Florida closed its season on a high note with a resounding 40-21 victory over rival Florida State on Saturday in the Swamp, denying the Seminoles a chance to become bowl eligible. The game also showcased a rising star in sophomore running back Jadan Baugh, who ran for a career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns — the second-most in school history — and cemented his place among Florida’s elite backs.
Baugh carried the ball 38 times, punishing FSU’s defense from start to finish. His performance marked the most rushing yards by a Gator since Emmitt Smith rumbled for 316 against New Mexico in 1989. His final touchdown was a 12-yard fourth-and-3 score late in the fourth quarter, where he broke two tackles despite interim coach Billy Gonzales instructing him to slide.
Quarterback DJ Lagway added three touchdown passes, helping Florida (4-8) snap a four-game losing streak and earn its first win since firing head coach Billy Napier in mid-October. The victory also provided a glimpse of the potential many expected from the team this season, with Lagway, Baugh, and others delivering a show in the season finale — a subtle audition for Florida’s next head coach.
Florida State (5-7) entered the game after announcing that coach Mike Norvell would return next season but fell short for the seventh time in nine games and lost to Florida for the fifth time in the last seven matchups. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos led the Seminoles with 240 passing yards, two touchdowns, an interception, 77 rushing yards, a rushing score, and a lost fumble, but FSU trailed from the second possession and never mounted a serious threat.
Baugh’s performance was historic on multiple fronts. He became the first Florida player since 2004 to rush for more than 200 yards against the Seminoles and the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor in 2015. He also joined the ranks of only 10 players in school history to surpass the single-season milestone, including legends like Emmitt Smith, Fred Taylor, and Errict Rhett. Notably, he is the first underclassman to reach 1,000 yards since Smith did so in 1987.
With Florida expected to hire Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as the next head coach, keeping Baugh in Gainesville is likely to be a top priority. Sumrall, who will finish Tulane’s season with the Green Wave through the AAC championship and potentially the College Football Playoff, inherits a team with a dynamic playmaker who could form the cornerstone of his program.
The Gators’ dominant performance in the season finale sends a clear message: with Baugh leading the way and Sumrall potentially taking the helm, Florida has a foundation to build upon for the future.
