Baugh’s Breakout Night Powers Florida Past Rival FSU
Let me walk you through what happened in Gainesville, because this Florida vs Florida State matchup turned into one of those nights people will be talking about for a long time. The Gators didn’t just beat the Seminoles — they controlled the game from start to finish, and the story of the night was written almost entirely by one man: Jadan Baugh.
Florida’s sophomore running back delivered the kind of performance that instantly becomes part of rivalry lore. A career-high 266 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and the second-most rushing yards in Florida’s history were tallied — all in one evening. It felt like every time he touched the ball, something punishing or spectacular was about to happen. He carried the ball 38 times, wore down Florida State’s defense, and kept pushing well after most players would have been gasping for air. His last carry was a 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-3, where he broke multiple tackles. Interestingly, he was told to slide instead of scoring, but he simply replied, “Don’t do me like that.” And honestly, with a night like that, who could blame him?
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What made his performance even more meaningful is the timing. Florida is in the middle of looking for its next head coach, with Tulane’s Jon Sumrall emerging as the primary target. Whether or not this coaching transition becomes official soon, one thing seems certain: keeping Baugh should be a top priority for whoever takes over. He not only crossed 1,000 yards on the season — becoming the first Gator to do so since 2015 — but also became the first underclassman to accomplish that feat since Emmitt Smith in 1987. That’s the kind of company you want to be in.
Quarterback DJ Lagway also contributed three touchdown passes, giving the Gators’ offense a spark it had been missing during their four-game losing streak. Florida looked more confident, more balanced, and more determined than at any point since Billy Napier was fired.
Florida State, meanwhile, struggled to keep pace. Despite 240 passing yards from Thomas Castellanos — along with a rushing touchdown — the Seminoles never really threatened. A season that started with hope ended with a 5-7 record, and once again, no bowl game. It’s the first time since 1978 that both Florida and Florida State will miss postseason play in the same year. Mike Norvell has already been confirmed to return next season, but changes will be needed, especially at quarterback.
Florida’s defense, which racked up seven sacks, and the offensive duo of Lagway and Baugh provided a glimpse of what the next era could look like in Gainesville. Now, with a new coach incoming, the Gators hope this rivalry win becomes a turning point rather than just a bright moment in a difficult season.
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