No. 21 Florida Rips No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28, Injuries Cloud Run

Florida stunned fourth-ranked Ole Miss 52-28 for its first 4-0 start with 40-point games since 2001, but lost receiver Vernell Brown III to a knee injury.

No. 21 Florida demolished No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26, vaulting the Gators (4-0, 2-0 SEC) into the College Football Playoff conversation, per ESPN's Heather Dinich as reported by WRUF. The offense scored 40-plus points for the fourth straight game, the first Florida team to do so since 2001, also according to WRUF. The ground game carried the night: running back Baugh, widely regarded as the nation's best, went over 100 yards, and fellow back Duke Clark also cleared the century mark, as Saturday Down South notes.

A 24-point blowout of a top-five opponent is the kind of consensus-breaking result that reprices expectations instantly — the college football equivalent of a company guiding far above the Street. Eighteen years ago, an unranked Ole Miss team had upset Tebow's No. 4 Gators 31-30 in the same stadium, a reversal WRUF recalls, making Saturday's flip of the script an upset in the other direction. For bettors and rankings watchers, a 52-28 margin over the Rebels is a statement result that forces a re-rating of Florida's playoff odds.

The win came with a price. Star sophomore receiver Vernell Brown III suffered a knee injury after a 6-yard gain on a jet sweep with less than six minutes left in the second quarter and did not return, ending his day with three catches for 25 yards, the Gainesville Sun reports. Coach Jon Sumrall said, "Nothing's substantial, nothing's torn, but he just wasn't quite confident in cutting it loose," and expressed confidence Brown would be available, while calling it too early to know, per the Gainesville Sun. Saturday Down South reported Brown gingerly left the field with a lower-body injury.

Brown was not alone. Bailey Stockton absorbed a targeting helmet-crown hit from Ole Miss safety Joenel Aguero, who was ejected, and though Stockton returned with a 9-yard catch, he was limited in the second half; Sumrall said he took a significant back shot but should not miss long term, WRUF reports. Entering Saturday, Brown led Florida in catches, yards and receiving touchdowns, according to Saturday Down South.

An update on Brown's status is expected Monday morning, per WRUF, before No. 19 Missouri (3-1, 0-1) hosts the Gators next Saturday. If Brown or Stockton cannot go, WRUF reports larger workloads should fall to receivers Dallas Wilson, TJ Abrams and Micah Mays Jr. Florida's offensive ceiling remains high: Saturday Down South argues that with defenses focused on stopping the run, Brown and Wilson will draw favorable matchups all year, and a healthy Brown keeps the offense among the most complete in college football.