Florida football vs Arkansas recap: How Gators fell to Razorbacks in OT for first home loss

Florida football still has goals left to play for in the final month of the 2023 season.

The Florida Gators (5-3, 3-2 SEC) will look to close the season on a high note, beginning Saturday at The Swamp against Arkansas (noon, ESPN2). A win would clinch bowl eligibility for UF for a sixth straight season.

"If the beginning half of the season, it's been up and down," Florida defensive lineman Princely Umanmielen said. "Hasn't been great, but we can still finish the season off with just three losses. I wouldn't say it would be a successful season, but it will definitely be a much better season than the last two seasons that we have had."

The Razorbacks (2-6, 0-5 SEC) have lost six straight and will try to spark team with a new offensive coordinator, Kenny Guiton, who replaced the fired Dan Enos two weeks ago.

Players to watch: Freshmen targets among players to watch for Florida football against Arkansas

Saluting service: Why Florida football is wearing black jerseys for the first time ever Saturday vs. Arkansas

Florida is 10-2 all-time against Arkansas and 5-0 against the Razorbacks at The Swamp. The Gators will wear black uniforms for the first time in school history to commemorate veterans and first responders for their "Salute to Service" game.

Florida football game time, TV channel betting odds today against Arkansas

KICKOFF: noon

TV: ESPN2

BETTING ODDS: Florida by 3.5 points

FINAL: Arkansas 39, Florida 36 | 4:00 p.m.

KJ Jefferson finds Tyrone Broden for a four yard TD, and the Gators fall to Arkansas in overtime 39-36. Loss drops Florida to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in SEC play. It is Florida's first home loss of the 2023 season. Gators now need a win to reach bowl eligibility, with its next two on the road against LSU and Missouri before closing with rival Florida State.

Trey Smack gives Florida lead in overtime

Kicker makes up for his miss to end regulation with a 39 yard FG. Arkansas takes over.

Florida-Arkansas heads to OT

Trey Smack's 43 yard FG is no good with eight seconds left. Razorbacks take a knee, and we'll head to OT.

Arkansas ties game with under a minute left

Razorbacks kicker Cam Little hits fourth FG of the game, this one from 49 yards out with 44 seconds left. Ends an 8 play, 44 yard drive lasting 2:18. Game tied at 33 as UF gets ball back at its own 25.

Gators quickly regain lead

Trevor Etienne scores for UF from 26 yards out. Ends a three play, 72 yard drive that lasted just 1:17. TD set up by a 41 yard pass from Graham Mertz to Etienne. Over 65 total yards on that drive from the RB. Florida now leads Arkansas 33-30 with 3:02 left in the fourth.

KJ Jefferson bursts forward to give Arkansas lead back

The Razorback QB scores from 25 yards out as he escapes the pocket and finds the left corner. Ends a 10 play, 84 yard drive that lasted 3:27 for Arkansas. Florida will get the ball back down 30-26 with 4:26 left in the fourth.

Smack hands Florida lead

Trey Smack knocks in a 34 yard FG to give Florida a 26-23 lead after a questionable no-call on a third down pass to Kahleil Jackson. Ends a 12 play, 59 yard drive that lasted 4:56. 7:58 left in the fourth quarter.

Arkansas ties the game

Cam Little moves to 3/4 on FGs. He boots one through from 22 yards as Arkansas ties it at 23 all with 12:54 left. Ends a 10 play, 66 yard drive lasting 3:36.

89,782

Announced attendance for this afternoon's game. Second-largest crowd of the season for Florida, behind the 29-16 win over Tennessee on Sept. 16

End of third: Florida 23, Arkansas 20

Gators get outgained 128-59 in the third quarter but outscore the Razorbacks 6-3 to take a three-point lead into the fourth.

Florida offense finally breaks through

After a fumbled forced by Scooby Williams and recovered by Jaydon Hill, Graham Mertz finds Ricky Pearsall on the first play of the drive for a 32 yard TD over the middle of the field. The XP hold is bobbled by Jeremy Crenshaw, so the PAT is no good. Gators lead 23-20 over Arkansas with 1:38 left in the third.

Mertz back in

Gators starting QB reenters after spending one play on the sideline. Florida drive begins at its own 32 with 6:03 left in the third.

Max Brown in at Gators QB

Freshman enters the game after Graham Mertz took a big hit around the nine minute mark of the third quarter. Came in for a third down play, which Florida didn't convert and punted

Razorbacks get first points of second half

Cam Little knocks through his second FG of the afternoon for Arkansas, this one from 41 yards. Seven play, 57 yard drive for UA, aided by a 48 yard pass from KJ Jefferson to Andrew Armstrong on a 3rd and 6 from the Arkansas 24. Razorbacks lead 20-17 with 10:34 left in the third.

Halftime, Florida 17, Arkansas 17

Florida and Arkansas finish the half tied at 17 at halftime. Gators rallied back from an early 14-0 deficit to even things up. Graham Mertz has completed 14-19 passes for 94 yards and 2 TDs for Florida. Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III with 5 catches for 40 yards and 2 TDs.

Florida Gators tie it up

Florida ties the score 17-17 on a Trey Smack 47-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the half. Florida scoring drive, 12 plays, 46 yards.

Arkansas regains lead

Arkansas regains the lead 17-14 on a 37-yard field goal by Cam Little, capping an 8-play, 64-yard TD drive. Big play on the drive a 45-yard pass from K.J. Jefferson to receiver Andrew Armstrong, beating cornerback Jalen Kimber in man coverage.

End 1, Florida football 14, Arkansas 14

A wild first quarter ends with Arkansas outgaining Florida 101-88. Two big punt returns by Ricky Pearsall, 28 yards each, have helped UF field position. Each team with one turnover as freshman safety Jordan Castell just recorded his first career interception for the Gators.

UF football erases early deficit, ties score 14

Florida ties the score at 14 with a 4-play, 42-yard TD drive, capped by a 6-yard TD pass from Mertz to Wilson. Second TD pass for Mertz and second TD catch for Wilson. TD set up by a 28-yard punt return by Ricky Pearsall and 32-yard run by Trevor Etienne.

Florida football gets on the board

Florida cuts the Arkansas lead to 14-7, capping a six-play, 33-yard drive with a 19-yard TD pass from Graham Mertz to wide receiver Eugene Wilson III.

Razorbacks extend lead on a Florida football turnover

The Razorbacks extend their lead to Florida to 14-0 on a 34-yard fumble recovery by cornerback Jaylon Braxton. Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall fumbled at the 34-yard line on a 9-yard completion from quarterback Graham Mertz.

Arkansas scores TD on opening drive

Arkansas scores on its opening drive to start the game, going 7 plays in 75 yards to take a 7-0 lead on a 7-yard TD pass from quarterback K.J. Jefferson to WR A.J. Green.

RB Rocket Sanders suited up for Arkansas

Preseason All-SEC Arkansas running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders is suited up and available for the Razorbacks.

UF football down three defensive starters for Arkansas

In addition to linebacker Shamar James (knee) being out, Florida will be without starting defensive linemen Cam Jackson (upper body) and Tyreak Sapp (upper body) for Saturday's game against Arkansas. Desmond Watson and Jack Pyburn lined up on the first defesnive line for Jackson and Sapp during pregame warmups.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Live updates Florida Gators football vs. Arkansas Razorbacks