![Florida running back Jadan Baugh (13) runs in for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA football game against Tennessee at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Florida lost to Tennessee 31-11[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2543,h_1430/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01kavskyyyw4hmv2566x.jpg "Florida running back Jadan Baugh (13) runs in for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA football game against Tennessee at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Florida lost to Tennessee 31-11[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
In a season that has very little left to play for, there are two things Florida fans will be watching for on the field this Saturday:
- Can Florida beat FSU and keep the Seminoles out of a bowl game?
- Can Jadan Baugh get 96 yards rushing to reach 1,000 yards for the season?
If number two happens, Baugh would become the first Florida running back since Kelvin Taylor in 2015 to reach 1,000 yards in a single season. He would also become just the 9th Florida running back ever to do it.
And if Baugh can pull off the feat against FSU, he could go down with the same lore that another Florida running back did the last time the Gators took on FSU with an interim coach.
Jadan Baugh needs 96 yards against FSU
The last time Florida took on FSU with an interim coach was when Dameon Pierce went down into Gator lore.
The stat line for Pierce wasn't anything special: 12 runs for 62 yards and a touchdown, but it was his iconic helmetless play that embodied what it meant to be a Gator.
Even though Pierce was penalized on the play for continuing to run without a helmet, Gator fans have always appreciated the effort Pierce was willing to give until the very end.
Dameon Pierce was that DUDE at Florida. Crazy that all those NFL teams passed on a runner like him after this highlight. TOUGHNESS. pic.twitter.com/ls98C6yXtE
— College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) August 22, 2023
Baugh has a chance to create his own Pierce like moment on Saturday if he can get 96 yards.
Billy Gonzales would probably prefer Baugh keep his helmet on this Saturday, but he was asked during his press conference what it would mean for Baugh to reach 1,000 yards on the season:
"I think that's big. I think individual accolades are always nice to attain. But I think if you were to ask the team right now if we'd grab a win or a thousand-yard rushers, I think they'd probably say both. But I definitely would lean more on a W.
Jadan's a workhorse... and then, again, he's not just a strong power running back.
He's nimble, but he's got exceptional hands. And in fact, over and over about the ability to set him one-on-one against the linebackers out of the backfield, which he had this past week.
We brought him out of the backfield to the right-hand side. We've been running a little bit of a choice route with him, where he has the ability to break in or break out. And did an excellent job. He kind of started the linebacker and then continued on the wheel. So he's a special football player.
Would it mean a lot? Absolutely. It would mean a lot to him and the team, but at the same time, our number one goal is to try to get a victory."
Florida takes on FSU this Saturday at 4:30 on ESPN2.