Florida Suspends Starting Tackle McCloud
Sophomore defensive tackle Jeramiah McCloud is out for Saturday's Oklahoma game for conduct detrimental to the team.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
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Florida has suspended starting defensive tackle Jeramiah McCloud for the Oklahoma game, the Gators' program announced in the SEC's initial availability report released Wednesday. The suspension is for conduct detrimental to the team, and McCloud's status with the program will be re-evaluated after the game.
Why it matters
McCloud has started five of eight games and ranks second on the team in tackles, so his absence shifts the defensive line rotation for Florida, which is 3-3 in the SEC. The decision also leaves the program's future with the player open until after Saturday night's contest.
McCloud, a 6-foot-3, 294-pound sophomore from Georgia, has started five of eight games and posted 22 tackles and three pass break-ups this season. Florida is 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC, while Oklahoma enters Saturday at 4-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
The players
Jeramiah McCloud
A sophomore defensive tackle from Georgia who has started five of eight games for Florida this season.
Florida Gators
The University of Florida's football program, competing in the Southeastern Conference.
The details
The suspension was listed in the SEC's initial availability report released Wednesday, and Florida expects Brendan Bett, Joseph Mbatchou, Jamari Lyons and Stive-Bentley Keumajou-Yondui to line up at tackle against Oklahoma. The program has not disclosed further detail on the conduct involved.
Timeline
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: SEC initial availability report released listing McCloud's suspension.
Saturday night, November 7, 2026: Florida plays Oklahoma at the Swamp in Gainesville, after which McCloud's status will be re-evaluated.
Season Trajectory
At 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference, Florida's playoff and bowl hopes depend on the final stretch of the season, and losing a starting tackle during that stretch narrows the depth available for the remaining conference games. McCloud's suspension comes as the Gators try to climb the SEC standings against a conference that has produced teams with strong defensive lines.
With McCloud out, Florida's defensive tackle rotation shifts to Bett, Mbatchou, Lyons and Keumajou-Yondui, which affects fantasy projections for those players. The suspension also adds uncertainty for fans tracking McCloud's 22 tackles and three pass break-ups this season.
The takeaway
Florida's defensive depth will be tested Saturday night, and the program's decision on McCloud's future will show how it handles discipline midseason. Readers following the SEC race should watch how the Gators respond against Oklahoma.
What happens next
McCloud's status with the program will be re-evaluated after Florida's Saturday night game against Oklahoma.
Further reading
Follow the latest Football coverage for more on Florida's season and its defensive personnel.
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