No. 5 Florida State and Florida meet on Saturday in a game that’s interesting not only because it’s a rivalry duel, but also because it’s a war of the wounded, as both teams return after injuries to their star quarterbacks High stakes showdown occurred last week. The Seminoles need a win to maintain their College Football Playoff aspirations, while the Gators need a win to achieve bowl eligibility.
FSU ended a three-game losing streak in the series last season with a thrilling 45-38 home win, but now it travels to UF’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to face its most hostile away environment since a Sept. 23 win at Clemson place. How the Noles handle the challenge with backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker will likely determine where they stand in the CFP rankings when they face Louisville in the ACC Championship Game next week.
Florida has lost four straight since moving to a record of 5-2 (3-1 SEC) with back-to-back wins over Vanderbilt and South Carolina. But a win over Florida State would help salvage some momentum from coach Billy Napier’s second season and keep the Gators’ streak of five straight bowl appearances alive. The effort is led by redshirt freshman quarterback Max Brown, who played in last week’s loss at Missouri after starter Graham Mertz left with a broken left collarbone.
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How to watch Florida vs. Florida State live
Date: Saturday November 25th | Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, Florida
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: Fubo (Try for free)
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Florida vs. Florida State: What you need to know
Tate Rodemaker’s big moment: In a transfer-oriented college football culture, Tate Rodemaker has proven himself at Florida State. The redshirt junior has been in coach Mike Norvell’s system since Norvell’s arrival and has completed 56 of 93 passes with seven touchdowns and five interceptions in 22 appearances as a career backup. While this is undoubtedly his most important role yet, the former three-star prospect from Valdosta, Georgia, has also been a part of other meaningful moments. He filled in for an injured Travis at Louisville last season and led three shots on goal to help the Noles rally to victory after trailing 21-14 at halftime. FSU was 13-0 against North Alabama last week when Rodemaker stepped in after Travis’ injury. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns as the Seminoles cruised to a 58-13 victory. Even though it was against an FCS opponent, Rodemaker played well in less than ideal circumstances.
Max Brown’s chance to shine: Brown unexpectedly found himself in the heat of a close SEC East battle at Missouri last week when Mertz left the team in the third quarter. Brown experienced the first non-zero-time action of his career, leading the Gators to a few crucial scores before being denied by a last-second Missouri field goal. Brown completed 4 of 5 passes and also rushed for 42 yards while showing an impressive element of volatility as a runner against a solid Missouri defense. The former three-star prospect went unmentioned in the recruiting process and was buried on the depth chart as a rookie. But amid the attrition for the position at UF, he has emerged as the starting player for this big rivalry showdown. Should Brown somehow manage to pull off a season-defining upset against a bitter rival with CFP aspirations, it would catapult the previously unknown signal-caller in Florida to hero status.
Last year’s epic battle: If the meeting is anything like last year’s game, it could go down as one of the top games of Rivalry Week. The Seminoles escaped with a 45-38 win after a great play from Travis and a late defensive stand in the final minute. Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson’s throw into the end zone fell incomplete with 39 seconds left, handing the ball to Florida State on downs and effectively ending the highest-scoring game in the rivalry’s history.
Florida vs Florida State Prediction, Tips
SportsLine consensus odds
Florida is playing at home against an arch-rival for bowl eligibility after nearly beating a top-ranked Missouri team on the road last week. Aside from being motivated to extend their own season, the Gators will also be inspired to scuttle the Florida State College Football Playoff ambitions. With both starting quarterbacks out injured in a game with such high stakes, this game is bound to be strange. Look for the Gators to be there until the end… and maybe even win outright. Pick: Florida +6.5
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