing AND receiving touchdowns, 675-plus rushing yards, and 250-plus receiving yards.

• Perine was one of six FBS running backs with at least five touchdown receptions last season, and he was the first Gators back to catch five touchdowns since fullback James Jones had five in 1982. His 40 receptions last year were tied for sixth among FBS running backs.

• Perine, who was drafted in the fourth round by the New Yorks Jets, finished his career ranked ninth in school history in career rushing and receiving yardage, (3,159 scrimmage yards - 2,485 rushing, 674 receiving).

• Florida had plenty of depth, though, as it was the only FBS team featuring eight pass catchers with 20-plus receptions, 250-plus yards, and a touchdown. Moreover, UF and Washington State were the only two FBS teams with six pass catchers with 25-plus receptions, 325-plus yards, and a touchdown.

• Four Gators -- Jefferson, Perine, Pitts, Swain -- had at least five receiving touchdowns for the first time since 2008 (Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy led that foursome with seven apiece).

• Seven Gators had multiple touchdown receptions in 2019, marking the first time since 2007 that many Gators had at least two touchdown receptions in a season.• Three Gators -- Jefferson, Perine, Pitts -- had 40-plus receptions in a season for the first time since 2001.

• Four Gators -- Trevon Grimes, Jefferson, Pitts, Swain -- had at least 30 receptions, 475 yards and three touchdowns last season. UF had not had multiple Gators with those totals since 2009 (two), and the last time it had four was in 2007 (Andre Caldwell, Percy Harvin, Cornelius Ingram, Louis Murphy).

 

DEEP DIVE ON GATORS’ IMPRESSIVE FLIP OF SCRIPT​

• Florida ranked 83rd in passing offense in 2018, and it was one of five teams in the last three seasons to go from outside the top 70 nationally in passing offense one season, then be in the top 20 nationally the next. »Troy, 2018-19, No. 81 -> No. 9 | Florida, 2018-19, No. 83 -> No. 16 | Alabama, 2017-18, No. 91 -> No. 6 | Old Dominion, 2017-18, No. 112 -> No. 15 | UCF, 2016-17, No. 89 -> No. 10

• Florida is also one of seven teams to be a top 30 rushing team in 2018 and a top 30 passing team in 2019 (rankings below are 2018 passing -> 2019 passing).»Florida (83rd -> 17th)| Wake Forest (65th -> t-23rd) | Florida Atlantic (64th -> 29th) | Memphis (57th -> 17th) | UCF (37th -> 8th) |Clemson (23rd -> t-23rd) |Oklahoma (7th -> 18th)

• The Gators’ 213.2 rushing yards per game in 2018 ranked 27th nationally.

• UF and Iowa were the only 2019 AP Top 25 teams that finished outside the top 80 in rushing offense.

• Florida did break off some big plays on the ground, though, setting a single-season school record with three rushing plays of 75-plus yards.

• There were also four Gators -- Perine, Dameon Pierce, Emory Jones, Trask -- with at least four rushing touchdowns for the first time since 2008, when five Gators had at least that many.

 

ADDITIONAL ACTIVE / HISTORICAL STREAKS​

UF has scored in 398 consecutive games -- which is an NCAA record. The Gators broke Michigan’s record of 365 consecutive games (1984-2014) against LSU on Oct. 7, 2017.

• Since 2008, Florida and Alabama are the only FBS teams that have not lost to a team which finished the season with a losing record. UF is one of four teams since 2013 to stave off such a loss (Alabama, LSU, Michigan)


Most consecutive games scoringRankingSchoolNumberYear
1 Florida 398† 1988–present
2 Michigan365 1984–2014
3 Brigham Young 361 1975–2003
4 TCU 345† 1992–present
5 Virginia Tech 322† 1995–present
6 Air Force 306 1992–2017
7 Georgia 318†1995–present
8 Nebraska 307† 1996–present
9 Boise St 292† 1997–present
10 Tennessee 289 1994–2017
11 Ohio State 286^ 1993–2016
12 Georgia Tech 283 1997–2019
13 Oklahoma 268† 1998–present
13 Texas 282 1980–2004
13 Texas Tech 282†1997–present
16 Washington State 280 1984–2008
17 Washington 271 1981–2004
18 Oregon 267 1985–2007
19 Colorado 242 1988–2008
20 Kansas State2341996–2015


I copied this list, looks like they have UGA wrong. They are either ranked lower than they should or have the number of games wrong.

Air Force should be down a couple

TCU is the team closest as their streak is active, just 53 games behind us.