USF Stuns No. 13 Florida as Gator Ejected for Spitting
It was one of those college football nights that people are going to be talking about for a long time. The Florida Gators, ranked No. 13 in the country, were stunned on their own field in Gainesville by South Florida, who walked away with an 18–16 upset victory. But what really turned the spotlight wasn’t just the game itself, but an ugly moment late in the fourth quarter that changed everything.
With just over two minutes left in the game, Florida defensive lineman Brendan Bett was ejected after spitting directly into the facemask of South Florida offensive lineman Cole Skinner. The incident happened right in the middle of the Bulls’ game-winning drive, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Gators. Bett was immediately flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, hit with a 15-yard penalty, and sent to the locker room. That penalty moved the ball closer to scoring range, and just seven plays later, South Florida’s kicker Nico Gramatica drilled a 20-yard field goal to seal the victory.
For South Florida, this wasn’t just any win. The Bulls came into the game as 18.5-point underdogs, yet they managed to pull off their second straight upset in as many weeks. Just last week, they dominated Boise State, a team many expected to compete for a College Football Playoff spot, by a score of 34–7. This time, they took down one of the SEC’s powerhouses in dramatic fashion. Their quarterback, Byrum Brown, led the way with 263 passing yards, one touchdown through the air, and an additional 66 yards on the ground. Eight different receivers got in on the action, making the offense difficult to contain.
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On the other side, Florida had its chances. Quarterback D.J. Lagway threw for 222 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while running back Jadan Baugh added 93 yards on the ground. The Gators even held a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter. But instead of closing out the game, they stalled on back-to-back drives, gave the Bulls another opportunity, and then lost composure with costly penalties—none bigger than Bett’s ejection.
This loss only adds to the mounting pressure on Florida’s head coach, Billy Napier. Coming into the season, many already viewed this as a critical year for him to prove the program was heading in the right direction. Now, after committing 11 penalties for over 100 yards, losing focus late in the game, and falling victim to South Florida’s confidence and execution, the criticism is sure to get louder.
The spitting incident adds another layer to the story because it wasn’t the only one to make headlines this week. Just a few days earlier, Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter was ejected from an NFL opener for the same kind of behavior. Bett’s actions will be remembered as the defining moment of this game, overshadowing anything else Florida managed to do.
South Florida, meanwhile, is looking like one of the early surprise teams of the season. With back-to-back statement wins, the Bulls are starting to earn national respect and will likely find themselves in the rankings. And with a matchup against Miami coming soon, their season is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing storylines in college football.
In the end, Florida’s collapse and Bett’s costly mistake became the opening South Florida needed. What was supposed to be a routine win for the Gators turned into a night of celebration for the Bulls, proving once again that in college football, nothing is guaranteed.
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