Florida and No. 9 Texas will meet in a Week 6 SEC showdown in Gainesville on Saturday afternoon, with both teams trying to get a leg up as the 2025 season shifts into October.
It’ll be Arch Manning against DJ Lagway in a high-profile quarterback collision, but what about the running back situation for the 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN? Well, about that running back situation, it could be very dicey for both teams.
First, Florida will have to try to break its 3-game losing streak without Ja’Kobi Jackson, who was listed as out in Wednesday night’s initial SEC availability report. The senior running back is the Gators’ second-leading rusher this season with 98 yards on 27 carries. Jackson was third on the team in rushing last season with 509 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Florida will also be missing redshirt sophomore running back Treyaun Webb, who underwent a surgical procedure early in fall camp to repair a muscle rupture in his right hamstring. His absence for Week 6 is not a surprise.
Texas joins Florida in having severe question marks in its backfield on Saturday. The Longhorns could be without 2 of their top running backs against the Gators, with sophomore running back CJ Baxter listed as doubtful and junior running back Quintrevion Wisner listed as questionable.
So, it looks like depth at running back could be an issue for the Gators and Longhorns in the SEC showcase at The Swamp.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
