FSU falls flat in embarrasing loss to Florida, fails to make bowl game

Another early first-quarter deficit.

Another short-lived rally that brought FSU within striking distance.

Another road loss, meaning it will be over 1000 days since Florida State won outside the confines of Tallahassee by the time it happens.

All leading to Florida State’s season ending on Saturday, falling 40-21 to Florida and missing out on a bowl for the fourth time in six years under head coach Mike Norvell.

From unforced errors to head-scratching coaching decisions, it was a familiar showing from a Florida State team that has underwhelmed for two months after starting the season 3-0.

Florida, a team that hadn’t scored 30-plus points in 10 of its 11 games this season, dictated the flow of the game on offense, shredding FSU on the ground off the back of a 266-yard performance by Jaden Baugh — the second-highest single-game performance in Florida history — while DJ Lagway was 15-24 for 168 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

FSU fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter, officially failing to score in the opening 15 minutes in each of its road games this season, and was unable to make up the gap over the course of the matchup in a 40-21 loss. The Seminoles managed to find the end zone early in the second, then scored again after a Florida touchdown to make it 17-14 game at half.

After forcing a Florida punt to start off the third quarter, FSU was unable to tie or take its first lead of the game after an ill-fated fourth-down decision in its own territory gave the Gators a chance to move back ahead by double-digits — an opportunity taken advantage of and then repeated after FSU went three-and-out on its next drive to make it 31-14.

FSU, driving to end the third quarter, failed to once again finish off a drive with points as Jake Weinberg missed a 42-yard kick — his fourth-straight game missing a field goal when attempting at least one kick. Florida tacked on another field goal on the next drive, draining 6:34 off the clock to make it a 34-14 game with just over seven minutes remaining.

The Seminoles managed to drive 83 yards, capping off the drive with a Tommy Catellanos to Lawaynce McCoy touchdown, making it 34-21 before the Gators twisted the knife even futher, scoring on a 4th and 3 rush to make it 40-20.

FSU ends the season 5-6, dropping Norvell to 38-34 in his Florida State tenure.

UF 40, FSU 21: Final stats

Total Yards: FSU 407, UF 440Pass Yards: FSU 240, UF 168Rush Yards: FSU 167, UF 272Penalties: FSU 4-28, UF 5-481st Downs: FSU 23, UF 263rd Downs: FSU 5-12, UF 7-144th Downs: FSU 2-4, UF 2-2Total Plays: FSU 65, UF 69Avg Yds/Play: FSU 6.3, UF 6.4Avg Yds/Completion: FSU 14.1, UF 11.2Avg Yds/Rush: FSU 4.5, UF 6.0Sack-Adj Rush Yards (Avg): FSU 189 (5.7), UF 280 (6.5)Red Zone: FSU 3-5, UF 5-5Time of Possession: FSU 27:44, UF 34:58Turnovers (Defensive Points Off): FSU 2 (0), UF 1 (7)Fumbles-Lost: FSU 2-1, UF 0-0Sacks (Def Yds): FSU 2 (8), UF 4 (22)TFL (Def Yds): FSU 3 (9), UF 7 (30)