GAINESVILLE — A sold-out Swamp is waiting to harass, humble, deflate and defeat star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
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Easier said than done.
Ole Miss’ unflappable superstar isn’t easily rattled.
Florida’s home field, however, has a history of turning exceptional quarterbacks into ordinary ones — and carrying the Gators to victory.
Not every star QB comes unglued in Gainesville. Cam Ward led Miami to a 41-17 rout during the 2024 opener. Alabama’s Bryce Young carried the Crimson Tide past Florida in 2021. Each went on to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
Chambliss aims to join them while avoiding a long list of talented signal callers who fell apart in one of the sport’s most-hostile environments.
Over the past decade, that list includes Texas’ Arch Manning in 2025, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart in 2024, Auburn’s Bo Nix in 2019, LSU’s Joe Burrow in 2018 and Missouri’s Drew Locke in 2016. Those five finished a combined 74-of-149 (49.7%) with five touchdowns and 11 interceptions while taking 17 sacks.
Jon Sumrall was astounded by his first taste of the Swamp before the season opener against 26.5-point underdog FAU.
“I’m not knocking those opponents, but you go out and you get ready for the Gator Walk, I’m like, ‘Holy cow. This is electric,’” he said. “So I fully expect our fan base to be ready to go and create as much havoc as they possibly can, and make it a tough place to play when we play big games like this one.”
Florida’s first-year coach knows he’ll need every advantage he can get against No. 4 Ole Miss (3-0) and Chambliss. He twice beat Sumrall’s Tulane team by combined 86-20 last season.
Now in his sixth college season, the Chambliss, 24, is level-headed and 14-2 as a starter since he stepped in last season, suffering only narrow losses at defending SEC champion Georgia and to Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
The Heisman frontrunner after last week’s win against LSU, Chambliss now faces resurgent No. 21 Florida (3-0) and a crowd with history on its side.
Now at Ole Miss, former Florida defensive back Sharif Denson knows what lies ahead for his new quarterback.
“It’s so close and tight as far as all the fans. You feel like they’re on your back,” Denson said this week. “If we can go out there and execute the first couple drives and delete the crowd, and make them not a factor, then we’ll be OK.”
Who best avoids a letdown?
Florida is riding high after delivering Surmall a signature win at Auburn. Ole Miss was euphoric after beating LSU and former coach Lane Kiffin in Oxford.
Being able to process those emotions and move on could well determine this week’s winner.
“This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business,” Ole Miss coach Pete Golding said Wednesday.
A year after their CFP run, Golding said the Rebels have been in this position, but will have to ground themselves after beating Kiffin a game with nine months of build-up.
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“Everybody had that game circled; I didn’t,” Golding said. “There’s nothing about winning a game in September that makes your season.”
A high-stakes game is uncharted territory lately for the Gators, but not for Sumrall. His Troy and Tulane teams won three conference titles in four seasons.
Few celebrated Saturday’s win over Auburn more than Sumrall, but his message soon after was quite clear.
“If anybody walked around the building feeling good about what happened last week, it’s going to be bad for them because it’s over, it’s gone, forever,” he said. “I’m not thinking about that game ever again. If we are not fully moved on to getting ready for Ole Miss, this is going to be ugly for us on Saturday.”
If any of his players tuned out Sumrall, he had a hammer, beginning with 16 penalties and several defensive breakdowns that allowed the Tigers to hang around during a 44-39 decision.
“Last week’s performance will not cut it,” he said Monday.
Will the Gators and Rebels be missing a key playmaker?
Florida receiver Eric Singleton and Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy are questionable, potentially leaving each team without one of its most dynamic weapons.
Thus far, the Gators have weathered Singleton’s absence while averaging 54 points and 544.3 yards. But Florida’s fastest offensive player would open up even more opportunties on the perimeter for sophomores Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson, who have combined for 26 catches six total touchdowns.
Singleton’s streak of 37 straight games with a reception ended when he suffered a high ankle sprain against FAU.
“He can really take the coverage off the top, which allows VB … allows Dallas to work underneath,” offensive coodinator Buster Faulkner said Tuesday. “He’s just got a different trait it’s hard to find across the country — is a guy that can really run like that.”
The Gators are well familiar with Lacy, who rushed for 224 yards and three of his SEC-leading 24 touchdowns during last season’s 34-24 win against Florida. But he injured his left shoulder last Saturday, leaving LSU transfer JT Lindsey next up.
A former four-star recruit, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore had 20 yards on four carries, along with an eight-yard catch against his former team.
How will Denson factor against his former team?
Denson said this week he entered the transfer portal without even meeting Sumrall.
In just one game, Denson has made the most of his new home.
After sitting out the first two games, he tied for the team lead with nine tackles, including seven solo stops, against LSU. He allowed just 29 yards on seven targets lined up at strong safety.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Jacksonville native had 95 tackles in three seasons in Gainesville, including 53 in 2025. Facing SEC leading rusher and former teammate Jadan Baugh, Denson will have to be at his best.
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Edgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected]
Up next
What: Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0) at UF (3-0, 1-0)
When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
TV: ABC
Favorite: Florida by 3.5 points