The 67th all-time meeting between the Gators and Seminoles is under the lights on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (File photo/Kelly Chase)
Game Day: Florida vs. No. 5 Florida State (7 pm, ESPN)
Saturday, November 25, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When they stepped onto newly christened Bobby Bowden Field on a rainy night 19 years ago, the underdog/unranked Gators and their fired coach were 7-point underdogs against No. 10 Florida State.
The overriding storyline, of course, was Florida's lame-duck coach Ron Zook going out against legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden on the night FSU dedicated the field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Bowden's honor.
[You can read our comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
In the you-can't-make-this-up file, the Gators won 20-13 and carried Zook off the field following Florida's first win in Tallahassee in 18 years. Emmitt Smith never won there. Steve Spurrier never won there. Danny Wuerffel never won there.
But 'The Zooker' did.
Ron Zook has one more win at Bobby Bowden Field now than Bobby Bowden does.
That was the lede used by longtime Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi in the next morning's newspaper. It's a memorable one that stands strong two decades later as the underdog/unranked Gators (5-6) seek to play role of spoiler against No. 5 FSU (11-0) on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The spectacle surrounding the 67th all-time meeting between the programs is not of Zook-Bowden drama, but as always, when the Gators and Seminoles tangle, there is something to talk about.
The major development heading into this year's matchup is that both teams will start their backup quarterbacks after Florida's Graham Mertz and FSU's Jordan Travis suffered season-ending injuries a week ago. Max Brown will start for the Gators, and Tate Rodemaker for the Seminoles.
In the bigger picture, the Gators can spoil FSU's quest to finish the regular season undefeated and remain in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth. Florida has won three of the last four meetings but lost in Tallahassee a season ago, 45-38, in head coach Billy Napier's inaugural season.
Napier's second season started well with five wins in the first seven games, but the Gators have lost four consecutive games and need a victory to become bowl-eligible.
"I think we're a team that can be competitive with about anybody," Napier said this week. "We're capable of beating anybody and anybody's capable of beating us, if that makes sense. I think that's who we are. Our struggles have been inconsistency. We're yet to put it together, a dominant performance in all three parts of our team. We are trying to improve. We're trying to get the most out of our players. And I think it's a fun team to coach because we've got some veteran players that are just awesome in their approach, attitude, leadership."
Florida will need all that and more against a FSU team that averages 451.6 yards of offense and 40.1 points per game, which ranks seventh among FBS schools. The Gators have struggled on defense the second half of the season and have allowed an average of 528.2 yards over the last five games.
The Gators' strength on offense is running the ball with Mertz out. Tailbacks Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. each have rushed for 710 yards, with Etienne running for eight scores and Johnson, four. FSU counters with Trey Benson, who has rushed for 743 yards and 11 touchdowns.
FSU has the advantage defensively, ranking 24th nationally in total defense (323.1 ypg) compared to Florida's 91st-ranked defense (396.5 ypg). The Seminoles have 32 sacks, led by Kalen DeLoach's seven and 10.5 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, veteran edge rusher Princely Umanmielen paces the Gators with 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN with the crew of Chris Fowler on play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit providing analysis, and Holly Rowe working the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield will air with pregame coverage beginning at 6 p.m. and eventually give way to the team of play-by-play voice Sean Kelley, former UF quarterback and two-time SEC Player of the Year Shane Matthews with the color, and sideline reporter Tate Casey.
For stations, click here.
The game will be replayed Thursday at 11 a.m. and again Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 a.m. on the SEC Network.
Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete postgame coverage from the game on Saturday and follow-up content on Sunday.
The overriding storyline, of course, was Florida's lame-duck coach Ron Zook going out against legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden on the night FSU dedicated the field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Bowden's honor.
[You can read our comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]In the you-can't-make-this-up file, the Gators won 20-13 and carried Zook off the field following Florida's first win in Tallahassee in 18 years. Emmitt Smith never won there. Steve Spurrier never won there. Danny Wuerffel never won there.
But 'The Zooker' did.
Ron Zook has one more win at Bobby Bowden Field now than Bobby Bowden does.
That was the lede used by longtime Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi in the next morning's newspaper. It's a memorable one that stands strong two decades later as the underdog/unranked Gators (5-6) seek to play role of spoiler against No. 5 FSU (11-0) on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The spectacle surrounding the 67th all-time meeting between the programs is not of Zook-Bowden drama, but as always, when the Gators and Seminoles tangle, there is something to talk about.
Last time an unranked #Gators team beat a top-10 #Seminoles team was a memorable night 19 years ago ... #TheZooker pic.twitter.com/4dvmaFkY3G
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 25, 2023
The major development heading into this year's matchup is that both teams will start their backup quarterbacks after Florida's Graham Mertz and FSU's Jordan Travis suffered season-ending injuries a week ago. Max Brown will start for the Gators, and Tate Rodemaker for the Seminoles.
In the bigger picture, the Gators can spoil FSU's quest to finish the regular season undefeated and remain in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth. Florida has won three of the last four meetings but lost in Tallahassee a season ago, 45-38, in head coach Billy Napier's inaugural season.
Napier's second season started well with five wins in the first seven games, but the Gators have lost four consecutive games and need a victory to become bowl-eligible.
"I think we're a team that can be competitive with about anybody," Napier said this week. "We're capable of beating anybody and anybody's capable of beating us, if that makes sense. I think that's who we are. Our struggles have been inconsistency. We're yet to put it together, a dominant performance in all three parts of our team. We are trying to improve. We're trying to get the most out of our players. And I think it's a fun team to coach because we've got some veteran players that are just awesome in their approach, attitude, leadership."
Florida will need all that and more against a FSU team that averages 451.6 yards of offense and 40.1 points per game, which ranks seventh among FBS schools. The Gators have struggled on defense the second half of the season and have allowed an average of 528.2 yards over the last five games.
The Gators' strength on offense is running the ball with Mertz out. Tailbacks Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. each have rushed for 710 yards, with Etienne running for eight scores and Johnson, four. FSU counters with Trey Benson, who has rushed for 743 yards and 11 touchdowns.
FSU has the advantage defensively, ranking 24th nationally in total defense (323.1 ypg) compared to Florida's 91st-ranked defense (396.5 ypg). The Seminoles have 32 sacks, led by Kalen DeLoach's seven and 10.5 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, veteran edge rusher Princely Umanmielen paces the Gators with 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN with the crew of Chris Fowler on play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit providing analysis, and Holly Rowe working the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield will air with pregame coverage beginning at 6 p.m. and eventually give way to the team of play-by-play voice Sean Kelley, former UF quarterback and two-time SEC Player of the Year Shane Matthews with the color, and sideline reporter Tate Casey.
For stations, click here.
The game will be replayed Thursday at 11 a.m. and again Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 a.m. on the SEC Network.
Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete postgame coverage from the game on Saturday and follow-up content on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
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