Game Day: Florida vs LSU (ESPN, 7 pm)

Saturday, October 15

Gainesville, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Gators

LSU

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during the Gators' game against the LSU Tigers on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Hannah White

The Gators host LSU on Saturday on Tom Petty Day at The Swamp. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)

Game Day: Florida vs LSU (ESPN, 7 pm)

Saturday, October 15, 2022 | Football, Chris Harry

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida-LSU series has been defined by shootouts of late, what with the Gators averaging 518 yards and nearly 35 points per game the last three years. The rivalry has been defined by another facet, as well.

Victories for the Tigers.

Despite those gaudy offensive UF numbers (and an all-time series that stands a tight 33-32-2 in favor of the Gators), LSU has won each of the previous three meetings, four of the last five, seven of the last nine, and nine of the last 12. As you might guess (or perhaps recall), the Tigers have put up some pretty fat digits of their own during that span.

* How about 449 yards (a whopping 321 rushing) in the 49-42 back-and-forth affair Oct. 16, 2021 at Baton Rouge, an outcome that kicked in a three-game losing streak for the Gators and, eventually, the firing of Coach Dan Mullen.

* UF out-gained LSU in total yards 609 to 418 in the COViD-delayed 2020 game, but the Gators submarined themselves with three first-half turnovers and one fairly memorable late penalty in losing 37-34 at home with a possible berth in the College Football Playoff on the line.

* In 2019, both teams were unbeaten and ranked in the top 10, with Joe Burrow and the Tigers halfway through their Heisman Trophy and national-championship season. LSU won that won one 42-28, seizing command with four consecutive touchdown drives — two to end the first half, two to start the second — on the way to 511 yards.

So what to make of Saturday's 2022 meeting, with the Gators (4-2, 1-2) and Tigers (4-2, 2-1) squaring off Saturday night at sold-out Spurrier/Florida Field on "Tom Petty Night" in a game between two first-year coaches — UF's Billy Napier and LSU's Brian Kelly, by way of Notre Dame — looking to rebuild a pair of proud programs? The two have played annually since 1971 and the Gators have not lost four straight in the series since 1977-80.

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

With their identical current won-loss records come some fairly even statistics; on offense, that is. The Gators average 435.3 yards per game, which ranks seventh in the Southeastern Conference and 49th nationally, compared to the Tigers at 428.8 (8th and 54th), with Arizona State transfer quarterback Jayden Daniels (1,215 yards, 7 TD, 1 INT) off to a pretty solid start at 256.7 yards passing per game. He also leads the team in rushing (359 yards, 3 TD).

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, the transfer from Arizona State, will provide a serious threat as both a passer and runner.

Florida is 12th in the SEC in total defense, giving up 412.8 yards each week, which is 99th nationally. Those numbers play into the trend of the previous three meetings in the series, where the UF defense has seemed helpless at times. Tigers tailback Tyrion Davis-Price gashed the Gators for a school-record 287 yards on 36 carries a year ago. The only reason UF was in that game was because Anthony Richardson, then a redshirt sophomore, came off the bench to pass for three touchdowns and run for another. He also had a pair of turnovers in relief.

Richardson, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, may have to do a little bit of everything again, preferably without the turnovers (he has nine on the season, including two in last week's 24-17 win over Missouri). The Gators, though, figure to rely on a rushing attack that is averaging 214.0 yards per game, which is fourth in conference and 19th overall.

LSU has the league's No. 4-rated defense, allowing 328.5 yards per game (29th in FBS). The Tigers, like the Gators two weeks earlier, got lit up by Tennessee's high-powered steamroller in a 40-13 home defeat last week, with the Volunteers cranking out 511 yards.

How will all those number shake out Saturday night in the "Swamp?"

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN, with Joe Tessitore on play-by-play, Greg McElroy providing analysis and Katie George working the sidelines. For radio and television broadcast info, click here. The game will be replayed Sunday at 7 p.m. and again Monday at 5:30 a.m., both on the SEC Network. The Learfield Gator IMG Sports Network coverage, with Sean Kelly and Shane Matthews in the booth, and Tate Casey on the sidelines, will begin at 4 p.m.

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