JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For months, Gator Nation has been speaking about this month. 
 
Welcome to November. 
 
In most years, the open-date run-up and week-long hype across the annual Florida-Georgia sport would carry the day(s), however Saturday’s showdown between the Gators (4-3, 2-2) and No. 2 Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1) at EverBank Stadium, as large as it’s for each groups, represents the primary turnstile – granted, a quickly whipping one – of a brutal five-game paddle wheel for Coach Billy Napier‘s squad. 
 
[Read senior writer Scott Carter’s comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” setup here]
 
After UF takes on a UGA staff that has received 53 of its final 56 video games, courting to the Gators’ final victory within the sequence again in 2020, the schedule reveals a highway date at No. 6 Texas, then back-to-back house video games in opposition to No. 16 LSU and No. 18 Ole Miss, adopted by the season-ending rivalry sport at Florida State, the place the Gators have received simply as soon as in 11 years. 
 
Napier and his gamers, after all, aren’t trying previous the instant and monumental problem of the Bulldogs. UGA has received three straight within the sequence (none of them shut, with the common margin 24.0 factors) and 6 of the earlier seven, courting to 2017. The gorgeous 53-3 document since UF’s final victory right here (when Kyle Trask led the Gators’ to a 44-28 win ) is marred solely by a trio of losses to Alabama, the newest a 41-34 shootout at Tuscaloosa on Sept. 28, from which the Bulldogs have rallied for 4 straight wins, together with a one-sided knockout of then-No. 1 Texas on the highway two weeks in the past. 
 
Florida, in the meantime, has received three of 4 since getting clubbed at house by a pair of CFP contenders, Miami (Week 1) and Texas A&M (Week 3), the latter the lone unbeaten staff remaining within the Southeastern Convention., The Gators, regardless of dropping beginning quarterback and sixth-year senior Graham Mertz, have seemed a lot better in all three phases the final 4 video games, however the three groups they’ve overwhelmed over these 4 video games – Mississippi State, UCF and Kentucky – are a mixed 7-19, with MSU and UK an mixture 1-10 in league play. 
 
Translation: The comfortable a part of the schedule is over. 
 
Translation II: If Florida actually, really is a greater staff than a month in the past, everybody will know on the finish of this month. 
 
Perhaps even by Saturday evening. 

The Bulldogs’ rating is not essentially mirrored of their convention stats, however that should not idiot anybody. Quarterback Carson Beck (1,993 yards, 15 TD, 8 INT) leads an offense that ranks 41^st nationally and eighth within the SEC at 427.9 yards per sport and is averaging 33.0 factors (35^th NCAA, 6^th SEC). Enthusiastic UF followers level to UGA’s struggles – and scare – in a 13-12 win at Kentucky, an opponent the Gators took to a 48-20 woodshed two weeks in the past in Gainesville. 
 
Do not take an excessive amount of from that. 
 
Those self same followers will probably be on the lookout for some form of revenge in opposition to traitor tailback Trevor Etienne (82 makes an attempt, 422 yards, 7 TD), who transferred from UF to Georgia and is coming off a three-touchdown efficiency within the win at Texas. 

Florida freshman quarterback DJ Lagway (1,024 yards, 5 TD, 5 INT) will get his first style of the split-stadium rivalry, to not point out probably the most ferocious move rush he is confronted as a collegian to this point. Lagway accomplished simply seven of 14 passes in his final outing, however bombed Kentucky for 259 yards – or 37.0 per completion – in concentrating on surging wideouts Elijhah Badger (22 catches, 525 yards, 2 TD) and Chimere Dike (21, 420, 2). Of UF’s 476 yards in opposition to the Wildcats, 197 got here on the bottom together with 105 yards and a faculty record-tying 5 touchdowns by freshman tailback Jadan Baugh (259 yards), who stepped in for injured senior starter Montrell Johnson Jr., and excelled.
 
Defensively, the Gators fee 73^rd within the nation and next-to-last within the SEC (370.9 yards per sport) at 65^th in scoring (23.6 factors per sport), however over the past three video games they’ve minimize these numbers to only 298.0 yards and 18.7 factors. 
 
The extent of competitors, nonetheless, is about enhance in a most difficult approach. As in probably the most difficult schedule within the nation over the following month. 
 
Will or not it’s a November to recollect? 
 
The course of the Florida program is probably going driving on it.
 
Protection begins at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, with the A-crew of Chris Fowler on play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit offering evaluation and Holly Rowe on the sidelines. The Gators Sports activities Community from Learfield broadcast will air with pregame protection starting at 12:30 p.m. and finally give technique to Sean Kelley and Shane Matthews within the sales space, with Tate Casey reporting from the sector. For GSN stations, click on right here. 
 
The sport will probably be re-aired Tuesday at 2:30 a.m. and once more Thursday at midday, each on SEC Community.
 
Lastly, observe senior author Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and evaluation all through the sport. FloridaGators.com may have full post-game protection from the sport late Saturday evening and follow-up content material Sunday, additionally.
 
E-mail Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu

STATE COLLEGE − Twice Penn State soccer had a primary down contained in the 5-yard line Saturday in opposition to the omnipotent Ohio State Buckeyes.

Each occasions, the Nittany Lions did not money in touchdowns.

Each occasions they failed to attain in any respect.

So irrespective of how onerous the protection fought all afternoon, irrespective of how gutsy quarterback Drew Allar ran and threw with an injured knee, the Nittany Lions fell – as soon as once more in excruciating, head-shaking vogue – to their long-time nemesis.

Regardless of even taking part in in entrance of a record-setting Beaver Stadium crowd.

The No. 3 Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1 Massive Ten) misplaced for the eighth straight time to the No. 4 Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1). This time it was 20-13.

And far of it hinged on Penn State failures to finish the primary half and with lower than six minutes to go within the sport. On the primary, Allar threw an interception due to a surprising defensive play to steal the ball away from receiver Tre Wallace.

On the second, the Lions had been stuffed 4 occasions with the ball on the 3-yard line, down simply seven factors.

Listed below are three key observations from the Lions’ first defeat of the season:

Penn State soccer: Protection performed its coronary heart out in defeat

The Penn State protection answered each cost by what will be the nation’s most proficient offense.

The Nittany Lions made the electrical, first-quarter interception return for a landing.

They compelled a touchdown-saving fumble and received the ball again. They almost compelled one other game-changing turnover early within the fourth quarter that was overturned.

They managed Ohio State’s stars when it mattered most.

They performed higher than the ultimate rating or stats would point out. Zakee Wheatley (10 tackles, cross breakup and that touchdown-saving compelled fumble) and Abdul Carter (4 tackles, pair of sacks) had been two of one of the best.

Penn State soccer: Receivers overmatched by Ohio State protection

The Lions wideouts and tight ends simply couldn’t get open.

This stat says all of it: Tailback Nick Singleton led the Lions in receiving with six catches for 54 yards.

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When Allar lastly did search out a wideout, resembling Wallace, he needed to make a surprising catch in tight protection or had the ball stolen away from him for a killer interception.

Solely a last-minute push gave Allar − who performed a lot of the primary half carrying a leg brace − extra first-half yards passing (62) then dashing (41).

Beau Pribula change-of-pace not working

Penn State’s backup quarterback owns a promising future. He is a real weapon not solely along with his working capacity however with the way in which he can enhance the general run sport.

But it surely’s actually solely working if Beau Pribula is working the offense.

Not with coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s continued use of subbing Pribula in for starter Allar for a play or two at a time.

This now-and-again substitution technique hasn’t confirmed overly helpful in any respect this season, and it actually went nowhere in opposition to the elite Ohio State protection. Pribula accomplished one first-half cross for 4 yards. He ran the ball as soon as for no acquire. He handed off the ball with little success.

He did a fabulous job in reduction the earlier week at Wisconsin when accountable for the offense. In any other case, his change-of-pace performs have accomplished nothing greater than rendered the beginning quarterback ineffective.

Frank Bodani covers Penn State soccer for the York Each day Report and USA As we speak Community. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and comply with him on X, previously often known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

Throughout her almost three a long time roaming the snowy wilderness of the Teton Vary, Grizzly No. 399 grew to become a beloved mama bear with tens of millions of parkgoers following her yearly adventures and her ever-growing household tree.

Nature lovers are mourning the matriarch of the world-famous bear household after she was fatally struck by a car Oct. 22 on a freeway in western Wyoming. Dozens braved frigid climate within the picturesque ski city of Jackson on Saturday evening to attend a candlelight vigil watched by some 1,300 others on-line.

Wildlife information Bo Weldon advised the gathering the group was going to “pingpong via the phases of grief” however that was what they wanted to do regardless of the problem.

“We’re horrible and crushed by this, however we’re right here collectively,” Weldon stated as attendees huddled shut within the moist, chilly rain.

A PBS documentary topped the 28-year-old grizzly “Queen of the Tetons” and an Instagram account devoted to her has amassed greater than 60,000 followers. She was identified for frequenting tourist-heavy spots and roadsides in Grand Teton Nationwide Park and have become an envoy for her species and a logo for folks working to preserve American public lands.

Named for the tag affixed by researchers to her ear, No. 399 was the oldest-known reproducing feminine grizzly within the larger Yellowstone ecosystem. She has been credited for serving to the area’s grizzly inhabitants rebound from simply over 100 within the Nineteen Seventies to round 1,000 as we speak.

She had 18 identified cubs in eight litters through the years, and a few have been noticed with cubs of their very own.

Her ashes had been unfold this week within the Pilgrim Creek space of Grand Teton Nationwide Park, the place she spent a lot of her life, park officers stated.

Jacob Krank, the grasp of ceremonies, shared how he encountered No. 399 the primary time he drove into the park to discover it 13 years in the past. Out of the blue he noticed “this lovely grizzly bear” within the street together with her two cubs. She was so close to he might hear her respiratory and paws scratching the bottom.

“She seemed proper at me, good within the eye. It was simply such a profound expertise,” he stated. “It was as if she was saying, ‘Welcome dwelling. The place have you ever been all this time?’”

Krank stated the ceremony got here collectively in response to common demand. When No. 399 died, folks started posting social media inquires and asking at The Mangelsen Photographs of Nature Gallery in Jackson, the place Krank works, which options photographs by Thomas Mangelsen, one of many best-known photographers of the bear.

Attendees noticed a second of silence and listened to a rendition of “What a Great World” by Louis Armstrong whereas attempting to maintain the wind and rain from extinguishing their candles.

“399 will at all times be a part of this particular place,” Grand Teton Nationwide Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins stated in a press release. “Nonetheless, there may be nonetheless work to do to make sure her descendants and all grizzly bears proceed to thrive within the larger Yellowstone ecosystem. It’s as much as all of us to ensure they do.”

Grizzlies have teetered on and off the endangered species record. They continue to be federally protected, however some state officers in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have sought to take away federal protections as their inhabitants has replenished. The states wish to regain administration of grizzlies and permit restricted looking.

Conservationists argue the species nonetheless requires safety as meals shortage brought on by local weather change has pushed grizzlies farther from their habitats searching for meals.

On his excursions of the Tetons, wildlife information Jack Bayles stated he usually attracts consideration to barren huckleberry bushes affected by rising temperatures, which he stated would possibly assist clarify why No. 399 was about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of her habitat within the park when she was fatally struck. Grizzlies must eat almost nonstop within the fall to retailer sufficient fats to maintain their winter hibernation.

A male yearling cub, identified informally as “Rowdy” or “Spirit,” was with No. 399 when she was killed and has not been situated within the almost two weeks since.

“There isn’t any indication it was struck within the collision,” Joe Szuszwalak of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service stated. “Given the bear’s age and the time of yr, the yearling has a powerful probability of surviving independently, and there are not any present plans to seize it.”

On common, about three grizzlies are killed in car collisions within the larger Yellowstone ecosystem annually, based on knowledge collected by researchers and launched by the park. No. 399 was the second grizzly killed within the area by a car this yr.

Regulation enforcement officers have declared the bear’s dying an accident. The driving force was not rushing and was not harm.