Florida falls to FSU 24-15 despite a strong start

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - The Florida football team falls to No. 5 FSU losing 24-15 in a sold-out Swamp. The Gators finished the 2023 regular season on a five-game losing streak, ending with a 5-7 record. The Gators ended just one victory shy of bowl eligibility. However, there is still a chance it could make a bowl trip depending on the number of bowl eligible teams and how UF’s APR score measures up against other 5-7 teams.

The Gators started off strong leaded 15-14 in the fourth quarter. Despite the slow start, the Seminoles powered through to keep their College Football Playoff dreams alive. The victory completes FSU’s seventh perfect regular season and keeps them undefeated going into the ACC championship against No. 9 Louisville.

Florida got the ball first as redshirt freshman backup quarterback Max Brown made his first career start in huge game. In the opening drive, Brown hit Tre Wilson III on a crossing route for 16-yards. Running back Trevor Etienne rumbled across midfield for a 7-yard pickup. A few plays later, Trey Smack missed a 48-yard field goal.

The Gators defense came out strong. Florida forced three-and-outs on FSU’s first two possessions. Through 19 minutes, Florida State’s star receiver Keon Coleman had one target which was an incompletion and running back Trey Benson had one rush for minus-11 yards.

In the second quarter, the Florida offense was able to drive the ball down the field. Kahleil Jackson and Hayden Hanson made some big catches to bring UF to the red zone. On third-and-goal, FSU’s Akeem Dent came up the middle on a DB blitz and sacked Brown. Dent was called for unnecessary roughness on the hit to bring the Gators to first-and-goal. Florida capitalized the second chance with Montrell Johnson Jr. taking it to the endzone for a 5-yard touchdown. Florida took the lead 7-0.

FSU’s offense could not find a rhythm. The Gators forced the Seminoles to punt on fourth-and-six. Florida State tried a fake punt, but the ball was snapped too late. After the delay of game penalty, FSU punted for real. It was shanked for 16 yards.

Florida’s next drive resulted in a 35-yard field goal from Smack, giving UF a 10-0 lead. It was followed with an excellent 62-yard punt from Jermey Crawshaw, to put FSU in horrible field position. The Gators defense continued to dominate defensively. Princely Umanmielen and Derek Wingo sacked Tate Rodemaker in the endzone for a safety to make it 12-0 with 5:08 remaining in the first half.

However, the Seminoles found a way to come back. The game took a turn for the worse for Florida, when UF’s Jamari Lyons was ejected for the game for unsportsmanlike conduct when he spit in the face of a Florida State offensive lineman. It sparked momentum for Florida State resulting in a touchdown, giving Florida just a 12-7 lead going into halftime.

Florida State rallied in the third quarter. On the opening series, Benson ran 36-yard up the left side for a touchdown to give Florida State its first lead of the game. Florida State now leads 14-12.

The Gators responded to FSU’s quick touchdown drive with a score of their own. Smack kicked a 37-yard field goal to put the Gators back ahead 15-14 with 5:58 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, FSU back ahead 17-15 after a 19-yard field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald. FSU’s defense held strong on the next drive forcing Florida to punt. On FSU’s next drive, Rodemaker scrambled on third and 14 and slid short of the marker, but Jaydon Hill was flagged for targeting to give the Seminoles a first down. Shortly after, Benson scored a 26-yard touchdown. FSU wins 24-15.