Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian lamented last week the Longhorns>'< (4-1, 1-1 SEC) "missed opportunities," on special teams through the first five games of 2026. Saturday brought a turned tide in the second quarter against the Florida Gators.
Longhorns punt returner Ryan Niblett scored his first touchdown of the season Saturday on a 63-yard punt return. Niblett caught a punt from Florida senior Alec Clark at the Texas 36-yard line with 11 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter, and he shook past the first Gators' defender. Niblett veered toward midfield from the left sideline, sprinting past a collection of Florida players as he neared the right sideline, and he crossed the end zone to give Texas a 17-3 lead.
Ryan Niblett punt-return TD for the Horns🔥 📺 ABC x @SEC https://t.co/AyWG45m63S
- CFP (@CFBPlayoff) October 17, 2026
Niblett's score Saturday ended a season-long drought for the 2025 All-American. Niblett averaged an SEC-best 22.7 yards per punt return last season, and he scored punt-return touchdowns in wins over Oklahoma and Mississippi State. But he had been shut out of the end zone through his first five games of 2026, and he entered Saturday averaging 8.6 yards per punt return. Niblett's drought is now over after Saturday's sprint for a score.
Ryan Niblett punt-return TD for the Horns🔥 📺 ABC x @SEC https://t.co/AyWG45m63S
- CFP (@CFBPlayoff) October 17, 2026
Niblett's touchdown is the difference on the scoreboard as of halftime Saturday. Texas sprinted to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but will exit its locker room with a 17-10 lead after a touchdown pass from Florida quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. with 2:26 remaining in the first half.
The Longhorns enter Saturday hoping to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since 2021, Steve Sarkisian's first year in Austin. Texas lost to Florida 29-21 last year in Gainesville, but defeated the Gators 49-17 in Austin in 2024.
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This article originally published at Watch: Ryan Niblett finally finds end zone vs Florida to end return TD drought.