AUSTIN - An unranked Florida team reeling after back-to-back losses stunned No. 7 Texas 27-24 at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon despite missing its starting quarterback and best wide receiver.
Once more, an anemic Longhorn offense cost it dearly for the program's second consecutive loss and its first two-game losing streak since a six-game skid during Steve Sarkisian's 5-7 season in his first year in 2021. The loss puts the team's playoff hopes, if not bowl ambitions, into desperation mode.
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Texas scored 10 points on its first two series, made just one first down in the first 24-plus minutes of the second half and had two other three-and-outs as the Gators controlled the clock as well as the game.
The Longhorns threatened to make it a game when Arch Manning connected with Emmett Mosley V on a 62-yard pass and a 9-yard touchdown pass to Cam Coleman with 4:21 left. But after a defensive stop, Manning was back to pass and fumbled the ball to Florida with 1:58 to play.
The Gators then ran out the clock to clinch their second win over the Longhorns in as many years.
The Gators went ahead for good 20-17 with 10:40 left to play on Patrick Durkin's 28-yard field goal and tacked on an 11-yard touchdown run by Jadan Baugh as Florida scored for the fourth time in five possessions to silence the crowd of 103,989 and put this Texas season on life support.
After two straight losses to Missouri and South Carolina in which it gave up 83 points, Florida and its 110th-ranked defense rose up and dominated the Longhorns.
Texas, which hosts Ole Miss next Saturday night, falls to 4-2 and 1-2 in SEC play with its second straight loss and is in jeopardy of even falling out of the Top 25 rankings. Florida improves to 5-2.
FLORIDA 27, NO. 1 TEXAS 24
| Florida | 0 | 10 | 7 | 10 | - | 27 |
| Texas | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | - | 24 |
First Quarter
TEX_R.Brown 32 run (Spetic kick), 11:42.
TEX_FG Spetic 38, 6:42.
Second Quarter
FLA_FG Durkin 45, 13:48.
TEX_Niblett 63 punt return (Spetic kick), 11:27.
FLA_Dippre 7 pass from T.Jones (Durkin kick), :18.
Third Quarter
FLA_Dippre 8 pass from T.Jones (Durkin kick), 6:50.
Fourth Quarter
FLA_FG Durkin 28, 10:40.
FLA_Baugh 11 run (Durkin kick), 6:22.
TEX_C.Coleman 9 pass from Manning (Spetic kick), 4:21.
A_103,989.
___
| FLA | TEX | |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 21 | 13 |
| Total Net Yards | 313 | 272 |
| Rushes-yards | 46-158 | 30-99 |
| Passing | 155 | 173 |
| Punt Returns | 1-4 | 2-80 |
| Kickoff Returns | 5-105 | 0-0 |
| Interceptions Ret. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 22-35-0 | 14-20-0 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 1-11 | 5-29 |
| Punts | 6-51.833 | 4-42.25 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 7-55 | 1-15 |
| Time of Possession | 38:10 | 21:42 |
___
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING_Florida, Baugh 25-91, T.Jones 10-41, Montgomery 4-20, Singleton 2-8, Pryor 2-4, (Team) 3-(minus 6). Texas, Smothers 12-52, R.Brown 8-47, Manning 10-0.
PASSING_Florida, T.Jones 22-35-0-155. Texas, Manning 14-20-0-173.
RECEIVING_Florida, Singleton 7-43, Stockton 4-31, Wilson 3-27, Dippre 2-15, Baugh 2-13, Mays 2-13, Montgomery 1-8, Harpring 1-5. Texas, Wingo 5-49, Bishop 3-24, C.Coleman 3-18, Mosley 2-76, Smothers 1-6.
MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.
Florida took control of the game to start the second half, marching 69 yards in 15 plays and burning more than half of the third quarter. The Gators converted a spectacular five third-down plays, including the 8-yard touchdown pass to Lacota Dipree to tie the game at 17-17.
Texas frittered away a two-touchdown lead when Florida put together an impressive scoring drive near the end of the first half. The Gators converted a fourth-and-12 when Texas cornerback Bo Mascoe couldn't contain wide receiver Dallas Wilson on a 17-yard completion.
Quarterback Tramell Jones then broke off a 14-yard gain to the 5, and two plays later ran a bootleg and found tight end Lacota Dipper wide open in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown after the receiver broke free from linebacker Justin Cryer.
The first Gators touchdown of the game narrowed the Longhorns' advantage to 17-10 as Texas' offense again went into the doldrums after a fast start.
Texas bolted out of the gate, wanting the ball after winning the coin toss when it usually defers. The Longhorns scored on both of their first two series after going three-and-out on four of their first five possessions in the loss to Oklahoma.
Going hurry-up, the uptempo offense paid off. Running back Raleek Brown had a 32-yard scoring run around right end, the longest touchdown run of the year. Gianni Spetic followed with a 38-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead, but thereafter the offense stalled.
Texas gained 135 yards on its first two possessions, but managed a paltry 67 yards on its next three series before intermission.
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There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Longhorns stumble again: No. 7 Texas stunned by Florida for second consecutive loss.