dpAfter a disappointing rushing performance in its 45-17 loss at Missouri, Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) looks to bounce back against South Carolina (2-3, 0-3).
Despite a 42-yard rushing performance last week, the Gators still rank 26th in the nation in rushing yards per game (220) and are tied for second in rushing touchdowns with 18.
A huge chunk of those numbers comes from star running back Jadan Baugh, who has 613 yards and 11 touchdowns, both top five nationally.
Although the Gators have shown dominance on the ground, opponents have found a blueprint to slow the run game down: the big nickel
Big nickel is a nontraditional 4-2-5 defense that subs a cornerback for a bigger linebacker-safety hybrid to give the defense more size and strength against the run.
Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner has run into problems with big nickel defenses in the past. At Georgia Tech in 2025, Faulkner’s offense rushed for 161.5 yards per game against big nickel compared to 228.3 yards per game against non-big nickel fronts.
“Yeah, they may have a blueprint on it,” Faulkner said. “Everybody’s got blueprints on each other at this point in the season. We’ve played five games now.”
So why does Faulkner struggle against it?
The big nickel is a big disruptor in Faulkner’s triple throw option and is a direct counter to the heavy personnel.
On the TTO, the safety size and linebacker physicality of the big nickel player allow him to take on blocks from the tight ends and disrupt the edge against the run while still being able to recover and cover the flats. This takes away the “easy choice” Faulkner tries to create for his quarterback.
For the heavy personnel, the big nickel neutralizes pre-snap mismatch advantages. It allows the defense to stack the box against the run while staying agile enough to cover if the Gators motion to an empty look.
How can Florida’s run game get back on track?
For the Gators, it all starts in the passing game. While the Gamecocks rank 29th nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (100.4), their passing defense has been a struggle, allowing 235 passing yards per game.
It won’t be an easy task for the Gators, as Faulkner gave props when evaluating South Carolina’s defense
“Extremely fast, extremely twitchy, get off the football. Very athletic. Good defense, well-coached,” Faulkner said. “You can see that they’re playing hard for their coaches, and that’s a testament to their program.”
If quarterback Aaron Philo can make a couple of big passes for the Gators early, he can alter the game. Hitting big throws over South Carolina’s big nickel and challenging the Gamecocks’ corners one-on-one will force the safety to help and play deeper.
Faulkner can also take advantage of the hybrid alignment with the RPO. If the big nickel crashes down early on the run, Philo can pull the ball and throw to the zone behind the big nickel.
Both of these threats force South Carolina to back into two deep safeties, which will lighten the box and create running lanes for Baugh to break loose.
For the Gators, execution comes down to focus and preparation.
“I think they understand that on any given Saturday in the SEC, you’ve got to bring your A-game. And that’s the bottom line,” Faulkner said.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Football
