Florida football coach Billy Napier has endured his share of ups and downs since leaving Louisiana two years ago to take on the challenge of resurrecting the Florida Gators.
Dark night in Death Valley: Florida football unravels late in loss to No. 19 LSU
Napier will return to the Pelican State for the first time since the end of his UL tenure when he leads Florida (5-4, 3-3 SEC) against No. 19 LSU (6-3. 4-2 SEC) on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
Napier went 40-12 in four seasons at Louisiana and led the Rajun Cajuns to their first outright Sun Belt title in school history in 2021.
Breaking down the matchup: Florida football vs. No. 19 LSU: Scouting report, prediction
In search of balance: Can Florida football offense achieve balance against suspect LSU defense?
"Our time in Louisiana was fantastic," Napier said. "Really appreciative of the people in Acadiana, in Lafayette for the just first-class experience for not only myself, but my family as well."
Napier had gone 11-11 in two seasons at Florida and will take a two-game losing streak into its matchup with LSU. The high-powered Tigers, who lead the SEC in scoring at 45.2 points per game, are coming off a 42-28 loss at No. 8 Alabama, LSU will look to regroup at home, where it's 4-0 this season.
Florida and LSU have emerged as the one of the best SEC East-West crossover rivalries, which could be in peril in the future as the league will abolish divisions next year with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas. Florida and LSU will play at The Swamp next season, but there is no guarantee of annual meetings after that.
Overall, the Florida-LSU series is tied at 33-33 with 3 ties, though LSU has won four straight in the series and 13 of the last 20 dating back to 2003.
"Florida has always been a game decided by one score," LSU coach Brian Kelly said. "It's a rivalry game. Two teams transitioning to build their programs back to national prominence."
Florida football game time, TV channel, betting odds today vs. No. 19 LSU
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
BETTING ODDS: LSU by 13.5 points
End 3rd, LSU 38, Florida football 28
The Gators are driving. Trevor Etienne with 12 carries for 72 yards and 2 TDs for the Gators.
LSU regains lead on second long rushing TD by Jayden Daniels
LSU regains the lead, 31-28, on a 51-yard TD run by Jayden Daniels with 6:09 left in the third quarter. Daniels is now the second QB in SEC history to pass and rush for 200 yards in the same game. The first was former quarterback Johnny Manziel in the 2013 Cotton Bowl.
Florida football cashes in on turnover to take the lead
On the ensuing kickoff, LSU fumbles and Florida freshman Dijon Johnson recovered. The Gators then went 5 plays in 23 yards, all runs, capped by a 1-yard TD run by quarterback Graham Mertz to go up 28-24.
The Florida Gators answer with second TD run by Trevor Etienne
Florida cuts the LSU lead to 24-21 on a 21-yard run by Trevor Etienne, his second of the game. Etienne also had an 18-yard run on the drive as the Gators were able to get the run game after standout LSU linebacker Harold Perkins departed with an injury.
LSU extends lead with TD drive to start the second half
After Florida went three-and-out to start the second half, LSU drove 81 yards in 6 plays, extending its lead to 24-14 on a 5-yard TD run by Kaleb Jackson. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is up to 202 yards passing and 169 yards rushing.
LSU 17, Florida Gators 14, half
In bad field position and set back by a delay of game penalty, Florida decides to run the clock out and go into halftime down 17-14. The Gators will receive the kickoff to start the second half. Florida QB Graham Mertz went 13 for 15 for 136 yards in the first half with 1 TD pass and one lost fumble. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is 9 of 15 for 137 passing in the first half and has rushed 8 times for 139 yards with an 85-yard TD run.
Florida football cuts into LSU lead with Trevor Etienne TD run
Florida cuts LSU's lead to 17-14 on a 7-yard TD run from running back Trevor Etienne. Etienne, a Jennings, La, native, comes up with his fifth TD run of the season in front of family and friends. Florida puts together an 8-play, 75-yard TD drive, During the drive, LSU starting safety Andre Sam was ejected for targeting, further depleting LSU's defense.
Big TD run by QB Jayden Daniels extends LSU lead
An 85-yard TD run by LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels extends LSU's lead to 17-7 with 8:21 left in the second quarter. Daniels held onto the ball on the read-option, found daylight down the sideline, and turned on the jets for the score.
LSU regains lead
LSU regains its lead on Florida, 10-7, on a 28-yard field goal from Damien Ramos. LSU drove 79 yards on 7 plays, with the big plays coming on a 41-yard pass from Jayden Daniels to Brian Thomas Jr. and a 38-yard scramble by Daniels.
LSU baseball team honored
LSU's baseball team, which beat Florida in the College World Series Finals for its sixth national title in school history, is honored between the first and second quarter.
End 1st, Florida football 7, LSU 7
Florida turned the ball over on a Graham Mertz strip sack but came up with another big 4th down stop, getting a sack at its own 41-yard line to get the ball back. However, Florida offensive lineman Dameion George Jr. was whistled for a personal foul penalty, moving the Gators back.
The Florida Gators make a goal line stand
With LSU threatening to take an early 14-7 lead, Florida football comes up with a big goal line stand. Linebacker Derek Wingo and freshman Kelby Collins came up with a gang tackle on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line for no gain.
Florida football answers with TD on its opening drive
Florida answers with an 8-play, 75-yard TD drive to tie the score at 7 with 8:58 left in the first quarter on a 9-yard TD pass from Graham Mertz to wide receiver Eugene Wilson III. It's the fourth TD catch for Wilson in his last three games. The Gators had little trouble moving the ball against a depleted LSU defense.
LSU takes quick 7-0 lead
LSU jumps to an early 7-0 lead, capping a 7-play, 75-yard TD drive with a 1-yard TD run by Josh Williams. The big play, on 3rd-and-9, quarterback Jayden Daniels connected with wide receiver Malik Nabers on a 38-yard pass play.
Game 10 Captains. 🐊 pic.twitter.com/5CcWgBUR0L
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 10, 2023
Florida DT Cam Jackson getting in some extra pass rush work pregame in the end zone. Back after sitting out last week vs. Arkansas. Haynesville, La., native told us this week he's excited about homecoming game. #Gators
— KevinBrockwayGators (@KevinBrockwayG1) November 11, 2023
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators football score updates vs. No. 19 LSU Tigers
