Saturday, October 17, 2026 Editions
ENESNEHIFR
The Orbit Post
Everything in your orbit.
Breaking
Norte Fire at 5 Percent Contained as First Evacuation Orders Are Lifted in Orange CountyHezbollah Says Seized Explosives Were Its Own, Meant for Israeli TroopsThree Children and a Teacher Killed in Shooting at Bend, Oregon Elementary SchoolJalen Hurts Out Against Panthers After Blood Clot Moves, Eagles SayNorte Fire at 5 Percent Contained as First Evacuation Orders Are Lifted in Orange CountyHezbollah Says Seized Explosives Were Its Own, Meant for Israeli TroopsThree Children and a Teacher Killed in Shooting at Bend, Oregon Elementary SchoolJalen Hurts Out Against Panthers After Blood Clot Moves, Eagles Say
Trending
Sports

Florida Stun No. 7 Texas 27-24 in Austin as Late Fumble Ends the Comeback

Unranked Florida scored 24 straight points and then held on when Myles Graham forced an Arch Manning fumble with 1:58 left, handing Texas a second straight loss.

By Orbit Post2 min read
Read inENESNEHIFR
Florida Stun No. 7 Texas 27-24 in Austin as Late Fumble Ends the Comeback
Photo: surelyitsjohn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Memorial_Stadium_Pregame.JPG)

Key points

  • Florida beat No. 7 Texas 27-24 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
  • Texas controlled the first half and led 10-0 after the first quarter and 17-3 late in the second.
  • Texas answered with 4:21 left.

Florida beat No. 7 Texas 27-24 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The unranked Gators trailed 17-3 late in the second quarter, scored 24 straight points, and then survived a late Texas rally. The loss is the second in a row for Texas, which fell to unranked Oklahoma a week earlier, and it leaves the Longhorns close to elimination from the Southeastern Conference championship game and in deep trouble in the College Football Playoff race.

24 straight points flip the game

Texas controlled the first half and led 10-0 after the first quarter and 17-3 late in the second. Florida then took the game away. The Gators cut the lead before halftime, tied the score in the third quarter, and moved ahead in the fourth. Running back Jadan Baugh scored midway through the fourth quarter to give Florida a 27-17 lead. Baugh carried 25 times for 91 yards and one touchdown. He had entered the game with 12 touchdowns, tied for the most in the country.

Texas answered with 4:21 left. Arch Manning converted a fourth and 6 with a 62 yard completion and then found Cam Coleman for a touchdown that made it 27-24. Texas got the ball back near midfield with a chance to tie or win. With 1:58 left, linebacker Myles Graham sacked Manning and knocked the ball loose. Florida recovered at the Texas 39, and quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. ran for a first down on a zone read to end the game.

A first time starter outplays Manning

Jones, a redshirt freshman, made his first career start for Florida because Aaron Philo missed the game through injury. He finished 22 of 35 passing for 155 yards and two touchdowns, with no turnovers. Manning finished 14 of 20 for 173 yards and one touchdown, but he had under 100 passing yards until deep into the fourth quarter. The fumble gave Manning the first home defeat of his career as a starting quarterback.

Florida came into the game on a two game losing run after starting the season 4-0, and the Gators had given up 83 points across those two defeats. In Austin they held Texas scoreless in the third quarter and forced the one turnover that decided the finish.

Texas season on the edge

Texas was ranked No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll eight days ago. Two home defeats later, the Longhorns are essentially out of the conference championship game and now need to win every remaining regular season game to stay in the playoff picture, USA Today reported. The hard part of the schedule is still ahead, with ranked opponents Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri and LSU all still to come. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and Manning both face hard questions after an offense with one of the largest budgets in the Power Four produced 24 points at home against an unranked team.

Sources