[jwplayer ez5Z9kd3]
Welcome to a Wednesday edition of Gators News, with several stories from around the sports world to report today in both the collegiate and professional ranks.
The biggest story on this humpday is the impending departure of former Florida Gators and current Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan from his only stop in his NBA career thus far after it was mutually decided to allow his contract to elapse. “Sometimes the arc of things just don’t align… It’s no one’s fault,” said OKC general manager Sam Presti.
In college football news, California University of Pennsylvania football player Jamain Stephens, 20, has died from complications involving COVID-19, the school announced Tuesday. It is unclear how he contracted the disease.
Staying on the coronavirus topic, Louisiana Tech’s season opener at Baylor, set for Saturday in Waco, Texas, has been postponed because of an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among Bulldogs players. Louisiana Tech had 38 players test positive for the coronavirus after a round of tests conducted earlier this week.
Finally, USA TODAY Sports college sports editor Erick Smith takes a look at 10 changes to watch for as college football season kicks off. The 2020 college football season is going to take some getting used to.
Around the Swamp
- Who is most likely to reach the College Football Playoffs for the first time in 2020?: Chip Patterson at CBS Sports took a look at seven schools most likely to reach the playoff promised land this season, with the Florida Gators leading the list of postseason contenders.
- Watchability Rankings: Florida Gators among the most entertaining teams: The Florida Gators found themselves on the list at No. 5, one of four Southeastern Conference schools that made the top 10 list.
- Three former Florida Gators receivers land on final NFL rosters: NFL teams have finalized their 53-man rosters ahead of this weekend’s kickoff of the 2020 football season, and the three Gators receivers who were drafted all earned final roster spots.
- Florida Gators remain sixth in latest USA TODAY Sports college football rankings: Only two SEC programs rank above Florida: No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia. No. 15 Auburn and No. 18 Tennessee round out the league teams in the top 25.
It’s great to be a Florida Gator!
Hey @GatorsSoccer 👋 – welcome back! ⚽️
presented by @WellsFargo || #GoGators pic.twitter.com/6hYFYayX0H
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) September 8, 2020
[lawrence-related id=22217,22042,21767,21709]