No. 17 Florida Crushes Texas A&M, Takes Control of SEC

Gators defense stifles Aggies' high-powered offense in dominant road victory

Feb. 8, 2026 at 3:55am

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Behind a stifling defensive performance and 22 points from Thomas Haugh, the 17th-ranked Florida Gators cruised to an 86-67 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday night. The win puts Florida in sole possession of first place in the SEC standings, handing the Aggies their second consecutive loss after a strong start to the season.

Why it matters

This game was a key early-season matchup between two of the SEC's top contenders. Florida's dominant win on the road establishes them as the team to beat in the conference, while Texas A&M's struggles raise questions about their ability to maintain their high-powered offensive production against elite competition.

The details

The Gators jumped out to an early lead as Texas A&M endured a brutal first-half shooting slump, missing 23 consecutive field goal attempts. Florida led 30-19 at halftime and then pulled away in the second half, at one point building a 28-point advantage. Thomas Haugh led the Gators with 22 points, while four other Florida players scored in double figures. The Aggies, who entered the game averaging 92 points per game, were held to just 67 points on 30.6% shooting.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 8, 2026 in College Station, Texas.
  • Florida and Texas A&M both return to action on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Thomas Haugh

A key player for the 17th-ranked Florida Gators, scoring a game-high 22 points in the victory.

Pop Isaacs

One of Texas A&M's leading scorers, finishing with 17 points in the loss.

Marcus Hill

Also scored 17 points for the Aggies in the defeat.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game highlighted the defensive prowess of the Florida Gators, who were able to stifle Texas A&M's high-powered offense and take control of the SEC standings. The Aggies' struggles raise concerns about their ability to maintain their offensive production against elite competition, setting up an intriguing second half of the conference season.