In Jake Bentley's first career road start, South Carolina never held a lead, allowing a touchdown on Florida's first drive on the way to a 20-7 loss.
The Gamecocks opened the game with a three and out before letting the Gators march into the end zone in just four plays, including a 33-yard run from backup quarterback Austin Appleby. Florida would find pay dirt again before halftime with another four-play drive, putting the Gators up 14-0 at the break.
The slow start proved to be a killer for South Carolina, as the visitors never pulled the game within a 10-point margin again.
"You can't start slow against good teams," junior linebacker Bryson-Allen Williams said. "That's the problem that we had today. We started really slow, and that put us in a hole."
The halftime deficit could've been larger, as the Gamecocks recovered two fumbles inside their own 25 yard line, one of which came when Florida had reached the 5.
South Carolina allowed 257 yards of offense in the first half, but Bentley couldn't move the ball against the tough Florida defense, managing 104 total yards before the break. Bentley completed just seven of his first 15 passes, though there were three drops in the half, all of which could have been big plays.
Will Muschamp said Bentley played well, pointing to two of the drops in the first half as missed opportunities, saying one of them could've been a touchdown.
After the break, the Gamecocks came out flat, running just 10 plays for 14 yards in the third quarter. On the other hand, the Gators kicked two field goals in the third quarter, including a career long 54-yarder from Eddy Pineiro, extending the Florida lead to 20-0 by the period's end.
They finally got on the board in the fourth, aided by a fourth down conversion that got them within a yard of the end zone.
David Williams finished off the scoring drive, filling in for Rico Dowdle, who left the game with an injury, and A.J. Turner, who Muschamp said would play in emergencies only.
South Carolina would nearly get in the end zone again, as Bentley drove the Gamecocks down the field on the final drive. His fourth down pass nearly found Hayden Hurst in the back of the end zone, but it fell off the tight end's outstretched arm, giving Florida the ball with the opportunity to run out the clock.
"That's a play that I have to make," Hurst said.
By the final whistle, the Gamecocks had been outgained by 116 yards, highlighted by a 171-43 margin on the ground. The offensive line struggled with Florida's front while pass blocking as well, as the Gators got to Bentley for five sacks.
"We've got to give him more time," senior offensive tackle Mason Zandi said. He added that he didn't think the Florida defense had "exuberant speed."
South Carolina will be back in action Nov. 19 at home against Western Carolina. Kickoff will be at 4 p.m. With a win, the Gamecocks will be bowl eligible after missing out on the postseason in 2015.