Florida
Why is this Florida Gators athletic program joining the Big 12 next season?
Florida is a founding member of the SEC, but one Gators athletic program is joining the Big 12 in 2025. Find out which and why the move is happening
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The Southeastern Conference (SEC) serves as a fundamental part of Florida’s identity.
The Gators chartered the conference in 1932, and 20 of 21 varsity teams compete in the SEC.
The lone exception?
Women’s Lacrosse.
Only UF and Vanderbilt sponsor lacrosse in the SEC, so since its program founding in 2010, the Gators have bounced between three conferences.
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Next season, Florida will move into a new home — the Big 12 and depart from the American Athletic Conference. The Big 12 is set to add LAX as a sport in 2025, and the Gators will join along with Arizona State, Cincinnati, Colorado, San Diego State and UC Davis.
The latter two enter as affiliate members. The Sun Devils, Bearcats and Buffaloes will be full members of the conference next season.
Here’s why UF is making the move:
Better non-conference schedule
Florida coach Amanda O’Leary emphasized during a press conference last Thursday the main reason for the move is the better scheduling opportunities.
With just five other members, UF can now schedule 12 non-conference games.
“I think we’ve been known to pack our out of conference games with top 10 opponents, and this gives us that opportunity,” O’Leary said.
O’Leary isn’t wrong with that statement. The Gators (1-2) first three games of 2024 were vs top 10 foes — No. 8 Loyola-Maryland, No. 6 North Carolina and No. 5 Maryland.
However, UF must end its season with six AAC games. That number would increase to eight in 2025 with USF and Charlotte adding lacrosse.
The Big 12 also expects to challenge the orange and blue more. Florida went 25-1 in its four seasons of American play, with the lone loss last season vs new member James Madison which ranked No. 7 at the time of its win.
Despite this, O’Leary remains grateful for the American.
“We got to play a lot of different teams from a lot of different areas, so it certainly prepared us well,” she said. “Moving to the Big 12, though, allows us to prepare better for the NCAA Tournament.”
Diving into recruiting hotbeds
The Big 12 lost some cachet in recent years with the departure of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC. However, it remains a prestigious conference and adds four new teams this summer.
O’Leary believes this helps with recruiting, as does the ability to enter recruiting hotbeds in Colorado and California.
“The exposure for us to be able to get out there and allow potential student athletes to come watch us, that’s fantastic,” O’Leary said. “We’ll be able to get in front of a lot of different places.”
While squads such as Maryland and UNC are regular UF opponents, the coach listed dominant programs such as Northwestern, Syracuse, Stony Brook and Notre Dame as potential new games.
Each of those programs currently rank in the top 11 and play in prime recruiting regions such as the Midwest and New York State.
Travel concerns?
The biggest result of this move comes geographically. In the American, Florida’s longest trip is to Cincinnati, but in the Big 12, it’ll be their shortest.
O’Leary isn’t concerned, though, for a multitude of reasons. First, conference games in lacrosse are on weekends and conference officials promised UF it only needed to make two trips out to the west coast each season.
This means if the Gators must travel to say, Arizona State and San Diego State, Colorado and UC Davis will come to Gainesville.
As for time change, Florida is given a bone in that all conference games usually start around noon local time. Due to that, O’Leary believes the team will benefit for games in Gainesville.
A good litmus test, O’Leary thinks, comes this season. Next week, the squad travels for a west coast swing at ASU, SDSU and UC Davis.
For Sam Hughes, the travel will be embraced. The freshman is from Castle Rock, Colorado, about 60 miles southeast of Boulder.
“We already talked to her about the possibility of going to her house for dinner prior to the game,” O’Leary said.
The SEC remains end goal
The conference’s other lacrosse program — Vanderbilt — will remain in the American.
O’Leary closed by stressing the Gators would join the SEC the minute lacrosse was added.
“I think the end goal for us and Vanderbilt is to eventually play in the SEC. It’s an incredible conference, so I think lacrosse would blossom in there,” she said. “Come on ADs, make it happen.”
No. 16 Florida returns to Donald R. Dizney Stadium Wednesday after a massive 13-12 overtime upset at No. 5 Maryland Saturday. The showdown with Jacksonville begins at 4 p.m.
Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.
When does voting end for 2026 HGTV Smart Home near Orlando, Florida? 5 pm ET Friday, June 19, 2026, on hgtv.com and foodnetwork.com.
Voting is underway for the 2026 HGTV Smart Home in Florida − who’s going to win?
The home and garden network’s sweepstakes contest began last month, and those interested in the $1.3 million grand prize − a fully furished poolside paradise near Orlando and some cool cash − have just over a month to try their luck.
Voting continues twice a day at HGTV and Food Network sites. Here’s what we know.
What to know about 2026 HGTV Smart Home in Florida
The three-bedroom, three-bath HGTV Smart Home in Apopka, which is about 20 miles from Orlando, boasts a so-Florida vibe with its upscale tropical, relaxed decor. But what makes it a “smart home?” The state-of-the-art technology, functionality and mindful use of space when it came to the design. Or so says the designers and hosts of the 2026 HGTV special, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt. The HGTV reality show hosts, who live in Tampa, made the inside and outside living spaces comfortable and compatible with Florida’s relentless summer heat, yet magazine cover-worthy.
Over the years, the Kleinschmidts have hosted “100 Day Dream Home,” “White House Christmas 2024,” “100 Day Hotel Challenge” and “Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge,” all on HGTV. Their inside knowledge as Florida residents came into play with the 2026 HGTV Smart Home design.
It’s not the first time the home and garden network picked a site in the Sunshine State for its sweepstakes contest: Most recently, the 2024 HGTV Dream Home was on Anastasia Island, Florida, near St. Augustine, and the 2021 HGTV Smart Home was in Naples on the West Coast of the state.
How much is 2026 HGTV Smart Home near Orlando, Florida, worth?
The grand prize for the 2026 HGTV Smart Home in Apopka, Florida, is worth more than $1.3 million. The newly built, fully furnished resort-style home about 20 miles from Orlando is a 3,000-square-foot three-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a pool and outdoor living space. The winner of the HGTV Smart Home sweepstakes contest will receive the keys to the home, the furnishings and decor inside and out, plus $100,000 in cash.
The home was built by Hartizen Homes with interior design by husband-and-wife HGTV stars Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt.
The outside living space includes a swim-up bar, outdoor projector, putting green and gourmet grill station. Inside, the HGTV Smart Home evokes an upscale Florida design featuring a game room, movie theater lounge with multiple screens, open-concept living spaces and lots of skylights.
What does 2026 HGTV Smart Home in Florida look like? Tour it with hosts Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt
HGTV Smart Home 2026 sweepstakes in Florida. See features, video tour
HGTV Smart Home in Apopka, Florida, by Orlando is worth $1.3 million. Voting is April 21, 2026, through June 19, 2026, at hgtv.com and foodnetwork.com
Video courtesy of HGTV
When does voting end for 2026 HGTV Smart Home near Orlando, Florida?
According to sweepstakes contest rules, voting for the HGTV Smart Home 2026 giveaway runs 9 a.m. ET Tuesday, April 21, 2026, to 5 p.m. ET Friday, June 19, 2026. During that time, viewers can enter twice daily at hgtv.com/smart and foodnetwork.com/smarthome. A one-hour special about the 2026 HGTV Smart Home sweepstakes contest aired April 24, though streaming is available on HBO Max and Discovery+.
Photos of 2026 HGTV Smart Home near Orlando, Florida
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
The City Commission must vote on the idea, too.
STUART — Permission to have backyard chickens behind single-family homes and duplexes may soon be granted to homeowners here.
The city’s Community Redevelopment Board on May 5 voted 5-2 in favor recommending the City Commission approve the idea. It would give homeowners permission to have up to four chickens.
“I’m going to be really honest here,” Board Member Bonnie Moser said. “I have chickens in my backyard.”
She got them about 18 months ago, she said, with the permission of all of her neighbors.
Backyard chickens were approved by the City Commission in June 2017, but two weeks later a commissioner backtracked his “yes” vote, killing the deal that had passed 3-2.
“My 2-year-old son loves them,” Moser added. “We eat the eggs every day.”
The chickens are fed with the family’s food scraps, and the manure fertilizes her vegetable garden, she said.
Moser suggested two changes to the proposed ordinance. One, that allows the height of the coop to be increased to 7 feet and the other that allows the height of the required fence or hedge to be reduced to 5 feet. The Community Redevelopment Board also recommended the City Commission approve those changes.
Noise and smell
Concerns about noise are overstated, Moser continued. The chickens really make noise only when they’re laying eggs, which happens in the morning or midday.
“It’s a couple of clucks and then it goes away,” she said. “As long as they’re not being attacked by anything, they’re not making noise.”
The crows and dogs on her street make more noise than the chickens, Moser said.
Smell is another concern people have about allowing chickens behind homes, which Moser also addressed.
It’s only four chickens or less, she said.
Additionally, allowing chickens can be a great educational opportunity for children, Moser said, because children think food comes from the grocery store.
“So, cat’s out of the bag,” Moser said. “I’ve got chickens. Come and get them if you want them. But know that my 2-year-old would be very sad because the highlight of his day is going out there to collect eggs every day.”
Opposition to the idea
Board Chair Frank McChrystal and Board Member Frederick James opposed the idea.
“This will just lead us to a slippery slope,” James said. “If we allow chickens, why not allow pigs?”
Martin County got it right by prohibiting chickens, McChrystal said. He polled his neighbors, who said, “They’re bringing that up again?”
McChrystal said no more about why he opposed the idea.
The fee to have chickens would be $65 annually, Stuart Development Director Jodi Kugler said.
Keith Burbank is a watchdog reporter for TCPalm, usually covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com.
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