Florida is trending toward starting quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. against Texas on Saturday, with Aaron Philo working back from a shoulder injury. Philo hurt the shoulder in last weekend's 38-19 loss to South Carolina. On3 reported that Florida is expected to start Jones. CBS Sports' Austin Nivison and Yahoo Sports both described the Gators as trending that way.
The most detailed account comes from Burnt Orange Nation's Wescott Eberts, who cites a Friday report from ESPN. Philo was listed as questionable on Thursday and was expected to be a game-time decision, but ESPN now has him trending toward sitting out. If he can't go, Jones would get his first start. Yahoo's summaries call Jones a freshman, and one calls this a desperate upset bid. None of the feeds we have gives a timeline for Philo's return beyond Saturday's game-time call, so the decision isn't final.
Philo's season shows what Florida would be giving up. He has thrown for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns on 105-of-149 passing, with three interceptions. His best day was the opener against FAU: 275 yards and three touchdowns. He has been steady since, with between 196 and 242 yards in each of the next five games. Against South Carolina he went 21-of-28 for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also fumbled twice and lost one, which accounts for one of his two lost fumbles this season. Our archive has no passing line for Jones in 2026, so how he handles a start is unknown.
The timing is hard for Florida. The Gators are 4-2 and 2-2 in the SEC, eighth in the conference, and have lost two straight. They lost 45-17 at Missouri on Oct. 3 and then 38-19 to South Carolina, after beating Ole Miss 52-28 on Sept. 26. Yahoo says playoff hopes are "on life support." ClutchPoints, via Yahoo, frames the game as a chance to get back in the win column.
Texas is 4-1 and 1-1 in the SEC, ninth in the conference, and comes in on a one-game skid. That skid is a 24-24 draw at Oklahoma on Oct. 10. Before that the Longhorns won 20-17 at Tennessee and 30-6 over UTSA. Yahoo calls Texas's defense elite, and the Longhorns are ranked No. 7 per ClutchPoints. A first-time starter would be facing that defense on the road in Austin.
| FUM | LOST | REC |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 0 |
Florida's starter will likely be settled only at game time, when the Gators visit Texas on Saturday, Oct. 17.
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