Florida-South Carolina game still on track for Saturday despite Tropical Storm Nicole looming

With Tropical Storm Nicole building in the Atlantic Ocean the possibility for college football games to be shifted around looms, but for now the Florida – South Carolina game on Saturday remains unchanged.

Florida put out a press release on Tuesday evening indicating all athletics events are currently on track to proceed as scheduled, despite the University of Florida campus being closed Thursday.

The Gators and Gamecocks are scheduled for a 4 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday in the Swamp, with a broadcast on the SEC Network.

“The UAA will continue to work with UF, local and state officials to monitor Tropical Storm Nicole and any potential impacts on events beyond Thursday,” a press release stated.

Current forecasts from the National Hurricane Center have Nicole turning into a hurricane by mid-afternoon on Wednesday, with a forecast track that has it making landfall on Florida’s east coast somewhere between Palm Beach and Brevard counties.

Nicole is projected to weaken to a tropical storm as it traverses the state from east to west before curling north toward Gainesville. Current tracks have it over Gainesville sometime Thursday afternoon, then crossing the state border into Georgia around midnight on Friday.

Gators turning the corner as Tropical Storm Nicole threatens Florida-South Carolina game

First-year coach Billy Napier hasn’t had a perfectly smooth transition to his new job at Florida, though the Gators have certainly had a difficult schedule.

At 5-4 on the year, Florida is still looking to become bowl eligible. The close to the regular season will be fascinating.

As things stand, each of the four teams Florida has lost to was ranked in Tuesday’s latest edition of the College Football Playoff rankings. It’s been tough sledding. Finishing on a high note would be key, and Napier sees signs his team is starting to turn the corner.

Tropical Storm Nicole could throw a wrench into that should things change from UF’s Tuesday night update.

“I think what I’m seeing is kind of what I described after the game. That human element,” Napier said. “We’ve spent a ton of time on scheme, fundamentals, situational football. We lift weights, we run, we focus on all different forms of development, physically.

“Okay, but I think that team dynamic, you know, the quote-unquote culture or the brotherhood. However you want to describe that. The expectation from each other, right? The accountability at the player level. Actually, I’m not necessarily worried about my coach getting on me, but I’m worried about letting my teammate down. I think there’s a place in this game for an elite team, you’ve got to have that, and I think that’s what we’ve been working hard on. Starting to see some of that show up, I think.”