GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The annual Florida-Florida State game needs no introduction.
"This is a game that matters 24/7, 365," Gators head coach Billy Napier said this week.
Still, following the developments of last Saturday night, this Saturday night's tilt between the Gators (5-6) and fifth-ranked Seminoles (11-0) needs a refresher. The anticipated showdown between veteran quarterbacks Graham Mertz and Jordan Travis at The Swamp got derailed due to season-ending injuries to both starters.
This is now a game of backups: Florida's Max Brown vs. FSU's Tate Rodemaker. That said, when the Gators and Seminoles square off, the quarterbacks are just a slice of the story.
"We're going to play lights out. Our back is against the wall," Gators RB Trevor Etienne said. "We couldn't really care less what they've done previous to this game. But I wouldn't mind spoiling their season."
Florida has lost four in a row and needs a victory to become bowl-eligible. Meanwhile, the Seminoles are playing to keep their hopes alive of playing for a national title.
You don't have to remind those in Orange & Blue what a win would mean to a fan base hungry for the taste of victory.
"There's a lot of motivation,'' Gators receiver Ricky Pearsall said. "There's just a fire burning for us, just because we need to get a win. It's about that time. It's due time to get a win for us and for the university and the program."
If the Gators need any extra motivation, they have someone on their side who knows what it's like to beat FSU. Tim Tebow went 4-0 against the Seminoles and is being honored for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as part of Saturday night's festivities.
Tebow is also going to drop by the locker room for a pregame chat.
He played for the final time in this rivalry 14 years ago, but that hasn't dampened his connection to the Sunshine Showdown.
"Every year growing up, we would watch the game, and if we won, it was — ask my parents — arguably the best day of the year," Tebow said Friday on a Zoom call with reporters. "And if we lost, it was mortifying. I would lose perspective and it felt like the world was ending. I begged them to let me not go to church on Sunday because I couldn't handle the FSU fans.
"It was always bigger than a game."
In this week's edition of The Opening Kickoff, here is a closer look at the Florida-FSU matchup: THREE STORYLINES
Can the Gators pull the upset and spoil the Seminoles' bid to make the College Football Playoff? That would certainly make Florida's season and make the Gators bowl-eligible, too.
A week ago this loomed as a matchup featuring a pair of veteran quarterbacks having excellent seasons. But on Saturday, Florida's Graham Mertz (collarbone) and Florida State's Jordan Travis (leg) will be nothing more than injured spectators (see more under players to watch).
The Gators have lost four consecutive games and need something positive to end their second season under head coach Billy Napier. A win helps alter the narrative tremendously. A loss likely means a turbulent offseason and potential changes in the program.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Redshirt freshman QB Max Brown is set to make his first career start for the Gators. He came off the bench following Mertz's injury at Missouri and finished 4 of 5 for 56 yards. He rushed seven times for 47 yards and led the Gators on a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter. How will Brown respond to a week of preparation for the annual rivalry game against the Seminoles?
FSU faces the same scenario with fourth-year junior QB Tate Rodemaker set for his starting debut. Rodemaker replaced injured starter Travis in last week's 58-13 win over North Alabama, throwing for 217 yards and two scores. Rodemaker is a former South Florida target who played at Valdosta (Ga.) High before becoming the first commit for Norvell when he took over the Noles.
Florida RB Trevor Etienne rushed for 129 yards in last season's loss to FSU in Tallahassee and has scored five TDs in the past two games. Etienne seems to make the Gators' offense go when he is on the field and with the inexperienced Brown at QB, Etienne's play-making ability could be crucial for UF.
Quarterback Max Brown will make his first career start for the Gators on Saturday night at The Swamp against FSU. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
THREE DIGITS
2,641 —Yards allowed by Florida's defense in last five games. 528.2 — Average yards for Florida's opponents in last five games. 10 —Games in which a Florida opponent has gained 500 or more yards since start of 2020 season.
THREE QUESTIONS WITH … GATORS LB TERADJA MITCHELL
A veteran transfer from Ohio State, Mitchell has played in a Ohio State-Michigan game and now gets a chance in the Florida-FSU game.
Q:What has been the message from the veterans following this stretch of tough losses? Teradja Mitchell A: We've got to use these losses as lessons. We're going to face adversity. All through life you're going to face adversity. It's important for us as a team to make sure we respond. That's one thing I can say about this team: we're going to continue to put our best foot forward and continue to respond.
Q:How has this season been for you considering you did not experience a lot of losses at Ohio State?
A: It's difficult because we put in so much work here and to not get the results, obviously it's very frustrating as players. But, like I said, it all comes back to how we respond as a team. That's one thing I can say this team is going to — we're going to continue to practice hard and go out there Saturday and put our best foot forward, keep chugging away.
Q:What do you think you'll take away from your season here?
A: I love the people here. That's why I came to Florida. Coach Napier put together a great staff. I love everybody on the staff. I love the players. I love the camaraderie. I feel I've developed brothers over the past 12 months. I'm excited to go out there again and play with my brothers.
NEWS, NOTES, NUGGETS
This is the 67th all-time meeting between Florida and Florida State. The Gators lead the series 37-27-2.
The Gators have won three of the last four meetings, including two in a row at The Swamp.
Florida, coming off a loss to No. 9 Missouri, closes the regular season against two top-10 teams for only the second time in program history when it faces the fifth-ranked Seminoles. The other time was 1956 (No. 5 Georgia Tech and No. 6 Miami).
UF true freshman WR Eugene Wilson III has 58 receptions for 502 yards. He is 176 yards shy of Antonio Callaway's school record of 678 yards for a true freshman receiver, set in 2015.
Gators sophomore RB Trevor Etienne has rushed for 261 yards and five TDs over his last three games.
Florida WR Ricky Pearsall is 52 yards shy of becoming the first Gators receiver with a 1,000-yard season since Taylor Jacobs in 2002.
The Seminoles have won 17 consecutive games, tied for the second-longest win streak in school history.
FSU is limiting opponents to a 47.2-percent completion rate and is the only team in the country forcing more incompletions than completions allowed.
Seminoles WR Keon Coleman is a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist. Coleman has a team-high 45 catches, 615 yards and 11 TD receptions.
Jared Verse, FSU's talented junior DE, has a team-best 13.5 career sacks.
INJURY REPORT
GATORS — OUT: QB Graham Mertz (shoulder), LB/DL Jack Pyburn (knee, out for season), TE Jonathan Odom (upper body), WR Caleb Douglas (lower body), LB Shemar James (knee, out for season), DL Justus Boone (knee, out for season), RB Cam Carroll (knee, out for season), TE Keon Zipperer (knee), OL Caden Jones (foot). QUESTIONABLE — OL Austin Barber (upper body), TE Tony Livingtson (upper body), WR Andy Jean (lower body). FSU —OUT: QB Jordan Travis (leg), DL Darrell Jackson Jr. (eligibility, out for season). QUESTIONABLE — WR Darion Williamson (undisclosed), WR Hykeem Williams (foot). THEY SAID IT
"When I was growing up, this was the game. I used to watch this game. It's humbling to be a part of and it's something that I think each one of us, we have to have respect for that. But our fans can make a significant impact relative to how they can affect how Florida State operates on offense, especially with an inexperienced, backup quarterback. It's been rowdy in there in the past, but we need it to be special and we're going to need them to do their part Saturday night." — Gators coach Billy Napier on The Swamp factor
"I have never been there at night. I am sure it's going to be a very hostile environment. Clemson was a very hostile environment and we played pretty good there. Ultimately, we're not going to be able to control the atmosphere. We know it's going to be loud. If we go play how we're capable of playing, all those things will take care of themselves." — FSU coach Mike Norvell on The Swamp
"It was hard. That one might have hit harder than Arkansas. After the game I went outside and sat down for like 20 minutes. It was really, really tough. It was tough on the whole team. Guys were crying in the locker room because we knew we could have walked away with a win." — Gators edge rusher Princely Umanmielen on mood after last week's loss at Missouri
The Seminoles are favored by 6.5 points and the spread would be 10-plus if not for the season-ending injury last week to Travis. The Gators have their own quarterback issues and carry a four-game losing streak into the game. It's a night game at The Swamp. It's a rivalry game. It's a game that if the Gators were to win, they would spoil FSU's playoff hopes and gain momentum heading toward National Signing Day. Why not? Florida is overdue for a victory celebration. The Swamp and something (or someone) unexpected lift the Gators to the upset.
