With their Big Ten opener set for Sunday, the Gophers made quick work of an overmatched nonconference opponent on Tuesday night, beating North Florida 90-44 at Williams Arena.

Grace Grocholski and Annika Stewart led six Gophers players in double-figure scoring with 15 points apiece, and Amaya Battle added 11 points and a game-high six steals as the Gophers improved to 10-0 ahead of their conference opener against Nebraska on Sunday afternoon in Lincoln. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.

This is the first time the Gophers have been 10-0 since 2018-19.

The Gophers put the Ospreys (2-6) away early, using a 15-0 run to take a 26-4 lead with just more than a minute to play in the first quarter. Sophie Hart’s layup, after a pass over North Florida’s zone defense from Alexsia Rose, gave Minnesota a 52-18 lead at intermission.

Battle’s steal and layup at 7:34 of the fourth quarter put the Gophers up 74-34, and McKenna Johnson’s free throw with 22 seconds left supplied the final margin of victory.

Minnesota was 12-1 to start last season but they haven’t won their first 10 games since they won their first 12 in 2018-19, Lindsay Whalen’s first year as coach.

The Gophers have been doing it the past five games without one of their best players, junior guard Mara Braun, who injured her surgically repaired right foot during a shootaround. That foot forced her to miss the last three games of Minnesota’s WNIT run to the championship game last spring.

Braun, the Gophers’ leading scorer (13.6 points a game) before she was hurt, decided before Thanksgiving to have a second surgery on the foot and is out indefinitely.

Helena Rafnsdottir led North Florida with 14 points.

Originally Published: December 3, 2024 at 9:00 PM CST

As of 2025, it may become harder to take videos of law enforcement in Florida, even if they’re breaking the law themselves.

A new law going into effect on Jan. 1 requires people to move back 25 feet if first responders, including law enforcement, verbally warn them to, while the responder is performing a legal duty. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis said this was in support of law enforcement officers and accused news media outlets of warping narratives about police for attention and “clicks.” 

Critics say it’s to prevent people from taking videos of law enforcement officers breaking the law or brutalizing people.

Here’s what to know.

What does SB 184, Impeding, Threatening, or Harassing First Responders, do?

SB 184 makes it illegal, after you have been verbally warned, to approach a first responder or remain within 25 feet while the responder is performing a legal duty with the intent to:

• Block or interfere with their ability to perform the duty
• Threaten the first responders with physical harm
• Harass the first responder

Violations will be a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail.

What does SB 184 define as ‘harassment’?

“Harassment” is defined as an action directed at a first responder that “intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.”

“Emotional distress,” “legitimate purpose” and which parties may decide if they apply were left undefined.

Rep. Angela Nixon, D-Jacksonville, introduced an amendment to clarify that “harass” did not include “asking a first responder questions out of concern, for the health, safety and well-being, of the person that is being responded to” and to stress that a person may still impede a first responder if they are breaking the law or using “unnecessary harm or excessive force.” The amendment failed.

What does SB 184 define as ‘first responders’?

First responders are defined here as law enforcement officers, correctional probation officers, firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

Are you allowed to record or video police officers in Florida?

Yes. SB 184 does not prevent taking video or pictures of law enforcement in the course of their duties, but it does require you, if asked, to move 25 feet away, which can make shooting images or video much more difficult.

An amendment from Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, D-Ocoee, which would have defined “the peaceful audio or video recording, photographing, or eyewitness observing of a first responder” as a legitimate purpose, failed to pass.

So did Nixon’s other proposed amendment to change the name of the bill to “The I Don’t Want the World to See the Police Kill an Unarmed Innocent Man Like George Floyd Again, So I Want To Protect Bad Cops and Violate Free Speech Act.”

How did police videos cause the Black Lives Matter protest movement to go worldwide?

Davis’ amendment referred to the video shot of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a police officer in 2020.

The video, and many others shot by bystanders and witnesses, were widely shared online and contributed to the massive widespread Black Lives Matter protests that year by making more Americans aware of incidents of police brutality that otherwise may have gone unnoticed. 

Darnella Frazier, the then-17-year-old girl who videoed Floyd’s murder, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.

Why was SB 184 necessary?

DeSantis said when he signed the bill that the legislation “recognizes we’ve got some strange currents going on in our society right now that really seek to delegitimize law enforcement,” accusing news media outlets of warping narratives about police for attention and “clicks” and citing media coverage of the controversial police killing of Dexter Reed in Chicago.

Officers fired 96 shots in 41 seconds at Reed during a traffic stop, reportedly over Reed not wearing a seatbelt. A citizen review board questioned both the validity of the stop and the order of events — they say it’s unclear who shot first — and questioned the appropriateness of deadly force in the response. Bodycam footage showed one officer emptying his pistol multiple times at Reed, even after Reed was motionless on the ground.

“You shouldn’t be in a situation where you’re at a traffic stop, you’re responding to a call of someone in distress, and then you have people come trying to interdict or trying to harass you from performing your duty,” DeSantis said. “We view that as a problem, and now you’re going to be held accountable.”

Critics questioned the bill, saying it would be open to First Amendment challenges and prevent recordings of police misconduct and brutality.

With less than 24 hours before the start of the early signing period, Billy Napier and the Florida Gators have been skyrocketing up the recruiting rankings.

Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes — hoping to sign a third consecutive top-10 class — lost a key commitment Monday and could be on the verge of losing a few others. And Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles, whose season went awry a long time ago, are fighting to get into the top 50.

You have recruiting questions. We have some educated opinions. Let’s dive in.

What kind of impact will DJ Lagway’s play have on recruiting for the Gators? — Micah B.

A huge one. Lagway’s five-star aura helped land prospects before he even signed with Florida. After Jadan Baugh scored five touchdowns against Kentucky, he brought up some of his recruiting conversations with Lagway. Now that Lagway is living up to the hype, the Gators’ pitch looks even better, especially for offensive skill talent (in high schools or the transfer portal).

Since Lagway became the starter after Graham Mertz tore his ACL in October, the Gators have flipped 10 commitments (including five blue-chip prospects). Lagway, at minimum, deserves indirect credit for that. A few weeks ago, Napier said the uncertainty around his future was “probably the only” uphill battle the Gators had faced in recruiting. That uncertainty had recently disappeared because athletic director Scott Stricklin gave Napier a public vote of confidence. And Napier earned that vote of confidence in part because Lagway was starting a turnaround in 2024 while flashing his sky-high potential for 2025 and 2026. We probably won’t know the full DJ Lagway Effect for months or years, but he looks like Florida’s most important recruit since Tim Tebow. — Baker

A third straight top-10 class seems like a lock for Miami. But can it possibly get back-to-back top-five classes? — Hassan K.

I’m not trying to set off the panic button, Hassan, but slow your roll. Things could get dicey on Wednesday.

Florida flipped top-100 safety Hylton Stubbs on Monday and there are rumors the Gators could also sign four-star receiver Joshua Moore, a former Florida commitment who flipped to the Canes in October. Miami also appears on the verge of losing longtime four-star linebacker commitment Gavin Nix to Oregon. If Miami loses all three, the Hurricanes could drop outside the top 15.

Now, could the Hurricanes still add some big pieces to the class? Yes. The fight to swipe five-star cornerback DJ Pickett away from LSU, five-star receiver Dallas Wilson from Oregon, four-star cornerback Ben Hanks Jr. from Florida and four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford from Ohio State will continue all the way up until the final moments. But, understand, things might not go Miami’s way. When big dollar figures are being tossed around late in the game, things happen. — Navarro

Part of the reason for Alabama’s long run of dominance under Nick Saban was it robbed Florida schools blind of the best in-state talent. Georgia has been doing that a lot recently, too. Between UCF going to the Big 12 and Miami’s resurgence, have more in-state players (especially southern Florida ones) stayed home? Or is the exodus still an issue? — Jesse K.

It’s still an issue. Of the nation’s top 100 recruits in 2002, 16 were from Florida. The state’s big three signed 14 of them. This cycle, 12 of the top 100 recruits in the 247Sports Composite are native Floridians (excluding transplants at IMG Academy). Florida schools have commitments from only four: five-star offensive lineman Solomon Thomas (Florida State), five-star receiver Vernell Brown III (Florida), four-star safety Hylton Stubbs (Florida) and four-star cornerback Ben Hanks Jr. (Florida). Even with a flip or two, half the state’s best players are leaving. That, as you note, is a trend. In the previous two cycles, only 12 of the 30 top-tier recruits stayed home.

UCF is recruiting at a higher level after moving to the Big 12, but the Knights still haven’t consistently signed elite prospects. John Walker (a top-100 defensive lineman in the 2023 class) was the exception, not the rule. More success from Miami and Florida will slow, but not stop, the exodus.

Florida’s talent drain has drawn the interest from everyone up to the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis. But the idea of putting a fence around the state’s top prospects isn’t feasible in an era of national recruiting, social media and NIL. I don’t see how the exodus ever stops being an issue. — Baker

Can Alex Golesh get the top G5 recruiting class in the nation again this year at USF? — T K.

USF has lost 10 players to the P4 from this class already. Is that a sign that Golesh has an eye for talent or a cause for concern? – David W.

The Bulls should remain in the conversation for the top Group of 5 class. On3 puts them second behind only Memphis. The 247Sports Composite has them second behind Georgia State. Rivals ranks them third behind Florida Atlantic (which will have to deal with coaching turnover) and Washington State (assuming we label the Cougars a G5 program).

As far as the Power 4 poaching, there are a few factors worth mentioning. Strong early evaluations by Golesh and his staff are encouraging, David; an eye for talent is a valuable skill. It’s also good to have the willingness and ability to compete with power programs for recruits, like four-star tight end Jonathan Echols in the last cycle.

But there are some potential concerns to consider, too. Realistically, USF won’t win many recruiting battles against a program like Ole Miss (which has two of those former commits) or Notre Dame (which flipped four-star cornerback Antavious Richardson). At what point is a staff wasting resources on battles they’re unlikely to win? That’s something that must be weighed because every phone call that goes to a lost cause is one that can’t go to another, more attainable player.

We also have to note which Power 4 schools are landing former commits. USF expects to compete with the lower-level P4 programs, so losing recruits to Minnesota, Wake Forest or Boston College is more troubling than losing them to Ole Miss. The Bulls have said they plan to spend at the top level allowed in future revenue-sharing with athletes. Depending on the details, perhaps that negates some of the Power 4’s advantages. Will it? I have no idea. But it’s something to monitor as USF tries to fight the Power 4 prestige. — Baker

Who does FIU have to hire to capture the No. 1 recruiting class in Conference USA? Plenty of South Florida talent. — Alex S.

Mike MacIntyre, who was fired on Sunday, signed the No. 3 recruiting class in the conference in 2024 and the No. 2 class in 2023. So, it’s not really going to take a lot for whoever is hired next to climb to No. 1 in a conference where the best class finishes somewhere in the 80s of the national rankings.

What FIU needs more than anything else is someone to start pouring serious money into its NIL efforts so the good players they do sign and develop aren’t heading out the door for more money a year or two later. I think the program needs multiple energetic coaches who can raise money and bring the community out to watch games. Average home attendance for FIU games was 14,706 fans (62.58 percent of capacity) in 2024.

Tim Harris Jr., UCF’s offensive coordinator and a University of Miami grad with deep South Florida roots, is the ideal candidate to replace MacIntyre in part because he’s affordable (he was making $600,000 at UCF). But I’d encourage FIU to consider hiring some assistants with name recognition and recruiting pull. I’d put former 2 Live Crew rapper turned Miami Edison High football coach Luther Campbell on the staff to help keep some high-quality local kids home. — Navarro

Two years ago FAU made what most thought to be the best hire in the AAC by getting Tom Herman. Now, he is gone. What happened? Can FAU turn it around and become competitive in the AAC? What will it take for this to happen? — David W.

Like FIU, FAU needs money to start pouring in or the Owls are always going to be a second-tier program in a Group of 5 conference. Today’s game is run by dollars, and most G5 programs just simply aren’t going to be able to hold onto good coaches and players for very long. Money talks.

I thought the next hired had to be someone like Lane Kiffin — with name recognition, quarterback coaching chops and an offensive philosophy that generates a lot of points. That’s why I like the hire the Owls are reportedly making in Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. He’s 33 and is a Kliff Kingsbury protege who helped develop Patrick Mahomes and has done a good job at every stop as an offensive coordinator. — Navarro

(Top photos of Mario Cristobal, Billy Napier: Brett Davis, Klement Neitzel / Imagin Images)