The Florida Gators are bowl eligible seven games into the season and for the sixth time this season, they found a different way to win. So far, they have won through: big offense; special teams; defense; low-scoring away game; big rivalry game; and now come from behind.
The mixture of these six wins are the reason why the Florida Gators are now the 11th ranked team in the most recent AP Poll and now a part of the national discussion for the College Football Playoff.
The Gators win against Vanderbilt started off with a litany of self-inflicted wounds, but even though they were down 21-3, they didn’t fold – something I think they would have done in previous years. While it is unfortunate that it took a bench clearing shouting match to revive Florida’s spirits, they stood up to the challenge of a Vanderbilt team that had their best offense in years, a strong defense, and a team that is much better than their record would indicate.
Florida had previously lost 15 of the last 16 times they were down by double digits in a game and had not come from 18 points (or more) down to win a game since Kentucky in 2003. It was the Gators fifth straight win against Vanderbilt and 27th out of the last 28.
The Gators enter their bye-week tied for first the SEC East, but still have some loose ends to tie-up in their passing game and at cornerback, but most Gators fans should be thrilled! They seemed to have figured out how to be successful on the offense line, defensive line, linebacker and safety – all huge question marks going into the season. But more importantly, there seems to be a different fire, energy, composure, and ability make to adjustments now in Gainesville.
Let’s look at the numbers behind the Gators win against Vanderbilt.
- The Gators 92 plays were the most they have had in a game since 2014, where they had 94 against Kentucky in the triple OT game.
- The Gators 63 rushes were the most they have had in over 10 years. They last had 60 in a game against Georgia in 2014.
- The Gators had 292 yards rushing the most in a game since the 2014 Georgia win (418).
- The Gators are just 339 rushing yards away from eclipsing their total from last season.
- The Gators 28 points per game against Power 5 opponents ranks 9th in the country among teams with five (or more) Power 5 games.
- The Gators rank 37th in scoring offense with 34.4 considering all games. The last five years they have finished: 108th, 107th, 100th, 56th, and 113th.
- The Gators 190.8 yards against Power 5 teams in rushing, ranks sixth in the country amongst those with five (or more) Power 5 games.
- The Gators rank 43rd in the country with 197.29 yards per game.
- The Gators rank 17th in the country in 2nd half rushing, including 4th in the country in 4th quarter rushing.
- Feleipe Franks 284 yards passing in the game are the most the Gators have had in a game since 2016, when Luke Del Rio passed for 320.
- The Gators are just 498 passing yards away from eclipsing their season total of last season and Franks is just 32 yards away from eclipsing his total of last season.
- The Gators got one sack against Vanderbilt – and now have 5 straight games with a sack.
- They have 21 sacks on the season, just two shy of tying last season’s total and 12th in the country.
- Jachai Polite ranks 2nd in the SEC in sacks with seven.
- The Gators have won two games this season, when they lost the turnover battle (Vanderbilt and Mississippi State). They have only done that twice in a season twice in the last seven years.
- Teams have converted just nine of their last 41 on third down (21.95%), which ranks 4th in the country over the last three games.