Editor’s note: You can read our comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” here.
OXFORD, Miss. — The Gators stayed overnight in the Memphis suburbs on Friday in preparation for tonight’s game here against No. 6-ranked Ole Miss, pulling into town this afternoon for their final road game of the season.
While the team watched a movie, the Gators Radio Network crew, consisting of play-by-play voice Sean Kelley, analyst Shane Matthews, producer Steve Egan and event specialist/chauffeur Jack Stuckey, headed to a homey barbecue joint in Germantown called The Commissary. Having already heard of the place thanks to a recommendation from Gators sports-information director Scott Burns, who joined the Gators in 2024 after several years at the University of Memphis, I invited myself along.
The ribs were excellent. The pig skins hit the spot. And the barbecue nachos, a first for me, had me dipping into the bowl for seconds and thirds. As for the waitress working our table, she reminded me a bit of Flo from the TV show “Alice,” a straight-shooting Southern girl played by Alabama-born Polly Holliday, who passed away in September.
Before the food arrived, and after having gathered that our group was affiliated with the Gators, Flo let us guess her favorite team. Ole Miss? No. Florida? No. Memphis? No. Tennessee? No. She is a Roll Tide diehard to the bone.
But that’s not what Flo was most interested in discussing. She not only proved her street cred – casually tossing out the latest line for the Florida-Ole Miss game – but she also had some thoughts to share about Rebels coach Lane Kiffin. She had heard he might be heading to LSU.
What did we know? Seemed unlikely at the moment. Well, then, was Kiffin staying at Ole Miss? Could he come to Florida? Was the NFL a possibility? Flo had questions, and while X buzzed with potential hints during dinner, all we could tell Flo was that in college football, anything is possible.
And that is the aura hanging over tonight’s Southeastern Conference matchup at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium between the Gators (3-6, 2-4) and Rebels (9-1, 5-1). While Kiffin continues to dominate the news cycle and dinner conversations, there is a game to play.
GAMEDAY! 🐊 pic.twitter.com/CrE2wySEJS
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 15, 2025
The Gators are heavy underdogs and have not fared well away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this season, going 0-5 overall, averaging just 10.3 points in their four true road games, and committing 11 turnovers in their three SEC road losses.
Following a tough loss to No. 5 Georgia in Jacksonville, the Gators got bombed 38-7 last week at Kentucky, and sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway was benched for the first time in his career as UF interim head coach Billy Gonzales went to freshman Tramell Jones Jr. in the second half.
Meanwhile, Kiffin has the Rebels humming offensively. Ole Miss averages 37.5 points and 489.4 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the FBS in total offense. Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, a transfer from Ferris State, has passed for 2,356 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Kewan Lacy is a threat in the run game, with 912 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Ole Miss averages 183.9 rushing yards per game to complement 305.5 through the air.
While Florida’s offense has struggled, the defense has been better than UF’s record for the majority of the season. The Gators surrender 214.4 passing yards and 132.8 rushing yards per game, but they will be tested by the Rebels’ up-tempo attack.
The goal for the Gators is to take care of the football, put together extended drives, and slow down the game. That is their best chance on paper.
Whatever happens, expect to hear plenty of chatter about Kiffin’s future and close-up shots of him on the sideline during the ESPN telecast. He is who everyone is talking about.
Flo at The Commissary included.
Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN with Bob Wischusen on play-by-play, Louis Riddick providing analysis and reporter Kris Budden working the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield broadcast will air with pregame coverage hosted by Jeff Cardozo beginning at 4:00 p.m. and eventually give way to the team of Sean Kelley, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey on the call. For GSN stations, click here.
The game will re-air on ESPN on Wednesday, Nov. 19th, from 12:30-3:30 a.m. and again from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) on X for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage from the game late Saturday night and follow-up content on Sunday.
