Game Day: No. 20 Florida at LSU (ESPN), noon

Saturday, October 16

Baton Rouge, La.

12 pm

Florida Gators

LSU

Game Day: No. 20 Florida at LSU (ESPN), noon

Saturday, October 16, 2021 | Football, Chris Harry

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

BATON ROUGE, La. — During his dozen seasons on the Florida sideline, Steve Spurrier went a staggering 11-1 against LSU (same as his record against Georgia, by the way). Most of the victories were routs, but that one loss was a devastating one.

The Gators were No. 1 in the nation, winners of a record 25 consecutive Southeastern Conference games and four straight league titles. They also were reigning national champions. The Tigers (and their maniacal fan base) were ready that Oct. 11, 1997 evening. The Gators were not.

Two nights earlier, starting quarterback Doug Johnson broke the team's Thursday night curfew. No one would have cared (including Spurrier, who probably would have assigned a bunch of stadium steps) were it not for Johnson's horrendous performance — no touchdowns, four interceptions, including a decisive pick-6 — in a 28-21 loss that commence a purple-and-gold storming of Tiger Stadium, goal-post downing and a seismic shift in both the SEC and national landscape.

It was a shocker, to be sure, and a prelude to what has become a Florida-LSU series when games turn on memorable moments and final outcomes often define pregame logic. Don't be surprised if such is the case again Saturday at noon (EST) when the No. 20 Gators (4-2, 2-2) and unranked Tigers (3-3, 1-2) renew their annual rivalry that now stands at 33-31-3 in favor of UF, but with LSU holding a 12-7 edge in the 19 post-Spurrier meetings.

The home team is just 10-9 in those games.

[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" preview here]

Spurrier's final crack against the Tigers came in 2001 on the road. UF was unbeaten and ranked second. LSU was 18th and in its second season under Coach Nick Saban. Rex Grossman threw five touchdown passes, the Gators cranked out more than 600 yards and Florida won going away 44-15 against an opponent that went on to capture the SEC title.

**Tim Tebow** and the "Jump Pass" of 2006.

The unpredictability (in some cases, insanity) began the next year.

* 2002 — UF lost a total of five home games with Spurrier on the sidelines, but in Year 1 under successor Ron Zook the Tigers, in winning 36-7, not only handed the Gators their second home defeat of the season, but the program's most lopsided loss at Florida Field since 1981.

* 2003 — Zook 19, Saban 7. Florida was unranked. LSU was No. 6. The Tigers went on to win the league and the national championship.

* 2006 — The legend of Tim Tebow went next level with the jump pass touchdown to tight end Tate Casey in a 23-10 victory.

* 2007 — The top-ranked Tigers went an astounding 5-for-5 on fourth down, as Coach Les Miles wore out his "Mad Hatter" welcome In Tebow's Heisman Trophy-winning season. Killer stuff, especially for the Gators (and their fans), who were gutted that night in 28-24 loss on LSU's way to the national championship.

* 2010 — More "Mad Hatter" madness. The Tigers lined up for a game-tying, 53-yard field goal for 36 seconds left, but it was a fake; the infamous flip-to-the-kicker fake. LSU scored the game-winning touchdown with six seconds remaining.

* 2015 — Florida started Coach Jim McElwain's first season 6-0 and rocketed to No. 8. The Monday before going on the road to face No. 6 LSU quarterback Will Grier was hit with a one-year suspension for violating the NCAA's substance abuse policy. The job fell to backup Treon Harris and the Gators fell 35-28 on (guess what?) a fake field goal, with the kicker catching a touchdown for the game-winning score in the fourth quarter.

* 2016 — The back-and-forth between the two programs over the cancellation and rescheduling of their game due to Hurricane Matthew not only became contentious but very public. Ultimately, UF agreed to go to Baton Rouge for a second straight year and play LSU in the regular-season finale. UF was ranked 21st, LSU 16th. There was a pregame scuffle involving players and coaches. There was a 98-yard pass thrown by Florida's Austin Appleby. And, in the end (literally), there was an epic goal-line stand as time expired, with the UF defense stuffing tailback Darius Guise to seal both a 16-10 victory and SEC East Division title.

* 2018 — The Tigers were unbeaten ranked fifth in the nation when they came to the "Swamp" to play Dan Mullen's first UF team; one that a month earlier had lost the program's first game against Kentucky in 28 years. UF prevailed 27-19 for Mullen's first big-time win.

* 2020 — The game turned because of a shoe. No further details are necessary.

What will happen today? No clue.

But expect the unexpected.

Kickoff is set for noon on ESPN, with Sean McDonough on play-by-play, Todd Blackledge providing analysis and Molly McGrath working the sidelines. For radio and television broadcast info, click here. The game will be replayed Sunday at 5 p.m. and Tuesday at midnight on the SEC Network, as well as Monday at 2 a.m. on ESPN2 and Wednesday at midnight on ESPNU.

Also, check out the "1st & 10 Pre-Game Show," hosted by Jeff Cardozo via the Florida Gators Facebook page, starting at 2:30. This week's lineup includes chats with Mullen, as well as tailback Nay'Quan Wright, linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, LSU radio's Chris Blair, plus a "Mic'd Up" segment with wide receiver Jacob Copeland.

Finally, follow senior staff writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete coverage content from the game late Saturday night and fresh content Sunday, also.