Graphic: Scott MacCord/UAA Communications
The Quick Slant: FSU 38, Gators 22
Saturday, November 25, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter
Florida loses for the fifth consecutive year to the Seminoles.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In a rarity in this heated rivalry, Florida and Florida State each took the field Saturday with losing records. And both teams left the field with losing records.
However, in the 60 minutes of football in between, the Seminoles looked closer to a winning program than the Gators. FSU won 38-22 before an announced crowd of 89,066 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the 62nd all-time meeting between the schools.
FSU (5-6) won for the fourth consecutive time at 'The Swamp' to keep its bowl hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Gators (4-7) are ready to put 2017 in the rearview mirror.
For more on Saturday's game, we offer The Quick Slant:
WHAT IT MEANS: The Gators suffer their fifth consecutive loss to Florida State, which had never happened until the clock struck zero Saturday. Since the schools started playing each other annually in 1958, FSU had never won more than four in a row against the Gators, accomplishing the feat from 1977-80 and 1987-90. Florida's last win in the series came in 2012 at Doak Campbell Stadium.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Twenty Gators were honored on Senior Day, hoping to finish their careers with a victory over the Seminoles. Instead, they finish 0-4 as FSU defeated the Gators for the seventh time in eight seasons since Jimbo Fisher took over FSU in 2010. Fisher improved to 14-2 overall against the Gators and Miami, FSU's two biggest in-state rivals.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Seminoles scored 28 of their 38 points off four UF turnovers, all committed by quarterback Feleipe Franks. The Seminoles returned Franks' fumble in the first quarter for a score and later returned an interception for a score and converted two more interceptions into touchdowns. Franks had a tough day, completing 18 of 39 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He was sacked five times and lost the aforementioned fumble.
SUBPLOT: The Gators suffer only their second losing season since 1980, finishing 4-7. Florida lost six of its final seven games after a 3-1 start. Both of those losing seasons have come in the past five years. The Gators finished 4-8 in 2013.
UP NEXT: Florida's search for its next head coach ramps up with the regular season over and UCLA announcing Chip Kelly as its new head coach on Saturday. The names you have heard as potential candidates include Scott Frost, Willie Taggert, Dan Mullen and Charlie Strong. Perhaps one of them will be the 27th head coach in school history. Maybe not. Regardless, Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin is likely to hire Florida's next coach sooner rather than later as the coaching carousel speeds up furiously into the offseason.
However, in the 60 minutes of football in between, the Seminoles looked closer to a winning program than the Gators. FSU won 38-22 before an announced crowd of 89,066 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the 62nd all-time meeting between the schools.
FSU (5-6) won for the fourth consecutive time at 'The Swamp' to keep its bowl hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Gators (4-7) are ready to put 2017 in the rearview mirror.
For more on Saturday's game, we offer The Quick Slant:
WHAT IT MEANS: The Gators suffer their fifth consecutive loss to Florida State, which had never happened until the clock struck zero Saturday. Since the schools started playing each other annually in 1958, FSU had never won more than four in a row against the Gators, accomplishing the feat from 1977-80 and 1987-90. Florida's last win in the series came in 2012 at Doak Campbell Stadium.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Twenty Gators were honored on Senior Day, hoping to finish their careers with a victory over the Seminoles. Instead, they finish 0-4 as FSU defeated the Gators for the seventh time in eight seasons since Jimbo Fisher took over FSU in 2010. Fisher improved to 14-2 overall against the Gators and Miami, FSU's two biggest in-state rivals.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Seminoles scored 28 of their 38 points off four UF turnovers, all committed by quarterback Feleipe Franks. The Seminoles returned Franks' fumble in the first quarter for a score and later returned an interception for a score and converted two more interceptions into touchdowns. Franks had a tough day, completing 18 of 39 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He was sacked five times and lost the aforementioned fumble.
SUBPLOT: The Gators suffer only their second losing season since 1980, finishing 4-7. Florida lost six of its final seven games after a 3-1 start. Both of those losing seasons have come in the past five years. The Gators finished 4-8 in 2013.
UP NEXT: Florida's search for its next head coach ramps up with the regular season over and UCLA announcing Chip Kelly as its new head coach on Saturday. The names you have heard as potential candidates include Scott Frost, Willie Taggert, Dan Mullen and Charlie Strong. Perhaps one of them will be the 27th head coach in school history. Maybe not. Regardless, Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin is likely to hire Florida's next coach sooner rather than later as the coaching carousel speeds up furiously into the offseason.
Players Mentioned
QB
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