The Florida Gators return to The Swamp today for a 4:15 p.m. kickoff against the University of South Florida, and much of the intrigue surrounding the matchup centers on who will — and won’t — be available for Billy Napier’s squad.

Because this is not a Southeastern Conference contest, Florida is not required to release an official "Availability Report," leaving several key players’ statuses uncertain until just before game time.

At the top of that list of questionable Gator players is senior defensive tackle Caleb Banks, arguably Florida’s most important piece up front on its defensive line. Banks opted to bypass the 2025 NFL Draft to anchor the Gators’ defensive front, but he sustained a lower-leg injury late in fall training camp.

Banks sat out the season-opening 55-0 rout of Long Island University, though Napier sounded optimistic this week that his star defender could be nearing a return.

“We’re excited about the progress Caleb has made,” Napier said. “We anticipate getting him back really soon. He’s kind of hit the next step. So he’s really close. We’ll see where he’s at this weekend.”

The receiving corps is another area to watch. Freshman Dallas Wilson has been spotted in a boot with a lower-leg issue but is expected back in the near future, while redshirt sophomore Aidan Mizell — who returned from a preseason lower-body injury — was a surprise scratch last week and may be a game-time decision once again.

Florida’s list of long-term absentees remains significant. Running back Treyaun Webb, defensive linemen LJ McCray and Fletcher Westphal, and several others are dealing with extended recoveries. Additional question marks linger around linebacker Micah Jones, tight end TJ Dice Jr., offensive lineman Devon Manuel, linebacker Grayson Howard, defensive back Jamroc Grimsley, safety Ben Hanks III, and cornerback Onis Konanbanny.

As kickoff approaches, Napier and his staff will be forced to juggle lineups and rotations depending on who’s cleared. Against USF, the Gators may once again lean on their depth while waiting for some of their most important contributors to return to full strength.