The Florida-Florida State rivalry is officially back in the Gators’ favor. UF advanced to 10 wins in the 2019 season with a 40-17 home thumping of FSU.

The power shifted in the Florida-Florida State rivalry at the start of the decade. As Urban Meyer was on his way out at UF, he suffered his only defeat to the Seminoles, a 31-7 loss in Tallahassee to Jimbo Fisher’s first FSU squad. Fisher would go on to dominate the Gators in the Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain eras (7-1), including four victories over UF in The Swamp (2011, ’13, ’15, ’17).

In Dan Mullen’s first season at Florida, the Gators snapped a five-game losing streak to the Noles with a 41-14 win at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mullen’s squad delivered the proper follow-up on Saturday night, snapping The Swamp skid to the school out west, winning 40-17. It’s the first back-to-back 40-plus outings for Florida in the rivalry clash since the 2007-08 seasons, when Mullen was Meyer’s offensive coordinator.

Saturday night, Florida’s offense started strong with an 11-play, 75-yard opening scoring drive, capped off on a 19-yard TD by Freddie Swain.

The Seminoles reached into their bag of tricks on their first possession, answering UF’s score with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Interim coach Odell Haggins’ squad executed a hook-and-lateral, used backup QB Jordan Travis in the red zone and had a double-pass play called (stopped due to penalty).

The Gators picked right up where they left off on the next possession, marching down the field 75 yards (again) in 13 plays. Redshirt freshman QB Emory Jones helped open the run game and also had a 16-yard completion to Tyrie Cleveland. Sophomore RB Dameon Pierce punched in the TD from a yard out. The usually automatic Evan McPherson had a rare extra-point miss.

The Gators defense tightened up on the next possession, forcing a three-and-out. Florida’s momentum continued as electric playmaker Kadarius Toney got loose for 47 yards.

Swain capped off that drive with another impressive touchdown play, a 23-yard catch-and-run. Unfortunately, his Senior Night ended early as he suffered a lower-leg injury and did not return in the third quarter.

On the next possession, Van Jefferson got in on the Senior Night party. The Ole Miss transfer hauled in a 13-yard pass from Kyle Trask to cap off a 5-play, 40-yard drive.

FSU briefly cut into Florida’s lead with a thrid-quarter field goal which made it 30-10. The Gators opened up their largest lead of the night when Emory Jones found Jefferson for the senior wideout’s second TD of the night. The extra point was good, making it 37-10.

The Noles answered with a TD of their town. Star RB Cam Akers took it 50 yards to the house, with the extra point cutting it to 37-17.

FSU had a chance in the fourth quarter to start a rally after Florida punter Tommy Townsend faked a punt deep in UF territory and came up short of the first down. The Noles were unable to take advantage as the drive resulted in a missed field goal, leaving the score 40-17 in Florida’s favor as the clock continued to tick down.

The Florida defense finished with a strong 8 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, making life tough for FSU QB James Blackman and his supporting cast the whole night with constant pressure in the backfield.