Mother Nature may have the final say this afternoon when Florida seeks its eighth straight victory of the season with its visit to Florida State. The Gators, ranked fourth in the latest BCS standings, will be seeking their fifth straight victory – and the fourth straight under coach Urban Meyer – against the Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden, who is 17-16-1 against Florida.
GAME 12: FLORIDA GATORS vs. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
WHEN: Today at 3:30 p.m. ET.
WHERE: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium (82,000), Tallahassee, Fla.
WEATHER FORECAST: Scattered thunderstorms, high 74 degrees.
RECORDS: Florida 10-1, Florida State 8-3.
RANKINGS: Florida is No. 4 in BCS rankings, No. 2 in Associated Press media poll, No. 3 in USA Today coaches’ poll, No. 2 in Harris Interactive poll, No. 2 in Legends Coaches Football Association poll. Florida State is No. 20 in BCS rankings, No. 23 in Associated Press media poll, No. 24 in USA Today coaches’ poll, No. 23 in Harris Interactive poll, No. 21 in Legends Coaches Football Association poll.
COACHES: Florida: Urban Meyer, fourth season, 41-9 (overall 80-17, eighth season). Florida State: Bobby Bowden, 33rd season, 308-90-4 (overall 381-122-4, 43rd season).
GATOR COUNTRY.COM: A post-game show is planned. Check https://www.gatorcountry.com for further details.
TV: ABC (Brad Nessler, play-by-play; Bob Griese and Paul Maguire, analysts; Stacey Dales, sideline).
DELAYED TV: Sun Sports (Paul Kennedy, play-by-play; Nat Moore and Keith Jones, color: Steve Babik and Tom Block, sidelines) will televise at 8:30 a.m. Sunday and 11 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2.
RADIO: Gator Radio Network (Mick Hubert, play-by-play; Lee McGriff, color; Steve Babik, sideline; Scot Brantley and Travis McGriff, pre-game). Pre-game show starts at 1:30 p.m.; post-game show concludes 90 minutes after game. WFXJ-AM 930 (Jacksonville) is flagship station; affiliates are WWBF-AM 1130 (Bartow), WPHK-FM 102.3 (Blountstown), WWJB-AM 1450 (Brooksville), WBGC-AM 1240 (Chipley), WAFC-FM 99.5 (Clewiston), WXCV-FM 95.3 (Crystal River), WDCF-AM 1350 (Dade City), WMYR-AM 1410 (Fort Myers), WRUF-FM 103.7 (Gainesville), WRUF-AM 850 (Gainesville), WKWF-AM 1600 (Key West), WUCR-FM 107.9 (Lake Butler), WNFB-FM 94.3 (Lake City), WDSR-AM 1340 (Lake City), WONN-AM 1230 (Lakeland), WQHL-AM 1250 (Live Oak), WMEL-AM 1300 (Melbourne), WFTL-AM 850 (Miami), WCNZ-AM 1660 (Naples), WSBB-AM 1230 (New Smyrna Beach), WMOP-AM 900 (Ocala), WMOP-FM 100.1 (Ocala), WFLF-AM 540 (Orlando), WPLK-AM 800 (Palatka), WFLF-FM 94.5 (Panama City), WDIZ-AM 590 (Panama City), WTKE-FM 98.1 (Pensacola), WPSL-AM 1590 (Port St. Lucie), WLSS-AM 930 (Sarasota), WWTK-AM 730 (Sebring), WAOC-AM 1420 (St. Augustine), WSTU-AM 1450 (Stuart), WUTL-FM 106.1 (Tallahassee), WDAE-AM 620 (Tampa), WEFL-AM 760 (West Palm Beach), WZHR-AM 1400 (Zephyrhills). Game also available on XM Satellite Radio channels 140 (national feed), 144 (Florida feed), 191 (Florida State feed)
SERIES: Florida leads 31-19-2. At Gainesville: Florida leads 19-8-1. At Tallahassee: Florida leads 11-10-1. At New Orleans (Sugar Bowl): Series tied 1-1.
Longest Florida winning streak: 9 (1968-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76). Longest Florida State winning streaks: 4 (1977-78-79-80; 1987-88-89-90). Largest Florida margin of victory: 33 (2007, 45-12). Largest Florida State margin of victory: 35 (1988, 52-17).
Numbers in parentheses indicate the rankings of Florida/Florida State coming into the game.
1958: Won 21-7 (12/NR) at Gainesville; 1959: Won 18-8 (NR/NR) at Gainesville; 1960: Won 3-0 (NR/NR) at Gainesville.
1961: Tied 3-3 (NR/NR) at Gainesville; 1962: Won 20-7 (NR/NR) at Gainesville; 1963: Won 7-0 (NR/NR) at Gainesville; 1964: Lost 7-16 (NR/NR) at Tallahassee; 1965: Won 30-17 (NR/NR) at Gainesville; 1966: Won 22-19 (10/NR) at Tallahassee; 1967: Lost 16-21 (NR/NR) at Gainesville; 1968: Won 9-3 (5/NR) at Tallahassee; 1969: Won 21-6 (12/NR) at Gainesville; 1970: Won 38-27 (NR/NR) at Tallahassee.
1971: Won 17-15 (NR/19) at Gainesville; 1972: Won 42-13 (NR/13) at Tallahassee; 1973: Won 49-0 (NR/NR) at Gainesville; 1974: Won 24-14 (14/NR) at Tallahassee; 1975: Won 34-8 (14/NR) at Gainesville; 1976: Won 33-26 (12/NR) at Tallahassee; 1977: Lost 9-37 (NR/19) at Gainesville; 1978: Lost 21-38 (NR/NR) at Tallahassee; 1979: Lost 16-27 (NR/5) at Gainesville; 1980: Lost 13-17 (NR/3) at Tallahassee.
1981: Won 35-3 (NR/NR) at Gainesville; 1982: Won 13-10 (NR/15) at Tallahassee; 1983: Won 53-14 (12/NR) at Gainesville; 1984: Won 27-17 (3/12) at Tallahassee; 1985: Won 38-14 (6/12) at Gainesville; 1986: Won 17-13 (NR/NR) at Tallahassee; 1987: Lost 14-28 (NR/3) at Gainesville; 1988: Lost 17-52 (NR/5) at Tallahassee; 1989: Lost 17-24 (NR/6) at Gainesville; 1990: Lost 30-45 (6/8) at Tallahassee.
1991: Won 14-9 (5/3) at Gainesville; 1992: Lost 24-45 (6/3) at Tallahassee; 1993: Lost 21-33 (7/1) at Gainesville; 1994: Tied 31-31 (4/7) at Tallahassee; 1994: Lost 17-23 (5/7) at New Orleans (Sugar Bowl); 1995: Won 35-24 (3/6) at Gainesville; 1996: Lost 21-24 (1/2) at Tallahassee; 1996: Won 52-20 (3/1) at New Orleans (Sugar Bowl); 1997: Won 32-29 (10/2-1) at Gainesville; 1998: Lost 12-23 (4/5) at Tallahassee; 1999: Lost 23-30 (3/1) at Gainesville; 2000: Lost 7-30 (4/3) at Tallahassee.
2001: Won 37-13 (4/20) at Gainesville; 2002: Lost 14-31 (15/23) at Tallahassee; 2003: Lost 34-38 (11/9) at Gainesville; 2004: Won 20-13 (NR/10) at Tallahassee; 2005: Won 34-7 (19/23) at Gainesville; 2006: Won 21-14 (4/NR) at Tallahassee; 2007: Won 45-12 (12/NR) at Gainesville.
RESULTS: Florida: beat Hawaii in Gainesville 56-10 Aug. 30; beat Miami (Fla.) in Gainesville 26-3 Sept. 6; beat Tennessee in Knoxville 30-6 Sept. 20; lost to Mississippi in Gainesville 30-31 Sept. 27; beat Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., 38-7 Oct. 4; beat Louisiana State in Gainesville 51-21 Oct. 11; beat Kentucky in Gainesville 63-5 Oct. 25; beat Georgia in Jacksonville 49-10 Nov. 1; beat Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., 42-14 Nov. 8; beat South Carolina in Gainesville 56-6 Nov. 15; beat The Citadel in Gainesville 70-19 Nov. 22. Florida State: beat Western Carolina in Tallahassee 69-0 Sept. 6; beat Chattanooga in Tallahassee 46-7 Sept. 13; lost to Wake Forest in Tallahassee 3-12 Sept. 20; beat Colorado in Jacksonville 38-21 Sept. 27; beat Miami in Miami 41-29 Oct. 4; beat N.C. State in Raleigh, N.C., 26-17 Oct. 16; beat Virginia Tech at Tallahassee 30-20 Oct. 23; lost to Georgia Tech at Atlanta 28-31 Nov. 1; beat Clemson in Tallahassee 41-27 Nov. 8; lost to Boston College in Tallahassee 17-27 Nov. 15; beat Maryland in College Park, Md., 37-3 Nov. 22.
GAMES LEFT: Florida: SEC Championship Game at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome vs. Alabama Dec. 6; bowl to be determined. Florida State: ACC Championship (if Maryland beats Boston College today) at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium vs. team to be determined Dec. 6; bowl to be determined.
TEAM STATS: NCAA rankings. Florida: Rushing offense, 11th 229.82 ypg; passing offense, 56th 214.82 ypg; total offense, 18th 444.64 ypg; scoring offense, 3rd 46.45 ppg; rushing defense, 13th 102.82 ypg; passing defense, 20th 175.91 ypg; total defense, 9th 278.73 ypg; scoring defense, 3rd 12.00 ppg; net punting, 11th 37.91 yards; punt returns, 6th 15.00 yards; kickoff returns, 49th 21.88 yards; turnover margin, 1st 1.64; sacks, T29th 2.45 per game; tackles for loss, 63rd 5.55 per game; sacks allowed, 23rd 1.27 per game; interceptions, T2nd 20. Florida State: Rushing offense, 28th 190.18 ypg; passing offense, 85th 190.00 ypg; total offense, 45th 380.18 ypg; scoring offense, 22nd 34.27 ppg; rushing defense, 21st 109.55 ypg; passing defense, 4th 163.09 ypg; total defense, 7th 272.65 ypg; scoring defense, 19th 18.55 ppg; net punting, 57th 35.18 yards; punting, 59th 9.00 yards; kickoff returns, 22nd 23.60 yards; turnover margin, 60th 0.00; sacks, 4th 3.18 per game; tackles for loss, 1st 8.64 per game; sacks allowed, 59th 1.82 per game.
INDIVIDUAL STATS: NCAA rankings. Florida: Passing efficiency, Tim Tebow 5th 175.19; total offense, Tim Tebow 44th 231.00 ypg; receiving yards per game, Percy Harvin 83rd 59.50 ypg; interceptions, Ahmad Black T3rd .55 per game, Brandon Spikes T64th .30 per game; punt returns, Brandon James 9th 14.77 yards; kickoff returns, Brandon James 40th 24.60 yards; field goals, Jonathan Phillips T76th .82 per game; scoring, Percy Harvin 18th 9.00 ppg, Jonathan Phillips T30th 8.36 ppg; all-purpose runners, Percy Harvin 65th 112.00 ypg; sacks, Carlos Dunlap T37th .64 per game. Florida State: Rushing, Antone Smith 73rd 63.27 ypg; passing efficiency, Christian Ponder 79th 116.61; total offense, Christian Ponder 68th 194.27 ypg; receptions per game, Preston Parker 97th 4.22; kickoff returns, Michael Ray Garvin 1st 32.23 yards; field goals, Graham Gano 1st 2.33 per game; scoring, Graham Gano T5th 10.00 ppg; sacks, Everette Brown 2nd 1.14 per game; tackles for loss, Everette Brown 1st 1.86; Derek Nicholson T40th 1.18.
GATOR CHOMPS: Florida’s first-team defense has not allowed a touchdown since the LSU game. … The Gators have five interceptions returned for touchdown, tied for first nationally with Missouri (NCAA record is 7 by Tennessee in 1971). … Florida has scored seven non-offensive touchdowns this season (the other two were punt returns by Brandon James). … Florida has outscored its opposition 122-0 in the first quarter over the last seven games and 146-7 this season. … The Florida defense and special teams have given the Gator offense the ball inside the opponents’ 35-yard line an additional 14 times and Florida has scored 13 touchdowns and one field goal with those opportunities. … The Gators have outscored the opposition 276-32 before halftime this season and forced 39 first-half punts. … Florida has thrown the fewest interceptions (three) nationally and also made just 10 turnovers overall (third lowest). … Florida is first nationally in red-zone defense and tied for ninth in red-zone offense (47 of 51). … Florida has blocked five punts and seven kicks overall this season. … Florida and Penn State are the only teams in the nation ranked in the Top 10 in both scoring offense and scoring defense. … Since 1990 in the FSU-UF series, the team which has rushed for more yardage than the other is 17-2-1, the team with fewer or even turnovers is 14-5-1 and the team which has led at halftime has won 11 of the last 12 games (except in 1998). … Florida has scored 511 points this season and needs just 49 more to set a new season record (1996 national championship team scored 559). … In its last seven victories, Florida has outscored its opposition 369-82.
‘NOLE NOTES: This is the 15th time in FSU history it has met the No.2 team in the Associated Press poll and the Seminoles are 4-9-1 in those games and just 1-4 in games at home. … Bowden is 17-16-1 against seven Florida coaches but 0-3 against Meyer. … FSU is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games against Florida. … In the 20 games played with both teams rated, FSU is 11-8-1. … Florida is the most balanced team in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The difference between rushing and passing offense is two yards. … The Seminoles’ 5.1 yards per carry is their best average since 1995. … Its 24 rushing touchdowns are the most since 2000. … FSU is 4-0 in games it does not turn the ball over. … Florida is converting 47 percent of the time on third down, its best percentage this decade. … Ponder’s 390 rushing yards are the fifth highest by a quarterback in school history. … FSU’s eight victories this season are the most since 2005 and the first time during the regular season the team has that many since 2004. … Bowden is 381-122-4 all-time and trails Penn State’s Joe Paterno by two victories on the all-time Division I-A coaching victories list. … FSU needs Maryland to win today at Boston College to knock the Eagles; if that happens, the Seminoles will represent the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship Game Dec. 6 in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. If Virginia Tech beats Virginia today, Virginia Tech wins the Coastal Division; if not, Georgia Tech will represent the Coastal Division.