Florida Gators vs. Texas Longhorns: How to watch, channel, streaming

Just two days after Florida athletics director Scott Stricklin said Billy Napier will be the Florida Gators’ football coach moving forward, the program has an opportunity to shock the college football world Saturday in Austin, Texas.

It’s unranked Florida vs. No. 5 Texas.

For the Gators (4-4 overall, 2-3 in the SEC), it will be one heck of a challenge. For starters, the Longhorns (7-1, 3-1) have a loaded roster that includes talented veteran quarterback Quinn Ewers and a defense that is No. 2 nationally in scoring.

But in its two most recent games, Texas hasn’t looked great. First, the Longhorns took one on the chin at home against Georgia (30-15), a team that Florida just last week was tied with in the fourth quarter before falling 34-20. Then, Texas barely escaped a road game at Vanderbilt, winning 27-24.

Last week, the Longhorns were off while the Gators were battling the Dawgs. And that’s significant to say the least. They’ll be refreshed.

Meanwhile, Florida is playing much better of late after a shockingly bad 1-2 start. Yet, last week’s starting quarterback DJ Lagway, the talented freshman, injured a hamstring vs. Georgia and his status for this week’s game isn’t yet known. That means Florida might have to start freshman walk-on Aidan Warner against an elite SEC defense — on the road. It wouldn’t be an ideal situation.

It’s an intriguing matchup, for sure. The test for the Gators will be enormous.

How to watch the Florida Gators vs the Texas Longhorns

Date: Saturday, Nov. 9
Time: Noon, ET
Location: Darrel K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium (100,119), Austin, Texas
TV: ABC — Channel (Cox): 7 / 1007 [HD] — Channel (DirecTV): 8 [HD]
Stream: ABC
Radio: SiriusXM Channel: 380| Gator Sports Network SiriusXM Channel: 374
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On The Call
Play-by-Play: Joe Tessitore
Analyst: Jesse Palmer
Reporter: Katie George

Betting Lines

Spread: Florida +22.5, Texas -22.5 
Over/Under: 47.5 points
Money Line: Florida +1063, Texas -2326

Florida-Texas Game Notes

-The Gators and Longhorns haven’t played each other since 1940. Texas won 26-0 in Gainesville.
-The Texas defense, No. 2 in scoring nationally, allows only 11.50 points a game. But the Longhorns gave up a combined 54 against Georgia (30) and Vanderbilt (24) in their two most recent contests.
-From UF sports information: “Since Florida’s Week 5 bye, the Gators are allowing 4.8 fewer points per game (22.5) and 88.2 fewer yards per game (337.3). The UF defense has improved by surrendering 53.5 less rushing yards per game (135.3) and 66.7 less passing yards per game in the span. Florida also has eight interceptions in the last four games after registering just one pick in the first four contests of the campaign. The Gators have multiple takeaways in three-straight games for the first time since 2019.”
-Texas is 3-1 vs. ranked teams this season. But only one of those opponents (Georgia) still is ranked.
-Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is 1-0 vs. Napier. His Longhorns beat Napier’s Louisiana squad 38-18 in the 2021 opener. The Ragin’ Cajuns didn’t lose again that season.
-Texas allows only 241.2 yards a game. That ranks No. 1 in the country. The Florida defense is 81st (381.4).
-Florida is one of only three teams in the country with two qualified receivers averaging 18.0 yards per catch — Elijhah Badger (23.3) and Chimere Dike (18.6).
-The Florida special teams have been much improved this season, despite the field goal blunder vs. Georgia. Under first-year analyst Joe Houston, the Gators are third nationally in net punting (45.09), eighth in punt returns (17.33) and 46th in kick returns (21.33).
-The Florida offensive line takes a lot of heat from fans and media alike but … the Gators have allowed only 12 sacks this season. That’s the fourth-least in the SEC.