MARK LONG
FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2015, file photo, Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs talks to reporters in Auburn, Ala. Longtime Auburn administrator Jay Jacobs is retiring after nearly four decades in college athletics. Jacobs is stepping down at the end of June after spending the last five years as Florida's associate AD for external affairs. (Todd J. Van Emst/Opelika-Auburn News via AP)
Former Auburn AD Jacobs retiring after nearly 4 decades in college athletics

By Mark Long May. 18, 2023 02:08 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jay Jacobs’ first job was at a funeral home owned by his

FILE -Crews prepare the field at Bank of America Stadium for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. The Atlantic Coast Conference has wrapped up its spring meetings. Many discussions were held in private, including talks over how the league plans to close the financial gap with the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference. (Diedra Laird//The Charlotte Observer via AP, File)
ACC leadership touts progress in trying to address financial gap with the Big Ten and the SEC

By Mark Long May. 17, 2023 05:04 PM EDT
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference emerged from three days of

FILE - Florida head coach Billy Napier paces the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida Victorious formally launched Tuesday, April 11, 2023, with hopes of raising money to fund NIL deals for student-athletes — and ultimately help the Gators get back to national prominence in football and men’s basketball.(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Gators launch 'Florida Victorious' to revamp, streamline NIL

By Mark Long Apr. 11, 2023 12:31 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Three months after losing blue-chip quarterback Jaden

FILE - Florida head coach Billy Napier, right, watches players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Eastern Washington, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. A person familiar with the situation says Florida quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada requested a release from his national letter of intent Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 after a $13 million name, imagine and likeness deal fell through.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Napier avoids Rashada details, doesn't expect NCAA inquiry

By Mark Long Feb. 01, 2023 06:34 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Billy Napier provided little insight Wednesday

FILE - Florida head coach Billy Napier, right, watches players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Eastern Washington, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. A person familiar with the situation says Florida quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada requested a release from his national letter of intent Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 after a $13 million name, imagine and likeness deal fell through.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
AP source: Florida QB Rashada asks for release amid NIL mess

By Mark Long Jan. 17, 2023 09:40 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada requested a

Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner, left, and head coach Marcus Freeman, right, embrace on the field after the Gator Bowl NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Buchner accounts for 5 TDs, Notre Dame wins Gator Bowl 45-38

By Mark Long Dec. 30, 2022 07:40 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Notre Dame's Tyler Buchner accounted for seven of the 11

FILE - Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against California in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. No. 19 Notre Dame faces 20th-ranked South Carolina in the Gator Bowl. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Notre Dame, South Carolina will look much different in bowl

By Mark Long Dec. 29, 2022 12:23 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No one should expect Notre Dame and South Carolina to look

Then-Ohio State quarterback Jack Miller plays against Akron during an NCAA college football game, Sept. 25, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Miller will make his first collegiate start when the Florida Gators play 17th-ranked Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Miller transferred from Ohio State last December. Coach Billy Napier's quarterback shuffle comes three days after standout Anthony Richardson left the school early to start preparing for the NFL combine. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Florida turns to ex-Ohio State QB Miller to start Vegas Bowl

By Mark Long Dec. 08, 2022 11:25 AM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback Jack Miller, who transferred from Ohio

Florida State defensive end Derrick McLendon II (9) and defensive back Shyheim Brown (38) sack Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State won 45-38. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
Florida QB Richardson leaves school early, enters NFL draft

By Mark Long Dec. 05, 2022 04:04 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, considered more of a

This photo provided by the Alachua (Fla.) County Jail show Jalen Kitna. Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna, the son of retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 and charged with two counts of distribution of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography. (Alachua County Jail via AP)
Florida formally dismisses QB Kitna amid child porn charges

By Mark Long Dec. 02, 2022 02:51 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida has formally dismissed quarterback Jalen Kitna from

This photo provided by the Alachua (Fla.) County Jail show Jalen Kitna. Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna, the son of retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 and charged with two counts of distribution of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography. (Alachua County Jail via AP)
Florida QB Kitna leaves jail as child porn details emerge

By Mark Long Dec. 01, 2022 02:55 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna was released from

This photo provided by the Alachua (Fla.) County Jail show Jalen Kitna. Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna, the son of retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 and charged with two counts of distribution of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography. (Alachua County Jail via AP)
Florida QB Kitna arrested on child pornography charges

By Mark Long Nov. 30, 2022 05:35 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna, the son of retired

Florida head coach Billy Napier watches from the sideline in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Florida rules out 5 WRs, including Shorter, for FSU rivalry

By Mark Long Nov. 23, 2022 05:41 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will be without five receivers, including Anthony

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer poses with a fan for a selfie after the team's NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina won 63-38. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
Rivalry week should bring SEC bowl forecast into clear focus

By Mark Long Nov. 23, 2022 01:11 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — It’s rivalry week for most of the Southeastern Conference.

Florida running back Trevor Etienne (7) scores an 85-yard touchdown past South Carolina defensive back Cam Smith (9) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
Florida runs for 374, dominates South Carolina 38-6 in Swamp

By Mark Long Nov. 12, 2022 08:03 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — If this was Anthony Richardson's final game in The Swamp, he

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) scrambles from the pocket as Florida linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. (1) cannot make a tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida dismisses pass rusher Cox for 'cumulative effect'

By Mark Long Oct. 31, 2022 01:26 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida has dismissed pass rusher Brenton Cox for what coach

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) looks for a receiver as he is pressured by Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
No. 1 Georgia pulls away late, wins 'Cocktail Party' 42-20

By Mark Long Oct. 29, 2022 07:20 PM EDT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Top-ranked Georgia expects to eventually benefit from a

Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter (27) breaks away from Georgia defensive backs Tykee Smith (23) and Daylen Everette (6) after a catch for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Richardson, underdog Florida get redemption shot at Georgia

By Mark Long Oct. 27, 2022 02:24 PM EDT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson was admittedly

Florida head coach Billy Napier directs his team against LSU during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Woeful defense has Florida as 3-TD underdog vs No. 1 Georgia

By Mark Long Oct. 25, 2022 10:35 AM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson was surprised, maybe

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, right, dives for extra yardage as he is tackled by LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr. (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Daniels' big day helps LSU top Florida for 4th straight year

By Mark Long Oct. 15, 2022 11:02 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jayden Daniels may have run out of touchdown celebrations on