Top 25: No. 3 Florida 44, No. 9 South Carolina 11

Gainesville, Fla. • Jeff Driskel threw four touchdown passes — three of them after turnovers — and No. 3 Florida matched its win total from last season with a 44-11 drubbing of ninth-ranked South Carolina on Saturday.

The Gators avenged consecutive losses to the Gamecocks, including one two years ago that ended with Steve Spurrier and his players celebrating a division title in The Swamp.

Florida's latest whatever-it-takes win kept coach Will Muschamp's team undefeated and put it on the cusp of the Southeasten Conference's Eastern Division title. The Gators (7-0, 6-0 SEC) can clinch a spot in the SEC championship game by beating No. 13 Georgia in nearby Jacksonville next week.

Florida won this one with turnovers, stellar defense and more halftime adjustments — the kind of successful tweaks that are making Muschamp and his staff seem like the right fit in Gainesville.

The Gators finished 7-6 last season, barely avoiding the program's first losing season since 1979. The struggles had outsiders questioning whether Muschamp could get them back to national prominence.

He's got them there now — even if it hasn't always been pretty.

Florida managed just 29 yards and two first downs in the first half against South Carolina (6-2, 4-2). But the Gators led 21-6 thanks to three turnovers.

Loucheiz Purifoy knocked the ball out of Connor Shaw's hands on the first play. Lerentee McCray recovered to give Florida the ball at the 2-yard line. Driskel hooked up with Jordan Reed on third down to give the Gators a lead they never would relinquish.

It also was a sign of things to come for the Gamecocks, who had trouble holding onto the ball all afternoon. —