Florida State vs. Florida rating, takeaways: No. 16 'Noles survive Gators in rivalry's highest-scoring sport – CBS Sports activities

No. 16 Florida State ended a three-game dropping streak to rival Florida on Friday night time with a dramatic 45-38 victory behind quarterback Jordan Travis and a late defensive stand within the sport’s last minute. Travis made massive performs via the air and on the bottom all night time, whereas the Seminoles protection got here up with a fourth-down cease within the last minute as the group at Doak Campbell Stadium reached fever pitch.

Gators QB Anthony Richardson’s heave to the top zone fell incomplete with 39 seconds left, turning the ball over to Florida State on downs and successfully ending the highest-scoring sport of the rivalry’s storied historical past. What might be mentioned for ages are two performs on the ultimate drive, a fourth-and-18 cross interference known as in opposition to FSU that prolonged Florida’s comeback try, and a transparent facemask on Richardson that went uncalled throughout the aforementioned incomplete cross.

Richardson threw three touchdowns within the first 21 minutes of sport motion because the Gators jumped out to a 21-14 lead, however the redshirt sophomore later went chilly with 11 consecutive incompletions. The third quarter proved significantly consequential as Florida State pressured three straight three-and-outs in opposition to a Florida group that didn’t punt within the first half.

The win marks the primary within the rivalry for third-year Florida State coach Mike Norvell, and he has Travis to thank for it. The redshirt junior threw for 270 yards and a landing and ran for 83 extra yards and two extra scores. Working again Trey Benson added three scores on the bottom for the ‘Noles, who improved to 9-3 with the win.

Travis runs wild

In a sport full of momentum swings and highlight-reel performs, the elusive working of Travis stood out on just a few events. With the Seminoles trailing 21-14 and going through a third-and-10 from the Florida 11-yard line within the second quarter, it appeared as if Florida was about to sack Travis for a big loss. However as Travis retreated 18 yards behind the road of scrimmage, he managed to elude 5 completely different Florida defenders, together with a pair who had multiple probability to convey him down. He lastly slid down simply in need of the top zone and scored on the following play.

Then, within the third quarter, Travis replicated the play in an almost similar state of affairs. Dealing with a third-and-11 from the Florida 13-yard line, Travis took off and prevented a number of tacklers earlier than sliding down simply in need of the goal-line. The play gave the Seminoles a first-and-goal and arrange a landing run from Benson that put FSU forward 31-24. 

Whereas Travis accomplished simply 13 of 30 passes, he additionally got here via along with his arm in a key late state of affairs. Dealing with a third-and-6 with the sport tied at 38 within the fourth quarter, Travis discovered Johnny Wilson for a 21-yard completion to increase the drive that permit to FSU’s game-winning rating.

Closing with a bang

Florida State began 4-0 and rose to No. 23 within the AP High 25 within the course of. Then got here adversity. Amid a nasty run with accidents, the ‘Noles dropped three straight as stress started to mount on Norvell. After consecutive dropping seasons to start his tenure, it appeared they could battle simply to make a bowl sport in his third yr. However because the bye week, which got here after a 34-28 loss to Clemson on Oct. 15, the ‘Noles are an ideal 5-0.

Whereas a few of that success has corresponded with a lightening of the schedule, a lot of it got here in dominant style. Coming into Friday, FSU’s four-game successful streak featured 4 wins of 25 factors or extra. Whereas the run of dominance ended with a good sport in opposition to the Gators, the Seminoles put their enchancment on show in a nationwide showcase spot in opposition to a bitter rival. With a bowl victory, Florida State can end with 10 wins for the primary time since 2016, which was Jimbo Fisher’s next-to-last yr as coach.

Lacking receivers

Florida huge receivers Ja’Quavion Fraziars, Xzavier Henderson, Justin Shorter, Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman and Marcus Burke all missed the sport attributable to damage, leaving Richardson with few confirmed targets within the passing sport. Of their absence, Richardson solely accomplished passes to 3 gamers with a returning Ricky Pearsall serving as his main goal. The redshirt junior set a brand new career-high for yards receiving when he hauled in a 43-yard landing cross with 11:35 left within the second quarter. That was Richardson’s last completion till 4 minutes remained within the sport.

Nonetheless, the Gators nonetheless managed to rally from a 14-point deficit within the fourth quarter behind a powerful working assault. Trevor Etienne totaled 129 yards and a landing on 17 carries, together with a 45-yard landing run that tied the sport with 7:41 remaining. Montrel Johnson Jr. added 85 yards and a rating on the bottom, whereas Richardson rushed for 41 yards. If the Gators are in a position to get more healthy at receiver for his or her bowl sport, their offense could possibly be far much less one-dimensional than it proved to be for a lot of Friday’s sport.