As the sun rose on a cool October morning in Gainesville, 2025’s homecoming looked like all others on paper for Florida football .

The food trucks were lined up on University Ave. Emerson Alumni Hall prepared for its biggest tailgate of the season.

Something felt different, though. A feeling of resignation from the Gator nation .

Open grass laid all over Plaza of the Americas about four hours to kickoff. Most years, it wasn’t that way for Alex Clement. The Gainesville resident tailgates with friends at Plaza, and usually needs to arrive around 5-6 a.m. to secure a good spot. That wasn’t necessary Saturday.

“We’d be bouncing around from spot to spot, just because there was so much enthusiasm,” Clement said. “They were rowdy, they were having fun. I’m just not seeing the same ent

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