The Florida Gators fell to the South Florida Bulls by a score of 18-16 in a major upset loss on Saturday, already making Florida’s 55-0 win over Long Island University to begin the season a distant memory.
But it gets worse. Not only did the Gators lose to South Florida, but they also owe the Bulls money for the trip to Gainesville.
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“As part of an agreement between the schools, Florida owes South Florida $500,000 for making the trip to Gainesville for Saturday’s game, according to a game contract obtained by the USA TODAY Sports Network,” reported Craig Meyer of USA TODAY.
It marked the final game of a three-game series between the two in-state schools that began in 2021. They also met in 2022, with the home team paying the visiting squad $250,000 for those first couple of affairs.
But this time, the cost was double, and Florida’s top-25 ranking is sure to tumble along with the half a million that will now be departing its bank account.
The Gators entered the game ranked 13th in the nation and appeared primed to make a run in the loaded SEC, but things have obviously taken a tumultuous turn for Billy Napier’s group.
Now, Napier is surely back on the hot seat, and things won’t be getting any easier. In fact, Florida has an absolutely brutal stretch featuring four straight matchups against currently-ranked opponents starting with No. 3 LSU next Saturday and concluding against No. 19 Texas A&M on Oct. 11.
Oh, and three of those four contests are on the road.
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To make matters even worse, the Gators will then face four more ranked teams after that gauntlet, with Mississippi State and Kentucky serving as the only reprieves.
Florida went 8-5 last year and won its first bowl game since the 2019-20 campaign. The Gators posted three straight losing seasons prior to 2024.
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