Florida among USA TODAY Sports’ Week 3 misery index teams

The Southeastern Conference schedule-opening matchup between the Florida Gators and Texas A&M Aggies in the Swamp did not go quite how the home team had hoped. Instead, the Orange and Blue once again looked overmatched on its own turf in a 33-20 defeat.

It was difficult to tell what was worse on Saturday — the weather or Florida’s performance. Once again, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s Gators put up a sloppy and undisciplined effort which has been the trademark of the program since the [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] days.

USA TODAY Sports columnist Dan Wolken assembled his misery index for college football’s Week 3 with rival Florida State Seminoles making the headlines. However, Florida was first in line after them and there was plenty to say about the Gators’ current turmoil.

“The Seminoles’ in-state rivals are even deeper in the mud than they are, but the only thing saving the Gators from being No. 1 this week is that expectations weren’t high in Gainesville to begin with,” Wolken begins.

“Still, it’s a true illustration of Billy Napier’s current predicament that the Gators have failed to even clear the lowest possible bar anyone could have set for them,” he continues.

“Saturday’s limp 33-20 loss in the Swamp to Texas A&M was even more one-sided than the final score and illustrated one of the main issues with the Gators. They don’t play hard. They don’t step on the field with as much passion or confidence as their opponents. They have no aura. And this was one of the few games on their schedule that, on paper, they had a great chance to win!

“But when you are on the wrong end of a 3-0 turnover ratio and make just 2-of-9 third downs, you’re not going to beat anyone with a pulse.”