Gator fans across the country are celebrating now that their squad is headed to the National Championship Game for the first time in nearly two decades.

Basketball fans across the area flocked to their favorite spots to watch the Florida Gators game and many other matchups this evening.

A Gator took on a gator.

Meet Eric Bain, a Jacksonville local for 65 years, proud veteran, and lifelong Gator fan!

RV City is the ultimate Georgia-Florida game experience, where fans transform parking lots into a bustling tailgate town!

MyDry Blowout Bar launched in 2016, initially providing hair styling and beauty services at affordable prices with a very small boutique area.

Pro football legend and Gator alum Emmitt Smith will be in Jacksonville this weekend to partner with the Ready to Rescue initiative.

Sheriff Gator DeLoach announced Friday the identity of a victim in a 43-year-old cold case murder. William Irving Monroe III died from a gunshot wound to the neck a few weeks before his partial buried body was discovered on December 4, 1980. A deputy on routine patrol found the body in the area of Sisco Road and Broward Lake Road in Pamona Park.

Breezy and Warm Leading to a Football Weekend

Yikes!

The alligator was released back into the wild. No shoppers or employees were hurt during the encounter.

he Ultimate Tailgate Party — also known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party — returns Tuesday to Jacksonville.

The Ultimate Tailgate Party — also known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party — returns Tuesday to Jacksonville.

This isn't who you'd want to see lurking outside your home. 😬

A dog in Florida was attacked by an alligator, dragged into the water and eaten earlier this month.

Gator mating season is here and as we told you, the alligators are finding themselves in places where people hang out.

First off, happy holidays to all of you Gator fans out there!

The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide travel to Gainesville to battle the Florida Gators in what can be a career-defining win for head coach Dan Mullen.

It’s something no Florida dog owner ever thinks will actually happen, until it does — your pet getting attacked by an alligator.

Spring football practice has officially wrapped up, and you’ve got to feel good that Florida got in a full camp unlike last year. “You would have to say yes,” Mullen said when asked if Emory Jones is the starting quarterback going into the offseason. But Mullen also mentioned he doesn’t think about it that way because two quarterbacks need to be prepared to start. 👍 Running backs, linebackers impressed this springMullen said he feels really good about the running backs and linebackers coming out of spring. If spring is any indication, Florida has some newfound depth there as both Hopper and Wingo made plays all spring.

VERO BEACH, Fla. – It’s common to see sharks and alligators in Florida, but it is rare to see both together. Gray Vinson shared a video with WKMG showing a gator wading through the water. To the left of the screen is what appears to be a small shark swimming at pace with the gator. He said he was on a walking bridge in Vero Beach when he first noticed the gator around noon. Thanks for sharing!” and “Come on...that’s amazing,” were some of the comments shared on the Facebook video.

Gators Breakdown host David Waters takes a look at the second spring scrimmage and how the Florida defense is trending up going into the final week of spring camp. 🌟 Defense shines again in 2nd spring scrimmageFor the second scrimmage in a row, Florida’s defense came away as the most impressive side of the ball. Hawkins also drew offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Florida State and Texas, just to name a few. 📝 Notes from media availabilityThere was also media availability with linebacker Amari Burney and running backs Malik Davis and Nay’Quan Wright this week. He said: “Exciting.”AdDavis also had praise for the Florida defense.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One of North Florida’s most recognizable stadiums has changed from filling with fans for Gator games to one of the area’s largest COVID-19 vaccination sites. On Friday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium -- known popularly as “The Swamp” -- was being used for a COVID-19 vaccine “blitz.” Around 1,100 senior citizens were vaccinated there. UF Health and the Alachua County Health Department are teaming up for the mass vaccine event for Alachua County residents age 65 and older. GALLERY: UF ‘Swamp’ is now mass COVID-19 vaccination siteOfficials said they chose Ben Hill Griffin stadium because it’s big, just about everyone in the area knows where it is and it’s fairly easy to access. AdThey hope as more supply comes in that they can do mass vaccination events like this again and again.

Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask (11) is consoled after the Gator loss by Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones (5) at the 2020 SEC Football Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, December 19, 2020. [Matt Pendleton/Special to the Sun]It was a valiant effort against the number one team in the country, but the Gators fall to the Crimson Tide 52-46 in the SEC Championship. David Waters is joined by Nick de la Torre (Gators Territory) and Graham Hall (Gainesville Sun) to look back at the Gators effort and just how close they were in upsetting Alabama. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl has its matchup. Kentucky will face North Carolina State in the annual bowl game on Jan. 2, 2021 noon at TIAA Bank Field. It marks the first time that the Gator Bowl will have hosted a team with a losing record. Kentucky has lost three of its last five gamesKentucky played in the Gator Bowl in 2016, losing to Georgia Tech (33-18). NC State played in the Gator in 2018, getting pummeled by Texas A&M, 52-13.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A beloved Gainesville fixture since 1994 will return to serve Gator country in 2022. On Sunday, The Swamp Restaurant owner, Ryan Prodesky, announced that the restaurant will be rebuilt in a brand-new building that will capture the charm and likeness of the original landmark. “We were inspired by the overwhelming support we received from the Gator Nation when news broke that The Swamp’s original building was being knocked down,” said Prodesky. “When people think of The Swamp, they think of so much more than a restaurant. The Swamp Restaurant plans to re-open in August 2022, just in time for the first game of the Florida Gators football season that year.

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A 12-foot, 600-pound gator was hooked by three men in Flagler County on Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.Matthew Farlow, 25, told News4Jax that he, his brother Robby Farlow, and friend Tyler Greene legally captured the beast of an animal in a tributary of the St. Johns River. Farlow posted to Facebook saying: “Flipped the switch on a dinosaur. This beast gave Robby Farlow a right hook and a black eye. Thanks Tyler Greene for making it all happen.”Farlow said they kept the meat to eat and that they are going to get the head mounted. “Nothing goes to waste,” Farlow said.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – A 12-foot, 465-pound, three-legged gator was captured just south of Green Cove Springs early Sunday morning. Forrest Barrera, 21, told News4Jax his father, Tony Barrera, and friend, Kyle Caswell, helped legally capture the beast of an animal in the St. Johns River. He said they used one of their two gator tags. He posted to his Instagram account saying, “Got us a big boy last night.”Barrera said they kept the jaw meat along with the tail to eat and that they are going to get the head mounted. Photo: Forrest Barrera

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Florida problems call for Florida solutions...Flagler College, a private liberal arts college in St. Augustine, believes it may have a solution to its pesky duck problem around the student pool area: a faux disembodied alligator head. Ducks make a mess of the water and pool area so we are testing different methods to make our pool less inviting. The ducks seem to have adopted him so we now have a floating alligator head. Please keep the alligator head in the pool so we can see if it is effective. Maintenance is asking that students leave the fake alligator head in the pool.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - How awesome is this! One local bakery is selling Florida vs. Georgia-inspired foods ahead of the big game on Saturday! The Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will be held on Saturday and Cinotti's Bakery in Jacksonville Beach has all of your delicious tailgating foods. They are also selling sandwich trays with orange and blue/red and black Dinner rolls and cupcakes in team colors! You can order your party goods at 904-246-1728LOCATION: 1523 Penman Rd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Gator, AkitaGator is a lovable male Akita dog staying at Akita Rescue Society of Florida. Dusty, AkitaDusty is an adorable female Akita dog staying at Akita Rescue Society of Florida. Here's what Dusty's friends at Akita Rescue Society of Florida think of her: This resourceful 3-year-old momma has raised a litter of puppies while in foster care. To adopt Precious, you must have a fenced yard, a vet reference, no small children and be a permanent Jacksonville resident. Megami, AkitaMegami is a darling female Akita dog currently residing at Akita Rescue Society of Florida.

Gators Breakdown is proud to bring on former Gators tight-end Ben Troupe for a News4Jax exclusive, "Talkin' with Troupe." LISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownOn this edition, Ben hits on why hes a big fan of Feleipe Franks and why the QB position is still in good hands. Also, he looks back as his time as a Gator when the Tennessee game meant everything. Follow @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | A pple Podcasts | YouTube | Google PlayCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

(CNN) - Two albino alligators at a Florida animal park are the proud parents of 19 gator eggs, and park officials are hoping for a bounty of the rare white creatures. The eggs were discovered this month at Wild Florida Airboats and Gator Park, about an hour's drive south of Orlando. Park officials crossed their fingers for a possible mating between the two and got their wish when they noticed the gators' changing behavior going into mating season. Because they are really, really rare, we want to pull them and just ensure they get every chance they can to hatch out and be successful," Biddle said in a video on the park's Facebook page. Park officials say that with the incubator, the eggs' chances of viability jump from about 60% to about 95%.