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# Special Teams Sink Gators Early as Texas Takes 17-3 Lead
- URL: https://www.gatorstandard.com/special-teams-sink-gators-early-texas-17-3-lead/
- Published: 2026-10-17T17:32:49.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-17T17:33:27.000Z
- Description: Ryan Niblett's 63-yard punt return touchdown put No. 7 Texas up 17-3 on Florida after Patrick Durkin's 45-yard field goal got the Gators on the board.
- Author: Grokbot-Spurrier
- Tags: Football, news

Florida's special teams have cost it twice at No. 7 Texas, and the Longhorns lead the Gators 17-3 in Austin.

**As of 1:32 PM ET (0:56 - 2nd), Texas leads 17-3.** Follow every snap on our [live play-by-play](https://www.gatorstandard.com/live-florida-at-texas-play-by-play/) and the [Game Day hub](https://www.gatorstandard.com/game-day/).

### Niblett's 63-yard return

Ryan Niblett returned an Alec Clark punt 63 yards for a touchdown with 11:27 left in the second quarter, around 1 p.m. ET, giving Texas a 17-3 lead. Zach Abolverdi of Gators Online [called it](https://x.com/ZachAbolverdi/status/2111502745689633014?ref=gatorstandard.com) "another costly play by the Gators on special teams." Graham Hall [reported](https://x.com/GrahamHall/status/2111502465913049578?ref=gatorstandard.com) the score, and so did [Scott Carter](https://x.com/GatorsScott/status/2111502970089295893?ref=gatorstandard.com).

It was the second special-teams miss of the day. In the first quarter, a strong Clark punt went into the end zone for a touchback instead of being downed deep. Texas then drove for Gianni Spetic's 38-yard field goal, [per Carter](https://x.com/GatorsScott/status/2111494585000378726?ref=gatorstandard.com).

### Durkin gets Florida on the board

Patrick Durkin hit a 45-yard field goal with 13:48 left in the second quarter, capping an eight-play, 37-yard drive and cutting the lead to 10-3 ([@GatorsFB](https://x.com/GatorsFB/status/2111499952354742630?ref=gatorstandard.com)). Charlie Jones, a student broadcaster with the Gators Sports Network on WRUF, [noted](https://x.com/CharJonesMedia/status/2111500919439511834?ref=gatorstandard.com) that the kick extended Florida's streak of scoring in a game to 480 straight.

### Jones and the offense

Tramell Jones Jr., making his first career start, was 7 of 12 for 48 yards at the last TV timeout, and Texas had outgained Florida 126-89 at that point, [per Carter](https://x.com/GatorsScott/status/2111505588630810891?ref=gatorstandard.com). On one drive, Jones underthrew a wide-open Eric Singleton Jr. on a deep ball that could have been a big gain or a touchdown, [per OnlyGators](https://x.com/onlygators/status/2111502066694737989?ref=gatorstandard.com).

ESPN's game data at 1:32 PM ET shows Jones 8 of 15 for 47 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Texas leads 172-107 in total yards. Florida has 6 penalties for 50 yards, and Texas has 1 for 15.

Vernell Brown III is dressed but has been watching from the sideline without his helmet, [per Carter](https://x.com/GatorsScott/status/2111499824017342485?ref=gatorstandard.com). (More: [Philo out, Vernell Brown III not starting as Jones Jr. leads Gators at Texas](https://www.gatorstandard.com/philo-out-vernell-brown-not-starting-jones-leads-gators-texas/).)

### Clark pins Texas, defense holds

Clark has been a bright spot otherwise. After a 10-play Florida drive stalled, his punt pinned Texas at its own 3-yard line with 6:23 left in the half ([Carter](https://x.com/GatorsScott/status/2111506357262422362?ref=gatorstandard.com), [Charlie Jones](https://x.com/CharJonesMedia/status/2111506920842400158?ref=gatorstandard.com)). "The punter from down under has shined for UF today," Charlie Jones wrote. ESPN's game data shows Clark with 4 punts for 216 yards, a 54.0-yard average.

From there, according to ESPN's game data, Texas drove from its 3 to midfield before Florida's defense stopped Hollywood Smothers for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1\. That turned the ball over on downs at the Texas 49 with 2:44 left in the half. Florida then moved into Texas territory, but a false start at 1:02 pushed it back to the Texas 35.

Listen free to the student-powered Gators Sports Network call on [WRUF](https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/?ref=gatorstandard.com), and find every way to watch on our [Game Day hub](https://www.gatorstandard.com/game-day/).

Sources: [Gators Online / Zach Abolverdi](https://x.com/ZachAbolverdi/status/2111502745689633014?ref=gatorstandard.com), [Graham Hall](https://x.com/GrahamHall/status/2111502465913049578?ref=gatorstandard.com), [Scott Carter](https://x.com/GatorsScott/status/2111502970089295893?ref=gatorstandard.com), [Florida Gators Football](https://x.com/GatorsFB/status/2111499952354742630?ref=gatorstandard.com), [WRUF / Charlie Jones](https://x.com/CharJonesMedia/status/2111500919439511834?ref=gatorstandard.com), [OnlyGators](https://x.com/onlygators/status/2111502066694737989?ref=gatorstandard.com), ESPN game data.