Coach Dan Mullen and quarterback Kyle Trask on the sideline during Florida's rocky first quarter in the Cotton Bowl. (Photo: Jim Cowsert/UAA Communications)
Gators Fall Hard To Sooners In Cotton Bowl
Thursday, December 31, 2020 | Football, Scott Carter
ARLINGTON, Texas β The Gators' first appearance in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl might make them hesitate to come back if invited.
Blame No. 6-ranked Oklahoma's big-play offense. Blame too many Florida players opting out. Blame three Kyle Trask interceptions in the first quarter or too many dropped passes by the fill-in UF receivers. Blame the defense for allowing a Cotton Bowl-record 684 yards to the Sooners.
This one was ugly for Florida early. It was ugly late. In the middle, the Gators made it interesting for a while. But in the end, the Sooners blasted the undermanned seventh-ranked Gators 55-20 at AT&T Stadium. The Gators played without eight regular starters, including their four leading receivers.
"Rough game for us,'' UF head coach Dan Mullen said.
He got no argument from his star quarterback, one of four Heisman Trophy finalists.
"This is not the way we want to go out,'' Trask said.
Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler pounced on Florida's depleted defense on the first drive of the game, firing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims for a 7-0 lead barely 2 minutes into the game.
Meanwhile, Trask endured the worst performance of his record-breaking career, throwing three interceptions on Florida's opening three drives. Trask finished 16 of 28 for 158 yards and eventually gave way to backup Emory Jones early in the second half. The first one was intercepted and returned 45 yards by Tre Norwood for a score, putting the Sooners ahead 14-0 and setting the tone for the night.
The Gators made too many mistakes and whenever they did, Oklahoma usually cashed in as the Big 12 champion Sooners closed the season with eight consecutive wins. The Gators closed the season going in the opposite direction, losing their final three games to finish 8-4.
Mullen defended the team that played toe-to-toe with Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and made sure to point out the team on the field Wednesday night was not reflective of what the Gators accomplished in his third season. It was much younger, inexperienced and it showed.
"That wasn't the 2020 team you saw," he said. "There were 25 guys missing from the 2020 team. The last game the 2020 team played was 11 days ago."
The Gators returned home after the game, landing in Gainesville around 4:30 a.m. Thursday.
For more from the Cotton Bowl and the outlook heading into the offseason, check back with FloridaGators.com later Thursday.
Β
Blame No. 6-ranked Oklahoma's big-play offense. Blame too many Florida players opting out. Blame three Kyle Trask interceptions in the first quarter or too many dropped passes by the fill-in UF receivers. Blame the defense for allowing a Cotton Bowl-record 684 yards to the Sooners.
This one was ugly for Florida early. It was ugly late. In the middle, the Gators made it interesting for a while. But in the end, the Sooners blasted the undermanned seventh-ranked Gators 55-20 at AT&T Stadium. The Gators played without eight regular starters, including their four leading receivers.
"Rough game for us,'' UF head coach Dan Mullen said.
He got no argument from his star quarterback, one of four Heisman Trophy finalists.
"This is not the way we want to go out,'' Trask said.
Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler pounced on Florida's depleted defense on the first drive of the game, firing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims for a 7-0 lead barely 2 minutes into the game.
Meanwhile, Trask endured the worst performance of his record-breaking career, throwing three interceptions on Florida's opening three drives. Trask finished 16 of 28 for 158 yards and eventually gave way to backup Emory Jones early in the second half. The first one was intercepted and returned 45 yards by Tre Norwood for a score, putting the Sooners ahead 14-0 and setting the tone for the night.
The Gators made too many mistakes and whenever they did, Oklahoma usually cashed in as the Big 12 champion Sooners closed the season with eight consecutive wins. The Gators closed the season going in the opposite direction, losing their final three games to finish 8-4.
Mullen defended the team that played toe-to-toe with Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and made sure to point out the team on the field Wednesday night was not reflective of what the Gators accomplished in his third season. It was much younger, inexperienced and it showed.
"That wasn't the 2020 team you saw," he said. "There were 25 guys missing from the 2020 team. The last game the 2020 team played was 11 days ago."
The Gators returned home after the game, landing in Gainesville around 4:30 a.m. Thursday.
For more from the Cotton Bowl and the outlook heading into the offseason, check back with FloridaGators.com later Thursday.
Β
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballFlorida Football | Urban Meyer 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Press Conference
Tuesday, December 09
Urban Meyer - Hall of Fame Press Conference
Tuesday, December 09
Florida Football | New Head Football Coach Jon Sumrall Wants to Win "TOMORROW" π
Tuesday, December 02
Florida Football | New Head Football Coach Jon Sumrall "WILL NEVER BACK DOWN" ππ€
Tuesday, December 02
