GAINESVILLE -- It only gets more difficult for the Florida Gators.
With or without quarterback John Brantley, UF travels to top-ranked Louisiana State this weekend for its second game in a row against one of the best teams in the country.
Brantley’s playing status is doubtful after he sustained an undisclosed lower-leg injury that sent him to the locker room before halftime of UF’s demoralizing 38-10 loss to then-No.3 Alabama on Saturday. When Brantley hobbled off of Florida Field with 35 seconds remaining in the second quarter, he might have taken hope for the Gators’ season with him.
Florida Today reported Saturday night that Brantley was taken to the hospital for X-rays.
Coach Will Muschamp did not address the nature of Brantley’s injury after the game and became agitated while deflecting questions about his quarterback.
“We’ll go through that and make the best decisions for our football team,” Muschamp said.
At least one player was optimistic about Brantley’s injury. Running back Chris Rainey said after the game that Brantley “wasn’t crying.”
When asked what he interpreted that to mean, Rainey said, “It looked like it wasn’t that bad. I hope he’s all right, though.”
Brantley was having one of the best games of his career before being pulled to the ground on a sack by Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw. He fell awkwardly over his right leg during the sack and writhed in pain before being helped to his feet by trainers and taken to the locker room.
The quarterback had posted the highest passer rating of his career (176.6) in the first half before being injured.
True freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel likely will start against LSU (5-0, 2-0) if Brantley is unavailable.
Driskel, a top-rated quarterback prospect from Oviedo, was thrust into the limelight for Florida (4-1, 2-1) in the second half against Alabama.
He was just 2 of 6 passing for 14 yards but did show signs of toughness during a 31-yard scramble. It was the longest rush Alabama’s intimidating defense has allowed this season.
“At the quarterback position, you have to play well around him,” Muschamp said. “We didn’t perform very well, and Jeff didn’t have much of a chance.
“Sometimes, when you’re getting hit in the throat, you’re going to overthrow. Obviously, we didn’t handle [adversity] very well. We’ve got to push through it. Injuries are part of the game. We’ve got to go with the next guy. He’s got to play.”
Florida’s offensive line played poorly Saturday. The Gators led the SEC in rushing entering the game but managed just 15 yards on 29 carries against Alabama’s defense, the top-ranked unit in the SEC.
Moving the ball on the ground will be equally as difficult against LSU, which defeated Kentucky 35-7 on Saturday. The Tigers are ranked second in the SEC behind Alabama in rushing defense, allowing just 60.4 yards per game.
Despite its loss to Alabama, Florida can still challenge for the SEC East title. The Gators remained atop to the SEC East on Sunday in a three-way tie with South Carolina and Georgia.
“If we play our cards right, we’re going to see [Alabama] again,” said Rainey, who rushed for 4 yards on 11 carries against the Crimson Tide.
