Florida football defeats Florida State to end the regular season 7-5

On December 1, 2024By Littum

Florida football took a first quarter lead and held it the rest of the game to defeat rival Florida State 31–11 for the first time in three years.

TALLAHASSEE – For the first time in six years, Florida football avoided a Doak loss.

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 came in as heavy favorites vs. the cruel ones Seminolesbut the Gators got off to a slow start 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, which it maintained the rest of the game.

Florida got another touchdown just before the half when QB DJ Lagway threw a deep ball to Chimere Dike. The QB finished the drive with a short touchdown pass to Marcus Burke.

FSU scored a field goal early in the third. Florida then punted 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 broke free 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 plays in next Sunday.

Florida football vs Florida State score updates

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	Score
Florida	7	7	3	14	31
State of Florida	0	0	3	8	11

Gators defeat FSU by 20. First win over in-state rival in three years and first winning season for program in four years.

Tony Livingston catches his first career touchdown when he catches an eight-yarder from DJ Lagway. Lagway is now up to 133 yards and the Gators have a 31-11 lead over Florida State.

Florida State reaches double digits as Lawrence Toafili scores a two yard Seminole touchdown. Luke Kromenhoek finds Landen Thomas for the two-point conversion, making it 24-11 Florida with 3:18 left in the 4th quarter. An 11 play, 59 yard drive for FSU.

The Gators senior RB explodes for a 65 yard touchdown that puts him over 3,000 yards for his college career. Caps a six-play, 93-yard drive for Florida, which now leads Florida State 24-3 early in the fourth quarter.

The Gators will take their two touchdown lead into the fourth after FSU fumbled inside the Florida five yard line. Kam Davis fouled and George Gumbs Jr. falls on it. It was the fourth fumble recovery for the Gators, and the sixth Seminole fumble overall.

FSU’s Lawayne McCoy muffs a Jeremy Crawshaw punt and long snapper Rocco Underwood recovers it. Florida can’t get a first down after regaining the red zone, but Trey Smack kicks through a 30 yard field goal. Florida leads FSU 17-3.

The Seminoles finally get on the board as Ryan Fitzgerald kicks off a 39 yard field goal. It was a nine play, 42 yard drive. FSU converted a pair 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 pitches 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 hell of a play in the second quarter, throwing 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.

Taxslayer Gator Bowl representatives are in attendance for tonight’s game between Florida football and FSU. The Gator Bowl with an SEC-ACC tie is a possible destination for UF this bowl season.

After an FSU turnover, Florida drives 14 yards on two plays as Ja’Kobi Jackson scores on a 1-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 sack by FSU quarterback Luke Kromenhoek that freshman defensive lineman D’Antre Robinson recovered at the FSU 14-yard line. Florida has now forced a takeaway in nine straight games.

Florida football vs Florida State injury updates

Defensive back Aaron Gates, right guard Dameion George Jr. and linebacker Grayson Howard is off to Florida. Defensive lineman Cam Jackson limped off the field with a leg injury on the first play of the game.

Florida football vs Florida State kickoff time

Date: Saturday 30 Nov
Time: 19.00
Location: Doak Campbell Stadium at Bobby Bowden Field (cap. 79,560). Tallahassee, Fla.

What channel is the Florida football vs Florida State game on today?

WATCH FLORIDA FOOTBALL VS FLORIDA STATE ON HULU (FREE TRIAL)

Florida football vs Florida State history

Series record: Florida leads 37-28-2
Last meeting: Florida State beat Florida 24-15 (Nov. 25, 2023, at Gainesville, Fla.)

Florida football vs Florida State predictions

Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway will improve to 5-1 as a starter as Florida will control position time and run over a tired FSU defense. Defensively, Florida will continue to play at a high level and hold an opponent under 17 points for the third straight game.

Prediction of final result: Florida 38, Florida State 14

Florida football vs Florida State betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM from and including Friday 29 Nov.

Bet line: Florida -16.5

O/O: 45.5 points

Florida football vs Florida State weather updates

Sore weather.comthe 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 a 4 mph northeast wind.

Florida Football vs Florida State Tickets

Florida football vs Florida State tickets can be purchased secondary markets such as StubHub, Living seats and SeatGeek.

SEE FLORIDA FOOTBALL PRICES FOR EVERY GAME THIS SEASON

Florida football schedule 2024

Aug. 31: Miami (L, 41-17)
Sept. 7: Samford (W 45-7)
Sept. 14: Texas A&M (L 33-20)
September 21: at Mississippi State (W 45-28)
September 28: Goodbye
Oct. 5: UCF (W, 24-13)
Oct. 12: at Tennessee (L, 11-5 p.m. OT)
Oct. 19: Kentucky (W, 48-20)
October 26: Goodbye
Nov. 2: Georgia (Jacksonville) (L 34-20)
Nov. 9: at Texas (L, 49-17)
Nov. 16: LSU (W, 27-16)
November 23: Miss Ole (W 24-17)
Nov. 30: at Florida State
Record: 6-5, 4-4 SEC

Florida State Football Program 2024

August 24: Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) (L 24-21)
Sept. 2: Boston College (L 28-13)
September 7: Goodbye
September 14: Memphis (L 20-12)
Sept. 21: California (W, 14-9)
Sept. 28: at SMU (L 42-16)
Oct. 5: Clemson (L 29-13)
October 12: Goodbye
Oct. 18: at Duke (L 23-16)
October 26: at Miami (L 36-14)
Nov. 2: North Carolina (L 35-11)
November 9: at Notre Dame (L 59-3)
November 16: Goodbye
November 23: Chalreston Southern
November 30: Florida
Record: 2-9, 1-7 ACC

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