![FloridaÕs Kevin OÕ Sullivan and FSUÕs Link Jarrett meet before the start of the game, March 10, 2026, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2026](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_3210,h_1805/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01knsny4dcasqwmph1t0.jpg "FloridaÕs Kevin OÕ Sullivan and FSUÕs Link Jarrett meet before the start of the game, March 10, 2026, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2026")
Among the problems that Florida has had at times this season is that its ace hasn’t exactly been its ace. Liam Peterson has been entrenched as Florida’s Friday starter, but his inability to go deep in games has become a real problem for Kevin O’Sullivan and crew.
So, in advance of a massive series against Georgia, the Gators have made a notable switch in their order ahead of this weekend.
Aidan King named the Friday starter for the Georgia series
In a move that had been reported on by Swamp247 and Gators Online, the Gators formally announced today that Aidan King would be the Friday starter for this weekend, while Peterson would get moved to Saturday. Russell Sandefer will once again occupy the Sunday spot.
It may seem like semantics, but it does hold some significance. With Jackson Barberi sidelined for a while, Florida’s bullpen is already liable to get stretched thin this weekend. Throw in the fact that O’Sullivan went to the meat of his bullpen against FSU on Tuesday, and the Gators can’t really afford a Friday start where three or four arms out of the bullpen get called upon because Peterson can’t make it past the 4th inning.
Beyond King having a far superior ERA to Peterson (1.62 to 4.03), it’s been the number of walks that Peterson has handed out that has inhibited his ability to get deep into games. And even though King only has one more total inning pitched than Peterson, it is somewhat skewed because of how early King was pulled against Miami due to cramps.
King has made it at least six innings on four of his eight starts this season, while Peterson has made it six innings just once. And so given the need to start the series with a guaranteed competitive start, it makes sense that O’Sullivan is sending King out first.
Game one of the series is on Friday at 6 PM, with game two on Saturday and game three on Sunday, both at 12 PM. Interestingly enough, the Gators are unranked while Georgia is No. 5 in the country, but coming into the week, the Gators were No. 5 in RPI while Georgia was No. 22.
Florida holds the all-time series lead 195-119-2, but was swept in Gainesville last season.