# Florida rallies past No. 7 Texas 27-24 behind first-time starter Tramell Jones Jr.

The Gators erased a 14-point deficit as Jones threw two touchdowns to Lacota Dippre and Jadan Baugh scored in the fourth quarter.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / College Football
Published: 2026-10-18T11:49:53.229Z
Updated: 2026-10-18T11:49:53.229Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/florida-upsets-texas-tramell-jones-c2c6965
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/c75133510ba0d561a7c81647a7347408.jpg (Florida players celebrate their upset victory over Texas; credit: Hannah White / UAA Communications)

## Summary
- Florida upset No. 7 Texas 27-24.
- Tramell Jones Jr. threw two touchdown passes in his first start.
- Texas lost its second consecutive game.

## Florida completes a road upset

Florida defeated No. 7 Texas 27-24 on October 17 after rallying from a 14-point deficit. ESPN and the Associated Press game account published by CBS Sports both recorded the Gators’ comeback and the performance of first-time starter Tramell Jones Jr. The result gave Florida a major road victory and handed Texas a second consecutive loss. [1](https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401856724) [2](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/boxscore/NCAAF_20261017_FLA%40TEXAS/)

## Jones connects with Dippre

Jones threw two touchdown passes to tight end Lacota Dippre, helping Florida recover after Texas controlled the opening portion of the game. In his first start, Jones avoided allowing the early deficit to dictate the rest of the offense. Florida mixed shorter throws with a more productive rushing attack, gradually reducing the pressure on its inexperienced quarterback and moving the game into a close fourth quarter. [1](https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401856724) [2](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/boxscore/NCAAF_20261017_FLA%40TEXAS/)

## Baugh scores the decisive touchdown

Jadan Baugh’s fourth-quarter touchdown provided the points Florida needed to move ahead. The Gators’ defense then protected the advantage against a Texas offense trying to stop its late slide. The 27-24 final shows how little separated the teams by the end, but the sequence of the game mattered: Florida responded after falling behind and made the higher-leverage plays once the score tightened. [1](https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401856724) [2](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/boxscore/NCAAF_20261017_FLA%40TEXAS/)

## Different directions after the finish

For Florida, the upset offers evidence that the offense can function with Jones and creates momentum against a highly ranked conference opponent. For Texas, consecutive defeats turn execution problems into a broader standings concern. The Longhorns still produced enough offense to lead by two touchdowns, but they could not sustain that control. Rankings will change after the result; the fixed record is Florida’s 27-24 comeback and Jones’s two-touchdown debut as a starter. [1](https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401856724) [2](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/boxscore/NCAAF_20261017_FLA%40TEXAS/)

## Reporting sources
1. [ESPN: Florida 27-24 Texas game recap](https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401856724) (October 17, 2026)
2. [CBS Sports: Florida vs. Texas box score and recap](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/boxscore/NCAAF_20261017_FLA%40TEXAS/) (October 17, 2026)