Florida vs. Florida State: Game Grades, Analysis for Gators and Seminoles
Florida State University has been a team of destiny this season.
Overcoming four turnovers, the Seminoles did just enough to extend their win streak to 28. This time around, the team survived an inspired University of Florida squad, 24-19.
Check out the final stats here, and take a look at first- and second-half game grades below.
| Position Unit | First-Half Grades | Second-Half Grades |
| Passing Offense | C+ | C |
| Rushing Offense | D+ | C- |
| Passing Defense | B- | B+ |
| Rushing Defense | D- | D |
| Special Teams | A+ | C |
| Coaching | B- | B- |
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Passing Offense
Quarterback Treon Harris had his fair share of open receivers but couldn’t do much in the first half, only tossing for 88 yards and a touchdown. He did make some costly mistakes though, tossing a pair of interceptions, including one that went 94 yards back for a touchdown.
Things didn’t get much better in the second half, as Harris finished with only 169 yards through the air.
Rushing Offense
On a day when the Gators really needed the rushing attack to step up, it fell short. The team only managed 44 yards on 16 carries in the first half.
Florida finished the game with 113 yards on the ground, but that was largely in part to Harris contributing 41 yards off scrambles.
Passing Defense
Many will remember those two, 10-play drives the Seminoles had, resulting in two passing touchdowns. However, on Saturday, the secondary was tremendous.
The unit troubled Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston all game long, forcing him into a season-low 125 passing yards and career-high four interceptions.
Rushing Defense
As good as the Gators were in stopping the pass, they were just as bad against the run.
Whenever the Seminoles needed a big play or first-down pickup, their running backs were up for the challenge. Florida State rushed for 181 yards on 41 carries, led by Dalvin Cook’s 144 yards.
Special Teams
It was a tale of two halves for Florida’s special teams units.
After Austin Hardin was perfect on field goals, going 4-of-4 to begin the game, the sophomore looked shaky in his final two attempts, going wide right on kicks of 52 and 42 yards.
The unit did also step up with a key punt block late in the second half that set up the Gators’ lone touchdown of the game.
Coaching
In his final act as head coach for Florida, Will Muschamp left it all on the field.
He must be applauded for his defense’s effort on Saturday. However, the offense just couldn’t get into a rhythm and shot itself in the foot time after time with poor penalties.
| Position Unit | First-Half Grade | Second-Half Grade |
| Passing Offense | B- | B- |
| Rushing Offense | A | A |
| Passing Defense | A- | A |
| Rushing Defense | A | A- |
| Special Teams | C | B+ |
| Coaching | B | B+ |
Passing Offense
Aside from two second-quarter drives, Winston was off his game.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner looked anything but, throwing for just 125 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions on 12-of-24 passing. He did nothing but keep the Gators hanging around in this one.
Rushing Offense
On the other hand, the run game all but saved the Seminoles on Saturday.
If the team needed a play, Cook was there to answer. The freshman finished with 144 yards on 24 carries and was easily Florida State’s MVP of the game.
Passing Defense
After watching their quarterback put them in short fields with back-to-back-to-back interceptions, the Seminoles secondary stepped up to limit the Gators to just two field goals.
Then following the third interception, Florida State responded by taking the next play 94 yards for an interception return touchdown. The unit was dominant all night.
Rushing Defense
Florida couldn’t do anything with its ground game.
The team constantly tried to get it going, but the Seminoles' front seven had the answer. The Gators couldn’t manage anything more than 113 yards on 33 carries.
Special Teams
This was probably the one area that Florida State struggled with the most.
The unit did poor in the return game, including nearly muffing the return. Then the Seminoles allowed Florida back in it by whiffing a punt that resulted in a Gators touchdown on the very next play.
This unit could have been better.
Coaching
Jimbo Fisher had a solid game.
He called a good game plan, really relying on the run game. The interceptions have to be blamed solely on Winston, who made poor decisions on those balls.
