The energy in Gainesville was different. You could feel it through the screen. Most people looking for the texas vs florida score today are probably trying to figure out how a top-ten team like the Longhorns walked into the Swamp and left with a loss. It wasn't supposed to go down like that. Texas was the heavy favorite. Florida was, well, struggling. But college football is weird, and the October 4, 2025, matchup proved that anything can happen when the humidity kicks in and the crowd gets loud.
Florida pulled off a massive 29-21 upset.
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That's the short version. The long version is a lot more chaotic. If you remember the 2024 blowout in Austin, this felt like a completely different sport. Last year, Texas absolutely dismantled the Gators 49-17. Quinn Ewers was throwing touchdowns like he was playing catch in the backyard. Florida looked lost. Fast forward to 2025, and the script flipped so hard it gave people whiplash.
The 29-21 Shocker in Gainesville
Florida jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, and they never really looked back. Jadan Baugh punched in a 5-yard touchdown to start things off, and Trey Smack added a field goal. It wasn't just that they were scoring; it was how they were playing. The Gators' defense, which had been criticized all season, suddenly looked like a brick wall. They sacked Arch Manning seven times. Seven.
Manning had his moments, don't get me wrong. He finished with 263 yards and two touchdowns. He’s got the talent, obviously. But the Florida pressure was relentless. Every time Texas seemed to find a rhythm, George Gumbs Jr. or another Gator defender was in the backfield.
DJ Lagway was the star for Florida. Honestly, the kid looked like a veteran out there. He threw for 289 yards and two scores, both of them going to Dallas Wilson. Wilson was making his debut, and man, what a debut it was. He caught six passes for 111 yards. His 55-yard touchdown in the third quarter was basically the nail in the coffin. He broke a few tackles, stayed in bounds, and the Swamp just erupted. 90,714 people going absolutely nuts.
Comparing the 2025 Upset to the 2024 Blowout
It’s wild to look at the stats from these two games side-by-side.
In 2024, the texas vs florida score was 49-17. Texas had 562 total yards. They averaged nearly 9 yards per play. Quinn Ewers threw five touchdowns in basically two quarters of work. Florida was playing with a walk-on quarterback, Aidan Warner, because Lagway was hurt. It was a mismatch from the opening kickoff. Texas led 35-0 at halftime. It was a "turn off the TV" kind of game for Gator fans.
Then 2025 happened. Florida outgained Texas 457 to 341. They controlled the clock. They won the turnover battle. It was a complete reversal.
The biggest difference? The quarterback play and the trench battle. In 2024, Texas dominated the line of scrimmage. In 2025, Florida’s defensive line lived in the Texas backfield. It’s a reminder that in the SEC, if you can’t protect your quarterback, your ranking doesn't mean a thing.
What Went Wrong for Texas?
Texas entered that 2025 game as the No. 9 team in the country. They had playoff aspirations. Falling to a 2-3 Florida team was a massive reality check.
- Pass Protection: You can't win when your QB is on the ground seven times. The Longhorns' offensive line struggled with the noise and the exotic blitzes Billy Napier’s staff dialed up.
- Third Down Conversions: Florida was 7-of-14 on third downs. Texas was much less efficient when it mattered most.
- The "Swamp" Factor: Never underestimate Gainesville in the heat. The procedural penalties (false starts, delay of game) killed several Texas drives late in the game.
Arch Manning almost pulled off a miracle in the final minute, though. After a defensive penalty moved them up, he had a shot at the end zone. But the Florida secondary held firm. Manning got sacked on the final play, tried to spike the ball, but the clock hit zero. Game over.
The Aftermath: What This Means for Both Programs
For Florida, this was a season-saver. Billy Napier was on one of the hottest seats in the country. Beating a top-ten Texas team bought him a lot of breathing room. It showed that the young talent, specifically Lagway and Wilson, is the real deal. They didn't just win; they looked like the better team for 60 minutes.
For Texas, it was a wake-up call. They moved to 3-2 and had to head straight into the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma the following week. It exposed some depth issues on the line and showed that even with a Manning at QB, you still have to execute the basics.
If you’re tracking the texas vs florida score history, the series is now surprisingly close. Texas leads 3-1-1 all-time, but Florida has the most recent bragging rights. These two are going to be seeing a lot of each other now that Texas is in the SEC, and if the last two games are any indication, there's no such thing as a "sure thing" when they meet.
Key Takeaways for Your Next Tailgate
If you want to sound like the smartest person at the bar, keep these three points in mind about the recent Texas-Florida rivalry:
- The Debut Legend: Dallas Wilson’s first-ever college game was the 2025 Texas game. 111 yards and 2 TDs. That’s a name you’ll hear for a while.
- Arch vs. DJ: The 2025 game was the first head-to-head between Arch Manning and DJ Lagway. Lagway took Round 1.
- The Sack Count: Seven sacks in 2025 vs. one sack in 2024. That tells the whole story of why the scores were so different.
Check the schedule for the next matchup because this is quickly becoming one of the best "new" rivalries in the conference. The contrast between the 2024 and 2025 games shows just how much home-field advantage and health can swing a result.