Florida football wrapped up its 2024 regular-season schedule with a win over the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday night. That gives the Gators seven wins against five losses, guaranteeing that the program will finish with a winning record for the first time since the 2020 COVID season.
It was far from a pretty affair — in fact, if you are a ‘Noles fan it was downright ugly. But for the Orange and Blue faithful, it was a huge win that culminated in a turnaround that few truly expected from [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co.
Following Florida’s 31-11 win inside Doak Campbell Stadium, the Gators Wire staff offered their respective instant takes from the game in a good, bad and ugly format.
What could be better than Florida getting its 7th win?
GOOD: What could be better than Florida getting its seventh win of the season, clinching a winning record thanks to a rivalry game victory? Winners of three straight, the curse has been broken and Napier can march proudly into the postseason after a brutal fall for him.
Special mention to the defense, which held FSU to 11 points and 239 total yards while forcing a plethora of fumbles. They also sacked the quarterback eight times to set the Napier-era best mark. These guys came to play today.
BAD: The Gators committed seven penalties for 70 yards in this one. None were egregious but when the Seminoles did not even get a single flag pulled on them, that is a mismatch you would rather not see.
Also, the passing game struggled at times to find its rhythm — Lagway was a bit rattled in his first game inside of Doak Campbell but his receivers did him dirty early. His interception came on a play where the receivers completely botched their routes and they also dropped a few catchable balls.
UGLY: The Seminoles brought the butterfingers to the field, coughing up eight fumbles in the game — five of which were recovered by the Gators. There was nothing uglier in this game than FSU’s ability to hold onto the ball.
Florida would have had one more had it not been for sophomore inside linebacker Jaden Robinson’s attempt to grab the loose ball and run with it in the third quarter. Everyone knows you fall on that fumble and secure it first and foremost. C’est la vie. — Adam Dubbin
The defense, duh
GOOD: The defense, duh. Luke Kromenhoek was scrambling around all night and Florida won the battle in the trenches easily. Eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss and five recovered fumbles.
If that’s not dominant, I don’t know what is. The defensive front has stepped up in such a big way, and this was the perfect way to cap off a fantastic month for that unit.
BAD: Going 5-for-13 on third down against a sloppy Florida State team isn’t ideal, but it didn’t really hurt Florida in any way. It would’ve been nice to run the score up a bit against the in-state rival, but this was not the offense’s day.
At least Lagway converted late in the fourth for a putaway touchdown, and KD Daniels added another in garbage time. The good thing about wins is that it doesn’t matter if it’s ugly. The Gators are guaranteed to finish the season with a winning record for the first time under Billy Napier.
UGLY: Penalties kept Florida State on the field all night. Five for 60 yards on defense and seven for 70 overall. There aren’t many teams on Florida’s schedule where that doesn’t doom them, but Florida State couldn’t take advantage of the mental mistakes of the Gators.
Again, I’m not sweating this too much. A win is a win. — David Rosenberg
Florida’s defense was elite
GOOD: Florida’s defense didn’t just show up—they dominated, setting the tone early and refusing to let FSU’s offense find any rhythm. With eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss and eight forced fumbles, the Gators suffocated the Seminoles. Jaden Robinson and Tyreak Sapp were everywhere, relentlessly disrupting plays and keeping FSU quarterback Luke Kromenhoek under duress.
These weren’t just big plays; they were demoralizing ones, snatching momentum away from the Seminoles and delivering it to the Gators. This performance wasn’t just good—it was elite. The defense not only won Florida the game but also sent a message: this unit can carry the team when the offense sputters.
BAD: The Gators were flagged seven times for 70 yards, compared to FSU’s surprisingly penalty-free performance, especially in a rivalry game like this. These penalties stalled drives and handed the Seminoles free yardage, keeping the game closer than it needed to be before Florida ended up running away with it in the fourth quarter.
Mental lapses and avoidable mistakes disrupted Florida’s rhythm, leaving points on the field and extending FSU possessions.
UGLY: While Florida’s defense kept things under control, DJ Lagway’s performance wasn’t his best. The freshman quarterback looked jittery under pressure, especially in the first half. But how much of it also has to do with nervousness?
The flashes of potential are there—Lagway has the tools—but he also reminded us why he’s just a freshman. Despite his inconsistencies tonight, Lagway still managed to stay composed and help the Gators capture the victory. Also, throwing for two touchdowns isn’t too shabby for a “bad” game. — Aidan Gallardo
What’s next for Florida?
That is the end of the regular-season schedule for the Orange and Blue. Now the Gator Nation waits with bated breath to hear which bowl game their beloved football team will play in this December. Stay tuned to this website for more information.
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