Florida football earned a season-defining win in the Swamp on Saturday with a 24-17 victory over the ninth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels, giving the Gators their magical sixth victory that opens the doors to a bowl game berth.
Lane Kiffin and Co. came in with a double-digit projected margin of victory only to find themselves in a dead heat with the home team after three-quarters of play. Billy Napier’s quad did something uncharacteristic of the program during his two-plus-year stint as head coach — made critical plays down the stretch in the absence of boneheaded errors.
And thus, the Orange and Blue were victorious in Week 13.
After the dust settled from college football’s penultimate regular-season weekend, USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg published his winners and losers column, with the Gators earning a spot on the good side.
“Upsetting Ole Miss validates Florida’s decision to bring back Billy Napier for another year and breathes some real life into a program that was on life support as recently as earlier this month,” Myerberg begins. “Facing off against maybe the toughest schedule in the country, the Gators will be back in bowl play with the chance to really develop some momentum heading into 2025.
“In freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, freshman running back Jadan Baugh, sophomore defensive back Bryce Thornton and others, Florida has a very nice core around which to build an SEC contender,” he concludes.
The Gators wrap up the 2024 regular season schedule in Tallahassee for their annual rivalry game against the Florida State Seminoles. The game will take place inside Doak Campbell Stadium and will kick off at either 7 or 7:30 p.m. ET; broadcast details have yet to be determined.
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