McElwain: No. 22 Florida to start Appleby vs South Carolina

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida coach Jim McElwain says quarterback Austin Appleby will start against South Carolina on Saturday.

McElwain made the announcement Wednesday on the weekly Southeastern Conference coaches' call, saying Appleby will start when the 22nd-ranked Gators (6-2, 4-2 SEC) host the Gamecocks (5-4, 3-4). Starter Luke Del Rio will be out "a while" with a right shoulder injury.

McElwain adds that ''we're not afraid'' to play Feleipe Franks, a 6-foot-6 freshman who has yet to make his college debut.

GET READY TO COMPETE

Pick your champion (you can change it later). We’ll email you when brackets open.

No purchase necessary. 50 U.S./D.C. 18+. Entry opens 3PM ET Dec 6, 2026 and closes 8PM ET Dec 18, 2026. Void where prohibited.See for complete details. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is not a sponsor or administrator of this contest.

Appleby completed 42 of 67 passes for 440 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception, in two starts in place of Del Rio earlier this season. Appleby was at his best in the first half at Tennessee, but he has been fairly pedestrian in six quarters since.

McElwain says if ''we need a spark, Feleipe could be that guy. Who knows?''

---

More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org

Add us as a preferred source on Google