TALLAHASSEE – For the first time in six years, Florida football avoided a Doak defeat.
The Gators (7-5, 4-4 SEC) defeated FSU (2-10, 1-7 ACC) 31-11 Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.
Florida entered as heavy favorites vs. the horrid Seminoles, but, the Gators started slow offensively. That changed thanks to the defense.
UF’s defense forced and recovered a Seminole fumble – the first of five recovered on the night.
Two plays later, Ja’Kobi Jackson gave the Gators a 7-0 lead that it kept the remainder of the game.
Florida tallied another touchdown just before the half as QB DJ Lagway threw a deep ball to Chimere Dike. The QB capped off the drive with a short touchdown pass to Marcus Burke.
FSU scored a field goal early in the third. Florida then countered with a FG of its own, and the Seminoles were on the verge of making it a one possession game late in the third.
But then the Seminoles fumbled inside the UF 5-yard line, and a few plays later Florida running back Montrell Johnson was loose for a 65-yard TD, giving the Gators a 24-3 lead.
Both teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter, as Tony Livingston caught his first-career touchdown.
The win is Billy Napier’s first over the hated in-state rival, and Florida’s first over FSU since 2021.
It also guarantees the Gators’ first winning season since 2020. Florida will find out which bowl game it makes next Sunday.
Gators defeat FSU by 20. First victory over their in-state rival in three years, and it clinches the first winning season for the program in four years.
Tony Livingston catches his first career touchdown as he snags an eight yarder from DJ Lagway. Lagway now up to 133 yards, and the Gators have a 31-11 lead over Florida State.
Florida State reaches double digits as Lawrence Toafili tallies a two yard Seminole touchdown. Luke Kromenhoek finds Landen Thomas for the two-point conversion, making it 24-11 Florida with 3:18 to go in the 4th quarter. An 11 play, 59 yard drive for FSU.
Gators senior RB explodes for a 65 yard touchdown that puts him over 3,000 yards for his college career. Ends a six play, 93 yard drive for Florida, which now leads Florida State 24-3 early in the fourth quarter.
Gators will take their two touchdown lead into the fourth after FSU fumbled inside the Florida five yard line. Kam Davis misplayed the toss, and George Gumbs Jr. falls on it. It was the fourth fumble recovery for the Gators, and the sixth Seminole fumble as a whole.
FSU’s Lawayne McCoy muffs a Jeremy Crawshaw punt, and long-snapper Rocco Underwood recovers it. Florida can’t get a first down after recovering the red zone, but Trey Smack knocks through a 30 yard field goal. Florida leads FSU 17-3.
Seminoles finally get on the board as Ryan Fitzgerald boots through a 39 yard field goal. It was a nine play, 42 yard drive. FSU converted a couple of third downs, but the Gators clamped down in the red zone.
Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway is 9 of 15 for 100 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception in his first Florida-FSU game. UF’s defense is pitching a shutout with 5 sacks and 2 forced turnovers. Florida outgained FSU 192-79 in the first half and will get the kickoff to start the third quarter.
Lagway made a heck of a play in the second quarter shedding an FSU pass rusher and completing a pass to Chimere Dike downfield.
Florida extends its lead to 14-0 with 25 seconds left in the first half as quarterback DJ Lagway caps a nine-play, 80-yard TD drive with a 4-yard TD pass to wide receiver Marcus Burke.
Florida has outgained Florida State 57-22, with 56 yards on the ground. Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is 1 of 5 for 1 yard passing so far.
Representatives of the Taxslayer Gator Bowl are in attendance for tonight’s game between Florida football and FSU. The Gator Bowl with an SEC-ACC tie in, is a possible destination for UF this bowl season.
Off an FSU turnover, Florida drives 14 yards on two plays as Ja’Kobi Jackson scores on a one-yard TD run to give the Gators a 7-0 lead on FSU with 2:28 left in the first half. The TD was set up on a Jack Pyburn strip sack of FSU quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, which freshman defensive lineman D’Antre Robinson recovered at FSU’s 14-yard line. Florida has now forced a takeaway in nine straight games.
Defensive back Aaron Gates, right guard Dameion George Jr. and linebacker Grayson Howard are out for Florida. Defensive lineman Cam Jackson limped off the field with a leg injury the first play of the game.
Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway will improve to 5-1 as a starter as Florida will control time of position and run all over a weary FSU defense. Defensively, Florida will continue to play at a high level and hold an opponent under 17 points for the third straight game.
Final Score prediction: Florida 38, Florida State 14
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 29.
Betting line: Florida -16.5
O/U: 45.5 points
Per weather.com, the forecast for the Florida-Florida State game at kickoff at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., is 46 degrees with a 4% chance of rain and winds from the northeast at 4 mph.
Florida football vs Florida State tickets can be purchased secondary markets such as such as StubHub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek.
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