Florida

Florida GOP picks Sam Garrison as next House speaker

Published

1 month ago

October 9, 2025

Press Room

Florida GOP picks Sam Garrison as next House speaker

‘I believe with my whole heart that complacency is the single biggest threat to the conservative movement in Florida,’ Garrison said.

Florida House Republicans selected state Rep. Sam Garrison to be the House speaker after the 2026 elections.
As Speaker-designate, Garrison will lead Republican House campaign efforts for the 2026 election cycle.
The Fleming Island Republican is an attorney and former prosecutor who was first elected to the House in 2020.

Florida House Republicans officially selected state Rep. Sam Garrison to take the helm of the chamber as speaker for a two-year term after the 2026 elections.

The Fleming Island Republican was officially picked in a ceremony at the Capitol on Oct. 9.

In his speech, he warned his party – which comprises a supermajority in the Florida Legislature – not to rest on their laurels despite dominating for 30 years and turning the former swing state into a deeper shade of red in the last few election cycles.

“I believe with my whole heart that complacency is the single biggest threat to the conservative movement in Florida,” Garrison told the GOP members. “This is not an external danger. It is internal. Our challenge isn’t the Democrats. It’s us.”

A host of GOP dignitaries, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who is considering running to replace DeSantis next year, were in attendance.

Garrison will succeed current Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, who repeatedly clashed with DeSantis on several issues. He warned against infighting among Republicans but also said he’ll “always support” Perez.

Most of Garrison’s term as speaker will take place under the next governor, but he hasn’t endorsed anyone in the race to replace DeSantis. When asked if he has a preference for who is governor during his term, he didn’t say.

“But I can tell you whoever he or she is, (that person) is going to have a partner in the House that’s going to work like heck to make them successful,” Garrison told reporters after the ceremony.

Next House speaker is attorney, former prosecutor

According to his House webpage, the 48-year-old was born in Illinois and got his undergraduate degree in international relations from Samford University, near Birmingham, Alabama.

He received his law degree (J.D.) from Illinois University and moved to Florida in 2001. He was an assistant state prosecutor from 2001-2011. He is currently with the Jacksonville-based Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow firm.

First elected in 2020, Garrison is the House Rules Committee chair and one of the notable bills he sponsored was the 2024 legislation to prohibit homeless people from camping in public spaces, including streets, sidewalks and parks. The law required local governments to place homeless people in temporary shelters.

Garrison gave few hints of his priorities once he becomes Speaker, but stressed the importance of drilling down into difficult issues and programs if Republicans want to maintain their dominance in Florida.

“Do we do the arduous work of leading this state and fighting for our people back home, or do we hit the easy button and simply ride the wave, shrug our shoulders, and leave the tough decisions, the intractable problems, and the big dreams to someone else?” Garrison said.

As Speaker-designate, Garrison will also be in charge of helping maintain the GOP’s supermajority in the House. He’ll head up Republican House campaign efforts for the 2026 cycle.

Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.

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Florida

How to watch Tennessee vs. Florida FREE live stream today

Published

7 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Tennessee vs. Florida FREE live stream today

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GAINESVILLE, FL – The No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers head to Florida to take on the Gators in a primetime SEC matchup today, Saturday, Nov. 22. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

If you’ve cut ties with your cable provider, there are still ways you can tune in. Several streaming services will broadcast the game live and you can watch on Fubo (free trial), DIRECTV (free trial), Sling (promotional offers as low as $4.99) and the ESPN streaming app.

The SEC is packed with teams that are filled with dogs that look to do nothing but win. Tennessee has been part of that club this season; among the teams in the AP Top 25, they hold the lowest rank in the conference at No. 20.

On the other side of the field is a Florida squad with a losing record, but they get to play the role of spoiler.

A look at Tennessee

The Volunteers offense has been on fire this season. The squad ranks second in points per game (43.4), second in total yards per game (495.0), and third in passing yards per game (318.3).

They score at a rate that makes the rest of their conference look silly, as far as how they prepare to get the ball into the endzone.

It was further shown in their recent 42-9 blowout win over New Mexico State. In a game where they were bouncing off the loss to Oklahoma, the defense was sturdy and held the Aggies run game to 27 yards on the day, while quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 73.9% of his passes for 204 yards, one score and two interceptions.

Now they get to prepare for a Florida squad who’s earned all three of their wins on home turf.

Within the rivalry, the last time they won consecutive games was the 2003 and 2004 season.

Tennessee players to watch

Joey Aguilar

One of the best quarterbacks in college football, Aguilar ranks eighth in passing yards (2,941) and ties for ninth in passing touchdowns (22) within all of college football.

Continuing his play at this rate could help the Volunteers creep into the College Football Playoff.

DeSean Bishop

Bishop has been a sturdy back that’s kept the run game afloat, ranking sixth in yards (770) and fourth in touchdowns within the SEC.

Watch No. 20 Tennessee vs. Florida for free on FuboTV

A look at Florida

A 3-7 record isn’t enough to make the College Football Playoff, and with only two games remaining on the schedule, Florida can say goodbye to meeting the six-win requirement to make a bowl game.

However, the Gators can spoil the seasons of their peers, especially the Volunteers. Doing so would end a three-game skid for the Florida squad.

The Gators offense ranks 12th in passing yards (217.1) and 15th in points (20.8) within the conference. The defense ties for 12th in points allowed (23.6) and ranks 12th in rushing yards allowed (143.2) in the conference.

Florida players to watch

DJ Lagway

The sophomore quarterback could be better, with a 12 touchdowns-13 interceptions ratio to his name.

Jadan Baugh

Baugh has been solid with 808 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Watch No. 20 Tennessee vs. Florida for free on DIRECTV

Who is announcing Tennessee vs. Florida?

With this primetime matchup being broadcasted on ABC, it will be announced by Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter).

What are the latest odds for Tennessee vs. Florida?

Note: These odds are as of Friday afternoon.

Spread: TENN (-4, -112) | FL (+4, -108)

Moneyline: TENN (-205) | FL (+170)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

Check out more information on how to watch the No. 20 Tennessee vs. Florida game today on TV and streaming services:

What: No. 20 Tennessee vs. Florida college football

When: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025

Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Gainesville, Fla.

Channel: ABC

Best streaming options: Fubo (free trial), DIRECTV (free trial), Sling (promotional offers as low as $4.99), ESPN streaming

About Fubo

Fubo, which offers a free trial, has three main packages: Pro costs $79.99/month; Elite is $89.99; Premier is priced at $99.99. Cancel before the free trial ends to avoid being charged. Fubo includes access to more than 185 sports, entertainment and news channels. You can record games, TV shows, movies and more.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV, which also gives customers a free trial, offers four packages if you continue with the service after your trial ends: Entertainment for $69.99; Choice for $84.99; Ultimate for $109.99; and premier for $159.99. Choice offers the most channels for sports enthusiasts.

About Sling

Sling TV users can get a Day Pass for $4.99; Weekend Pass for $9.99; Week Pass for $14.99; Monthly Pass for $45.99 (and get half off your first month); and Season Pass for $199.99 for 5 months, then $45.99 per month thereafter. You can also subscribe to either the Blue package or the Orange package depending on your viewing preferences. Sling Blue allows up to three streams at a time and Sling Orange allows one stream at a time.

About ESPN

ESPN now offers an Unlimited Plan for $29.99 per month (or $299.99 for entire year) and a Select Plan for $11.99 per month (or $119.99 for entire year), which replicates its previous coverage of select games and broadcasts on ESPN Plus.

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Florida

Florida vs. Tennessee prediction: Who wins, and why?

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Florida vs. Tennessee prediction: Who wins, and why?

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators football game prediction — Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

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Florida

LIVE UPDATES: Today’s breaking news in South Florida

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

LIVE UPDATES: Today’s breaking news in South Florida

You’re watching the NBC6 South Florida News streaming channel, which plays local South Florida news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can find the “NBC6 South Florida News” streaming channel on your phone or computer, and on Peacock, Samsung, Roku, Xumo or on our app, so you can watch our local news on your schedule.

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