No. 13 Florida (1-0) at South Florida (0-1), Saturday at 1 p.m. EDT (ABC).
Line: Florida by 28 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Florida leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Florida coach Dan Mullen goes for his 100th career victory, a milestone that only 173 men have reached in college football history. Of those, only 17 accomplished the feat in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Mullen is 99-55 in 13 years as a head coach, the first nine at Mississippi State.
KEY MATCHUP
South Florida’s run defense versus Florida’s ground game. The Gators ran for 400 yards in a 35-14 victory against Florida Atlantic – more than anyone else in the country and the program’s most in any opener. The Bulls, meanwhile, surrendered 293 yards and four touchdowns rushing in a 45-0 loss at North Carolina State.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
South Florida: Andrew Stokes could get plenty of work and might be one of the team’s best players. The 27-year-old Australian punted eight times for 361 yards against the Wolfpack and averaged 45.1 yards. He had a 66-yarder and consistently had so much hang time that N.C. State managed just two returns for 12 yards. The 6-foot-5, 228-pound Stokes spent the previous seven years playing Australian Rules Football.
Florida: Zach Carter, who notched a career-high three sacks and a forced fumble in the opener, expects to have about 40 friends and family on hand for his homecoming. Carter grew up in Tampa, about two hours south of Gainesville, and is looking forward to playing at Raymond James Stadium for the first time. He got oh-so-close to playing a championship game in the NFL stadium as a youngster, but his little league team fell one game shy of making it to the big stage.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Gators and Bulls are meeting for the first time in Tampa. They signed a two-for-one contract that will have USF traveling to Gainesville next season and again in 2025. Their previous matchup came at Florida Field in 2010, with the Gators winning 38-14 at home. … Mullen insists he has no QBs controversy despite backup Anthony Richardson outplaying starter Emory Jones in Week 1. If Richardson does it again, whispers and shouts of change will grow even louder. … Former USF recruiting coordinator/CBs coach Jules Montinar left to join Mullen’s staff after one year in Tampa. … The Bulls are 1-9 under second-year coach Jeff Scott.
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