Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A trek to Death Valley a season ago resulted in a 49-42 loss to LSU that has left the Gators hungry for a win on Saturday night against their longtime Southeastern Conference rivals.

Gators receiver Ricky Pearsall was not at that game. Neither was LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. They were in Salt Lake City for a game that matched their Arizona State team against Utah for first place in the Pac-12 South.

The Sun Devils blew a 14-point halftime lead to lose, with Pearsall hauling in three passes and Daniels throwing for 237 yards and a pair of scores.

A year later, Pearsall eagerly anticipates Saturday night's game against LSU at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. One thing is certain: either he or Daniels will depart a winner.

While Pearsall is in his first season at Florida, Daniels is in his first season at LSU. Both players opted to transfer after a season in which they connected 48 times for the Sun Devils.

They are now opponents, but friendly rivals.

"He's definitely talking," Pearsall said this week. "But I talk too, so it's going to be really fun, a little rivalry with each other." 

And who's the better talker? 

"Me," Pearsall said. In his first season with the Gators, Pearsall has recorded 254 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The junior transfer has played in all six games and showed off his playmaking ability with a 76-yard touchdown run on an end-around in the win over Eastern Washington.

Pearsall is looking forward to his first Florida-LSU game and intends to soak in the atmosphere. And when it comes to SEC matchups, the level of competition is enhanced, the intensity is heightened and the adrenaline is pumping. That much Pearsall has learned in his short time at Florida.

For Pearsall, the atmosphere in the SEC is everything he heard about and more.

"It means it everything," Pearsall said. "I mean, this is what I came here for."

Florida has lost three consecutive games to LSU, its last win in the series in 2018. As the teams set to meet for the 69th time, both are vying for improvement in the second half of the season.

Pearsall's new teammates have made sure to let him know what kind of atmosphere to expect in Florida's most-anticipated home game of the season.

"There's been a lot of heat behind it, but I'm all for that," he said.

The Gators are hungry, locked in, and seeking revenge. 

And the 6-foot-1 wide receiver has made sure his defense knows what to expect from Daniels, a dual-threat standout who passed for 300 yards in last week's 40-13 home loss to Tennessee. 

"He's really athletic," Pearsall said. "He's a really good runner, so I think that's a really important thing when he gets out of the pocket he's dangerous." 

With LSU, Daniels has recorded 1,215 passing yards and has thrown for seven touchdowns. The athletic quarterback has also recorded 359 rushing yards and three scoring runs.

Florida coach Billy Napier is aware of the threat that Daniels poses. 

"The guy has arm talent, he can throw any throw in the book," Napier said. "He's accurate."

Both former Sun Devils have shined under the bright lights of the SEC in their brief time in the league. One will get the final word late Saturday night.