The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Florida
No. 9/7 football falls in SEC opener to Florida, 29-21
10.04.2025 | Football
Junior linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. records career-high 14 tackles
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 9/7 Texas Longhorns (3-2) fell to the Florida Gators (2-3), 29-21, in their SEC opener Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback Arch Manning completed 16-of-29 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns while leading the Longhorns in rushing with 37 yards.
Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Wingo led Texas with four receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. In his first game back in action since the season opener at No. 3/2 Ohio State on Aug. 30, junior running back Quintrevion Wisner finished with two receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown while adding eight carries for 11 yards.
Junior linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. set a career-high in tackles with 14 stops. Freshman defensive back Graceson Littleton posted a season-high eight tackles, while junior defensive back Jelani McDonald also added a career-high eight stops. Senior defensive tackle Hero Kanu recorded a career-high six tackles
Florida jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring on a 5-yard run by running back Jadan Baugh and a 34-yard field goal from kicker Trey Smack.
After a forced fumble by linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith, his second of the season, Hill Jr. recovered for the Longhorns and returned it 21 yards to the FLA45. Texas turned the takeaway into seven points when Manning connected with Wisner on a 6-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Gators' lead to 10-7 with 9:55 left in the second quarter. Manning has thrown a touchdown pass in each of his seven career starts.
The Longhorns trailed Florida 19-7 at halftime.
Late in the third quarter, Manning scrambled for 15 yards to the Texas 40-yard line. Two plays later, he found wide receiver Evan Mosley V for 17 yards before capping the drive with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Wingo, cutting the Gators' lead to 22-14 with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter. It was Wingo's third-consecutive game with a touchdown reception.
With 6:43 remaining in the ballgame, Texas senior safety Michael Taaffe intercepted a deep pass from Florida quarterback DJ Lagway at the Texas 26-yard line, halting the Gators' drive and giving the Longhorns possession. Texas' offense stalled on the ensuing drive, leading to a punt back to Florida.
Texas took over with 4:50 remaining in the fourth quarter and quickly moved into the red zone on back-to-back deep completions from Manning. He first connected with freshman wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon for 26 yards to the Florida 43 and then found wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. for 42 yards to the 1-yard line. Wisner finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, trimming Florida's lead to 29-21 with 3:20 left in the game.
With 54 seconds remaining, Texas took over after forcing a Florida punt. On the first play of the drive, Manning's helmet came off, forcing him to sit out for one play. Back-up senior quarterback Matthew Caldwell entered and, with 31 seconds left, connected with Wingo for a 26-yard gain to the Texas 45. A face mask penalty on Florida added 15 yards to the end of the play, advancing the ball to the Gators' 40-yard line.
In the final seconds, Manning was sacked for a 2-yard loss at the Florida 42-yard line. On the next play, he spiked the ball to stop the clock, but time expired after official review, sealing the Gators' 29-21 win.
Up next, the Longhorns travel to Dallas, Texas, to face No. 5/8 Oklahoma in the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
