Florida State Outlasts Florida Gators in The Swamp in 24-15 Win

The Florida Gators fell to arch-rival Florida State in The Swamp 24-15 in a game filled with self-inflicted errors and mental mistakes made by the Gators. 

Here are my takeaways from Florida’s loss, which now officially ends their season with a 5-7 record. 

One Trick Play Call Changed Everything 

One sequence that happened in this game looms large over the ultimate end result. After the Gators sacked FSU QB Tate Rodemaker in the end zone for a safety to extend their lead 12-0, Florida RB Trevor Etienne returned the free kick all the way to the FSU 40-yard line. The Gators offense came onto the field and had an opportunity to seize on some momentum, something that Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier has discussed many times earlier this season. 

So the Gators get the ball back after the safety and on first down, call a trick play that fell incomplete as Florida QB Max Brown was pressured and forced to throw the ball away. Unfortunately for the Gators, Brown was called for intentional grounding. That flag set the Gators offense back and the drive then ended with a three-and-out. On the ensuing possession, the Noles scored their first touchdown of the game.

That entire sequence felt like a wasted opportunity for the Gators and now that the game is over, felt like the turning point of the game.  

Two Undisciplined Plays Burn the Gators

Two personal foul penalties against the Gators came out very inopportune times against the Seminoles. The first being the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called against true freshman defensive tackle Jamari Lyons for spitting on a FSU offensive lineman late in the second quarter. That flag sparked Florida State’s first touchdown drive of the game right before the first half ended.

The other personal foul penalty that stuck out was Florida CB Jaydon Hill’s targeting foul against Rodemaker. Rodemaker slid short of the first down on 3rd and 14 with under four minutes remaining and was blasted in the helmet by Hill, who was subsequently ejected for targeting. Had the Gators just let Rodemaker slide without hitting him, he would have been short of the first down and the Noles would have either tried to kick a field goal or punt, but instead Florida State RB Trey Benson scored from 26 yards out to put the game on ice a few plays later.

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier was asked about the penalties in his post-game press conference Saturday night.

“There’s no excuse for those. I think some of those were technical and some of those were decision-making. So, yeah, I think a lot of things contribute to the result,” Napier said.

In a game like this, at home, against an arch-rival who has everything to play for, something you cannot do is beat yourselves. And the Gators did just that against the Seminoles, as they finished the game with eight penalties for 90 yards. In fact, the Gators had more total penalty yards (90) than QB Max Brown had passing yards (86).

Florida’s Offensive Line Got Pushed Around in the Second Half 

To put in plainly, especially on the final drive of the game by Florida’s offense, the Gators makeshift offensive line got bullied by Florida State in the second half. Florida allowed six sacks and FSU recorded 11 tackles for loss. Florida State DL Jared Verse finished the game with two and a half sacks and three tackles for loss. Florida State DL Patrick Payton finished the game with two sacks and FSU DL Braden Fiske recorded a sack. 

The Gators offensive line was without starting left tackle Austin Barber and starting center Kingsley Eguakun, but the performance by the unit was not good. Brown had little time to throw and the running game, after looking like it was going to be relied on heavily following the first half as the Gators had 110 yards rushing, disappeared in the second half, accruing just 36 yards rushing.

You also have to give credit to FSU’s defense, who have quite the ferocious front seven, led the way by Verse. They made Florida’s offense inept in the second half and played disciplined football, which allowed them to win the game in the end.

With two offensive line coaches, the play of the unit against Florida State and really over the entire season was not good enough. Changes could be made to that part of the coaching staff during the offseason, but that’s to be determined as of right now. 

The Game Changers Negatively Impact the Gators Once Again 

Speaking of units that hurt the Gators chances at an upset, the Game Changers, also known as the special teams unit for the Gators, made too many mistakes against the Seminoles.

Florida kicker Trey Smack missed two field goals and the Gators were called for a blocking out of bounds penalty during the third quarter that moved the ball back from the 45-yard line to the 30-yard line for the Florida offense. (That drive then ended with a three-and-out by the Florida offense.) 

Changing the coach/coordinator of the Game Changers unit is something that needs to be addressed this offseason.

Florida’s Defense Did Everything They Could 

In what was a somewhat surprising development given their play the past few games, Florida’s defense did just about everything they could to keep the Gators hopes of an upset alive. 

Florida State finished the game with 224 total yards and were just 4-13 on 3rd down. The Noles averaged 10.4 yards of distance on those third downs. 

FSU WR Keon Coleman had just one catch for 24 yards, but FSU RB Trey Benson, much like last season’s matchup against the Gators, had himself a game, rushing for 95 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. 

The Gators defense gave the team one their best efforts all season, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

Gators Offense Falters in the Second Half

Yes, the Gators played a backup quarterback in his first ever start in Max Brown and he did look good in the first half, making some nice throws along the sideline and making a few plays with his legs. 

However, following the safety forced by the Gators defense that made the score 12-0 Florida late in the second quarter, the Gators were outscored 24-3 the rest of the game. The defense forced two punts and a field goal by the Noles in the second half (but did give up the late touchdown to Benson). 

And Florida’s offense responded to those stops and converted field goal by FSU with a made field goal of their own, a punt, a punt, a punt, and a turnover on downs late in the game. The three punts were all on drives that ended with three-and-outs, which the Gators had five total in the game.

Even with the Gators defense doing everything they could, the offense couldn’t help them out them against the Seminoles in the second half.

Final Thoughts 

Ultimately, this loss is disappointing. However, it’s a somewhat fitting end to Napier’s second year as head coach. Self-inflicted wounds, as they have all season long, cost the Gators on multiple occasions against FSU. That should be something that it is evaluated heavily over the offseason as the prep for 2024 begins. 

With the season now officially over, the Gators will look to build upon a top-five recruiting class that they have committed (at the moment) for the 2024 recruiting cycle as well as deal with transfer portal departures.

Napier commented on what lies ahead for his program going into the offseason.

“We’re in the process of rebuilding the roster,” Napier said.

“We’re in the process of learning how to make it work at the University of Florida. We were brought here for a reason. There’s no denying that we have work to do, but I think what gives me confidence is what I see from the players, the growth I see, their words, their actions, the way they work, the selflessness, the sacrifice, their investment.”

The Gators have a lot to sort out and it’s going to take time. Just how much time is the question.