‘Final,’ ‘It Starts With Me’ — Jon Sumrall Owns Florida’s 38-19 Homecoming Loss to South Carolina as Gators Fans Boo Late First-Half Clock Choices

South Carolina beat No. 16 Florida 38-19 on homecoming Saturday in Gainesville, the second straight lopsided loss for first-year coach Jon Sumrall and a team that spent September climbing into the AP Top 10.

The game included a 45-minute lightning delay at halftime. The Associated Press reported that Sumrall was booed for the first time since taking over, with fans unhappy about his clock management at the end of the first half.

The Gators (4-2, 2-2 SEC) were a week removed from a 45-17 loss at Missouri. South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) ended an eight-game SEC losing streak.

Jon Sumrall Explains Clock Management at End of First Half

“Final,” the Florida football program posted after the Gators’ first loss to South Carolina since 2021 and their second-most lopsided in the series’ 45-game history.

After South Carolina cornerback Vicari Swain intercepted Florida quarterback Aaron Philo late in the first half, Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw a 12-yard touchdown to Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a 17-10 lead. Florida then let the clock run before calling its first timeout with 22 seconds left, and kicker Patrick Durkin missed a 43-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Sumrall said the interception made him want to regroup and see whether Florida could get a first down before pushing the ball. “What we didn’t want to do is have an incomplete pass. They have all their timeouts in the pocket and we could’ve given them a chance to score like with what happened last week in Missouri.”

Earlier in the half, Florida had a first down at the South Carolina 9 and settled for a 21-yard Durkin field goal. Sumrall said the analytics made that decision roughly a 50/50 call and that he wanted the points in what could have been a rain game.

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One fan pointed to a change in approach. “After starting the season fearless, this coaching staff on offense and defense has been very very conservative…”

“Fraudulent Gators fall to 4-2 on the season,” another fan wrote.

Going into the Missouri game, Florida ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring at 53.5 points a game and No. 5 in rushing at 260.0 yards a game. Across the two losses, the Gators averaged 18.0 points and 81.0 rushing yards.

Sellers, meanwhile, completed 23 of 35 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a fifth. Florida turned the ball over three times, and South Carolina had no turnovers.

Sumrall Takes Blame as Injuries and Struggles Mount for Florida

Sumrall took the blame at his postgame news conference. “I’m frustrated with every part of what we did today. It starts with me.”

Another fan argued the gap was talent, not coaching. “I don’t think coaching is the problem. Both losses look like the other teams are lining up and showing that they have better players at every layer.”

Sumrall said South Carolina’s defensive front won the battle at the line of scrimmage for most of the day in both the run and the pass game. Florida ran 38 times for 120 yards, and Philo was sacked three times.

Florida also played without receiver Vernell Brown III, out with a knee injury for a second straight game, and lost backup tailback Duke Clark, who hobbled to the locker room just before halftime.

Tailback Jadan Baugh, who ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns against Ole Miss on Sept. 26, managed 59 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries Saturday. In Pro Football Network’s grading, Baugh’s PFN Impact grade of 87.5 this season ranks eighth of 369 graded and qualified FBS running backs.

Another fan wrote that the Ole Miss win felt like it was a decade ago. “Can’t figure this bunch out. Maybe Sumrall will, eventually.”

“I don’t believe it’s the end of the world,” Florida linebacker Aaron Chiles said of the two losses. Chiles led the Gators with nine tackles.

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South Carolina coach Shane Beamer wished Sumrall and Florida luck and said the Gators have “a really good team.”

Looking Ahead to Florida’s Week 7 Trip to Texas

Florida plays at Texas next Saturday in Week 7. The Longhorns were No. 1 going into this weekend but lost 27-24 to Oklahoma in Dallas and fell to 4-1.

PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gives Florida a 27.9% chance to win in Austin and a 6.2% chance to make the playoff. The meter has that playoff chance rising to 17.3% with a win and falling to 1.9% with a loss.

South Carolina has a bye before hosting Tennessee on Oct. 24. Florida, after its own Week 8 bye, faces Georgia on Oct. 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.