My Ten Favorite Florida Gator Games (2016-2019)

            I was reminiscing recently about all the games I watched as a Gator and I knew I had to write this. Once again, nothing analytical going on here but I did have a fun time writing this. During my four years at UF, I attended every home game and watched a bunch more on TV. I attended all but one home games with my brother, four with a friend, one with my parents, and even one with my girlfriend. I will admit that I never watched college football before 2016. Being at UF, however, that quickly changed.

B         Before I get into my ten favorite games from 2016-2019, I’ll mention a couple honorable mentions. 2018 at Vanderbilt got some serious consideration. That game saw a shouting match between Dan Mullen and Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason, as well as an exciting comeback that saw the score change from 3-21 to a final 37-27. I also considered having any of the two victories over FSU. While they were both blowouts, they were no doubt satisfying to watch. The breakdown of these games: one game from 2016, three games from 2017, two games from 2018, and four from 2019. Those four seasons, the Gators went 9-4, 4-7, 10-3, and 11-2, respectively. Seven of the games are started by Feleipe Franks, although two of those were finished by other quarterbacks. Jim McElwain coached four of these games and Dan Mullen coached the other six. Five of the games were played at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

10. 2019 Orange Bowl (Florida Gators vs Virginia Cavaliers)

Date: December 30^th, 2019

Final Score: 36-28 (W)

No crazy comebacks or major upset in this game, but it’ll hold a special place in my heart as the last Florida game of my college years. Everyone was anticipating a blowout, but Virginia, led by QB Bryce Perkins, proved to be a tougher opponent than expected. After a quick 14-14 start to the game, Florida started breaking away the score but Virginia was always there chip away, but never quite enough to tie the game back up. Perkins ended the game with 323 yards and four TD passes in a losing effort. The player people will remember from this game will be Orange Bowl MVP La’Mical Perine, who in his last game rushed for 138 yards and two TDs while also receiving 43 yards and a TD. It was the perfect way to end my four years as a student fan.

Highlights:

• Perine with the huge run on the first drive of the game (0:22)
• Perkins with such a great TD that I had to include it (3:58)
• Florida picks off Perkins near the endzone with 5:11 left in the game (11:59)

9. Texas A&M @ Florida

Date: October 14^th, 2017

Final Score: 17-19 (L)

I know it seems weird to include a loss on the list. I wasn’t considering it at first. This game, however, finds its way onto the list because of the memories I have with it and because I have to admit it was a great game, just with the wrong result. This was first and only game my parents were able to attend with me. We were all so excited to get to watch the game together. It’s a shame because watching these highlights, Florida really blew it. It was a low scoring game, and Florida led 17-10 heading into the fourth quarter. I definitely remember being in a terrible mood in the middle of the game because the Yankees lost to the Astros in extra innings in Game 2 of the ALCS. Three unanswered field goals put Texas A&M up 19-17. Florida had the ball with 58 seconds left and no time outs. There certainly was hope with Franks after the Tennessee game earlier that year. This time though, on the first play of the drive, Franks immediately threw an interception and the game was effectively over. Early on, we learned you took the good (his 79-yard QB run earlier was truly electric) with the bad with Franks. This loss put the team record to 3-3, which ultimately became 4-7 by the end of the season. I think it had something to do with those weird gator-print uniforms they were wearing that day.

Highlights:

• Feleipe Franks runs for 79 yards (4:42)
• Franks throws a game-ending pick (8:59)

8. Florida @ LSU

Date: November 19^th, 2016

Final Score: 16-10

This game is all about context and the ending. There was so much rescheduling drama leading up to it. The game was supposed to be played in Gainesville but Hurricane Matthew caused a postponement of it. The schools couldn’t reach an agreement and the rescheduled game was not played in Gainesville but instead played in Baton Rouge. As you can imagine, Florida fans were all upset. If that wasn’t enough motivation for a win, the SEC East Championship was on the line. There was even a scuffle at the beginning of the game! And of course, LSU was favored to win. One funny takeaway was that it was Austin Appleby who started this game. Definitely not the first QB you think of during my time at UF. The score was tied at 10-10 early in the fourth quarter until Florida went ahead with a field goal. On the following kickoff, LSU fumbled and Florida got the ball right back, eventually scoring another field goal to go up 16-10 with 3:24 left in the game. An LSU touchdown of course would tie the game and the extra point would win it. LSU managed to get first and goal at the 6-yard line with a running 0:37 seconds left. On third down, one-yard line, Florida got a stop on a run up the middle. LSU tried the play one more time on fourth down but Florida got the stop again, and the time had expired to 0:00.

Highlights:

• The pregame scuffle (0:00)
• Vosean Joseph gets a huge hit on QB Danny Etling running to the endzone (6:30)
• Freshman Tyrie Cleveland’s 98-yard TD (7:13)
• Florida’s goal line stand (13:39-15:00)
• Mick Hubert’s call of the last play

7. Auburn @ Florida

Date: October 5^th, 2019

Final Score: 24-13 (W)

In all the games I’ve attended at the Swamp, this is the one that had the most energy. Both teams were 5-0 at this point, although Auburn was higher ranked (7^th) than Florida (10^th).  Everyone was incredibly hyped up to upset Auburn. The game attendance was an eye-popping 90,584. Auburn got the ball to start the game but that quickly ended on a three-and-out. I remember even that had the place rocking. Then, on the second play of Florida’s drive, Kyle Trask threw a 64-yard touchdown to Freddie Swain to take the early lead. That one play right there was the loudest I ever heard the Swamp in my four years. People were going crazy. Auburn went three-and-out right again, this time having to call a time out on 2^nd down, not even three minutes into the game, because the fans were so loud. Both teams played pretty sloppy afterwards. Freshman Bo Nix struggled, completing only 11 of 27 passes while throwing three interceptions. Tommy Townsend attempted a fake punt on 4^th and 3 and failed spectacularly. Trask fumbled the ball three times, but the real scare was when he got taken out of the game in the second quarter after appearing to hurt his leg. Flashbacks to Franks getting hurt earlier in the season happened really quick. Trask later returned and the crowd went nuts again. With 9:04 to go in the fourth quarter, La’Mical Perine ran for 88 yards all the way to endzone to give Florida a 24-13 lead.

Highlights:

• Freddie Swain’s TD to start the game (0:27)
• Florida recovers Auburn’s muffed punt at the 3-yard line (2:53)
• Auburn player Derrick Brown recovers Trask’s fumble, returns 42 yards before falling on his way to the endzone (3:32)
• Florida sacks Nix back 22 yards (7:44)
• Perine’s TD gives Florida an 11-point lead (7:54)

6. Florida @ Kentucky

Date: September 23^rd, 2017

Final Score: 28-27 (W)

This is another game where context is very important. Long before I ever cared about the Florida Gators, they were beating up on Kentucky. Heading into this matchup, Florida had beaten Kentucky 30 consecutive games. This was also the week after Feleipe Franks’ great comeback against Tennessee. Late in the third quarter, Kentucky was winning 24-14.  Luke Del Rio came in the game and replaced Franks at QB. Franks, coming off a comeback the previous week, struggled but wasn’t awful. He threw a touchdown and threw 7/12 for 85 yards. Del Rio even threw an interception on his first drive. With 11:33 to go in the game, Kentucky led 27-14. Florida’s defense managed to hold Kentucky scoreless, and two seven-point TDs put Florida up 28-27 with 43 seconds remaining. Kentucky was set up with potential game-winning field goal but at a very long 56 yards. They missed and Florida won.  In two straight weeks, Florida had two exhilarating victories led by different quarterbacks. The following week against Vanderbilt, Del Rio would start over Franks, although an injury would put Franks back in. Franks was back to starting at QB. The streak against Kentucky would actually end the very next year, a home game defeat in 2018.

Highlights:

• Kadarius Toney’s 50-yard pass gets UF back in the game (10:52)
• Kentucky misses the field goal and Florida wins (14:34)

5. Miami @ Florida (Camping World Stadium, Orlando)

Date: August 24^th, 2019

Final Score: 24-20 (W)

This was the weirdest, wildest, heart attack of a game I watched during my four years. It is not on the list for being a well-played game. Florida sacked Miami an absurd ten times and had 16 tackles for loss. Feleipe Franks had three total turnovers from a fumble and two interceptions (both of which were in the fourth quarter). It truly was a game that it felt like neither side wanted to win. One thing I remember about this game was Andrew Luck announcing his retirement from the NFL. It was all over the TV during the game. At 9:53 in the fourth quarter, Miami was set up with a 27-yard field goal to take a potential 23-17 lead but missed the easy points. Franks responded with some big time plays, completing a deep pass and then rushing for a touchdown to take the lead, 24-20. On the following drive, Miami turned the ball over on downs. Franks, on the very next play, threw a horrendous interception. The camera panned to Steve Spurrier, who looked very upset. Luckily for Florida, Miami got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to push them back to the 40-yard line. Miami found themselves in a 4^th and 34 position but got bailed out by a pass interference. Finally, ultimately, Florida somehow hung on and won the game. Like I said earlier, this game reminded us you have to take the good with the bad with Franks. What a way to start the season.

Highlights:

• Tommy Townsend’s fake punt results in a first down (1:41)
• Florida recovers Miami’s botched punt return (9:47)
• Franks’ 65-yard pass to Josh Hammond and rushing TD (12:09)
• Franks throws an awful interception with 4:20 to go (13:51)
• Pass interference on 4^th and 34 (14:43)

4. South Carolina @ Florida

Date: November 10^th, 2018

Final Score: 35-31 (W)

The previous week, the Gators got blown out at home against Missouri 17-38. Things got so bad that Franks was benched and backup Kyle Trask was put in the game. I can remember being in the stands and all the fans were (sarcastically) cheering loudly with every completion Trask made. It was definitely a contrast to the booing that Franks would hear. Franks ultimately got a second chance (especially after Trask broke his foot in practice) and started the next week at home. This wasn’t the craziest game he ever played, but it was certainly the biggest comeback Franks ever had. Early in the game, Florida trailed 0-14 but evened the score. That was a comeback before the comeback. Late into the third quarter, South Carolina, coached by former Gator Will Muschamp, led 31-14. The Gators marched all the way back with three touchdowns to take the lead. The third touchdown was a risky one; on 4^th and Goal, when a field goal could tie the game, Franks instead ran the ball in to take the lead. The key to Florida’s win was the running game. Jordan Scarlett rushed for 159 yards, Perine rushed for 107 and two TDs, Kadarius Toney had only four carries but one for 33 yards (plus a receiving TD), and Feleipe Franks himself rushed for two TDs. I was fortunate to be sitting in the first row behind the field goal post this game with my brother and a friend. To top off the comeback, several players from the team ran around the stands and high fived fans. Yes, Franks and Dan Mullen high fived me. How could you not love Feleipe Franks? It was also nice to see those annoying Gamecock fans sitting near us go home unhappy.

Highlights:

• Franks runs for the touchdown, shushes the fans (5:10)
• Franks runs for the game-winning touchdown on fourth down (13:35)
• CJ Henderson’s clutch interception (14:05)

3. LSU @ Florida

Date: October 6^th, 2018

Final Score: 27-19 (W)

With the rivalry between these two teams, any Florida victory is going to be sweet. I knew this game was an upset but reading about this game in retrospect puts it in more extreme perspective: Florida was ranked 22 and LSU was ranked 5. This game had the rivalry intensity, the upset factor, and a great fourth quarter to make it one of my favorites. Everything was already high energy, and Tim Tebow’s pregame induction to the Ring of Honor only added to it. Florida led 14-10 at halftime, but LSU took a 19-14 lead with 11:14 to go in the fourth quarter.  On the next drive, a double-pass from Lucas Krull back to Feleipe Franks set up La’Mical Perine’s rushing TD to take the lead back, 20-19. Later, LSU QB Joe Burrow threw a pick-six to Brad Stewart Jr. with 1:45 left in the game, just about sealing a victory. The crowd was going wild; I remember people from high up in the stands throwing the ice and water out of their drinks downhill. Burrow proceeded to throw another interception on the next drive, ending the game for good. Joe Burrow had some hype behind him this game as the new transfer to LSU. No doubt it’s funny watching this game where he struggled, now knowing the legendary season he would have in 2019. These were his first interceptions of the season.

Highlights:

• Franks catches a pass, Perine runs for a TD (10:51)
• Brad Stewart Jr.’s pick-six (12:54)
• Burrow throws a game-ending interception (14:05)

2. Tennessee @ Florida

Date: September 16^th, 2017

Final Score: 26-20

We all remember the remarkable ending: with one last play before a potential overtime, Feleipe Franks completed a 63-yard pass to Tyrie Cleveland to end the game. This is a play that’ll be remembered for a long time. To me, it was the top play during my four years. A very close, nerve-racking game is what preceded that special finish. Most of the scoring was done in the second half; the Gators led 6-3 at halftime and only field goals had been scored. Tennessee running back John Kelly, who has since played in the NFL, had what I believe to be the most dominant game against UF during my time there. Kelly rushed for 141 yards on 19 carries and received 96 yards on six catches; he couldn’t be stopped. Three consecutive drives in the fourth quarter led to most of the game’s scoring: touchdown Tennessee, then touchdown UF, then touchdown Tennessee, to make the score 20-17 with UF winning. Florida led for the majority of the game, up until Tennessee tied it at 20 with 50 seconds remaining. Florida had blown the lead but redemption in overtime was still hopeful. Then, one crazy play ended it in regulation. It should be noted that Tennessee missed three field goals, surely affecting what could have been a different game. This was another great game where I got to sit close to the endzone; I can still see John Kelly gator chomping at us.

Highlights:

• CJ Henderson’s pick-six (8:37)
• John Kelly’s TD, Gator chomp celebration, and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (9:56)
• The final play (13:29)

1. Florida @ Kentucky

Date: September 14^th, 2019

Final Score: 29-21

After losing the winning streak in 2018, Florida looked threatened to lose to Kentucky two years in a row. Down 21-10 late in the third quarter, Feleipe Franks got hurt. It looked bad and it was clear that he would be out for a long time. Doubts about the season ensued of course but the immediate focus quickly became what would happen that game. Kyle Trask took over for Franks, and instead of looking deflated by his teammate’s injury, brought some life back into the Gators. Under Trask, the Gators went on to score three TDs in the fourth quarter. With about four minutes left in the game, Trask ran the ball in (only in a Feleipe Franks fashion) to put Florida up 22-21. With 54 seconds left in the game, it looked like Kentucky would surely take a two-point lead with a 35-yard field goal. Instead, kicker Chance Poore miraculously missed. A late TD by Florida put the game away for good. The game was an exhilarating comeback led by Trask, who lifted the team up after a devastating injury to the starting QB, and a heart attack ending seeing that field goal miss to the right. Trask ended up being great the rest of the season.  This game was supposed to be devastating but ended up lifting the team, becoming the highlight game of the season.

Highlights:

• Franks gets hurt (9:29)
• Trask’s last-second pitch to Perine for the touchdown (11:47)
• Trask runs in for the game-winning touchdown (13:52)
• Kash Daniel tries injuring Kyle Trask
• Kentucky misses the field goal (14:30)
• Josh Hammond’s 76-yard TD to seal the game (14:50)