Florida routs FSU, ends 4-game skid behind 266-yard night by Jadan Baugh

GAINESVILLE — If Florida wasn’t going to play football again in 2025, the Gators wanted to make sure Florida State didn’t either.

A year with little to celebrate ended on a high note as the Gators ended Florida State’s season during a 40-21 win Saturday night in the Swamp.

Tailback Jadan Baugh led the way with a career-high 266 rushing yards and two scores while quarterback DJ Lagway threw three touchdowns for the first time since a season-opening win against Long Island University.

Since the 55-0 win against an overmatched FCS opponent, the Gators (4-8) have muddled through a miserable season as the SEC’s lowest-scoring attack entering Saturday. Against FSU (5-7), Florida — led by sophomore stars Baugh and Lagway — rose to the occasion to end the Seminoles’ hopes for a bowl bid.

Baugh finished with the most rushing yards by a UF back other than Emmitt Smith’s 316 in 1989 against New Mexico.

A sellout crowd of 90,007 at the Swamp savored each of his 38 carries during the Gators’ second straight win in the series by at least 19 points — a first since UF beat FSU by at least 20 points three consecutive seasons in 2007-09.

FSU was on its heels all night as Baugh battered the Seminoles’ defense to break Jimmy DuBose’s 50-year series-record of 204 rushing yards against Florida’s in-state rival.

With Baugh shouldering the load, Lagway picked his spots in the passing game.

The Gators scored on their first three possessions, two ending in Lagway touchdown throws, to build a 17-7 lead.

After a 9-yard touchdown pass from Lagway to tight end Tony Livingston, FSU responded with a drive to UF’s 20 before Tommy Castellanos fumbled and lost the ball while tackled by safety Bryce Thornton, one of four UF sacks.

But two plays later, Lagway’s pass to Aidan Mizell was broken up by Michai Danzy and intercepted by Edwin Joseph, who returned it to the UF 21. Castellanos scored three plays later on a 4-yard keeper, a scoring drive aided by a personal foul on the previous play by sophomore linebacker Myles Graham.

The Seminoles, though, could not keep up the pressure as Florida steadily pulled away behind Baugh.

A rare combination of speed, size (6-foot ¾, 230) and elusiveness, Baugh had runs of 20 and 14 yards to set up Lagway’s 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hayden Hansen. Baugh ended Florida’s next series with a 22-yard touchdown run for a 31-14 lead.

Baugh even recovered an onsides kick by FSU with 3:06 after a 17-yard touchdown pass from Castellanos to Lawayne McCoy cut the lead to 34-21. But Baugh was not finished, culminating a special night with a 12-yard TD run with 56 seconds remaining to deliver the final salvo to the Seminoles.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected]