GAINESVILLE – After two seasons and four games of (mostly) historically poor defense, the Florida Gators delivered a breakthrough performance in Saturday night's 24-13 win over UCF.

No, it wasn't enough to save Billy Napier's job. That decision depends on what happens next, starting this week at No. 4 Tennessee.

And yes, we also have to consider the opponent – a 3-2 UCF team that is still adjusting to life as a Power Four program and was eliminated at home by Colorado last week.

But considering how much the Gators (3-2) have struggled with stopping the run, stopping the pass since Napier's arrival, Saturday's performance against the Knights was unmistakable and undeniable progress.

“It’s obvious we’ve taken a step in the right direction defensively,” Napier said.

Florida's rushing defense entered Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ranked 110th in yards allowed per game (188.75), sandwiched between inferior Kennesaw State and Charlotte. It's a matchup that could have posed problems against Knights coach Gus Malzahn's run-heavy offense and the second-biggest game in the nation.

And, for 15 minutes and change, it Was Problem.

UCF began running the ball through and around the Gators, as too many opponents had done under Napier. It was an efficient offense – 4 yards here, 8 yards there, never less than 3 yards.

Then there was a game-winning two-play sequence at the start of the second quarter. On third-and-1 near midfield, UCF used RJ Harvey. He wasn't going anywhere; Aaron Chiles and Sharif Denson blew up the game for no gain. The Knights took a timeout to reflect on their fourth-and-short call. The Gators also blew the whole thing up as Caleb Banks and Jack Pyburn stuffed quarterback KJ Jefferson's rush up the middle.

Before that sequence, UCF rushed 10 times for 44 yards. After that, the Knights totaled minus-15 rushing yards for the rest of the half and 64 yards for the rest of the game.

UCF's 2.7 yards per carry was the second-lowest in Malzahn's three and a half seasons there. By the time his Knights began running effectively in the third quarter, the Gators' second straight win was little in doubt.

Florida accomplished this by limiting Malzahn's explosive offense. The Knights led the nation with 46 carries of more than 10 yards in the first month of the season. The Gators held them to three on Saturday. Nobody won more than 13.

There were other encouraging signs too. Excluding the win over Samford, Florida's pass rush totaled just four sacks in three games. The Gators scored five goals against UCF, the most under Napier. Arguably the biggest was a third-and-goal stop by Grayson Howard that forced UCF to settle for a second-half field goal and keep the lead at three points.

Stay up to date on the Tampa Bay sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We'll send you daily news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida college football teams.

You are all registered!

Want more of our free weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let's get started.

Discover all your options

Florida ranked last nationally with just three interceptions last season. It was all the more significant when defensive back Bryce Thornton sealed the game with his first career pick.

Even the overpowering enemy adds to the size. Although the Gators had not faced UCF since the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl during the Napier transition, they did face Jefferson last season. He paced Arkansas to a 4-8 overtime victory, rushing for nearly 350 yards on his own and a running game in which he averaged nearly 5 yards per carry.

The difference, Napier said, occurred during the opening session last week. The Gators put microphones on defenders to get a better sense of their communication after mishaps marred their early losses. More importantly, the tone has changed. Everything became more competitive, more physical, more playful.

“I do think that the opening date ultimately made the difference,” said Napier.

If a move hadn't happened back then, it's fair to wonder if it ever will, as the Gators enter the brutal part of their schedule that fans have been dreading for months.

After the Volunteers and the always-tricky Kentucky, it's No. 5 Georgia, No. 2 Texas, No. 13 LSU, No. 12 Mississippi and rival Florida State. With the possible exception of the Seminoles, they are all better than UCF and the Gators' other FBS champion, Mississippi State. So it's risky to make too much of two good performances against teams left behind by Colorado and Toledo.

“Definitely with the schedule we have we have to play complementary football,” Napier said. “We know here at some point: If we want to keep up, we have to play at championship level in defense.”

Saturday may not have been at that level. But it was at least a step in the right direction.

• • •

Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter for daily coverage of the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.

Never miss the latest on your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.