GAINESVILLE — If Florida wasn’t going to play football again in 2025, the Gators wanted to make sure Florida State didn’t either.
A year with little to celebrate finished on a high note as the Gators ended Florida State’s season during a 40-21 win to stop a four-game skid Saturday night in the Swamp.
Tailback Jadan Baugh led the way with a career-high 266 rushing yards and two scores while quarterback DJ Lagway threw three touchdowns for the first time since a season-opening win against Long Island University.
“The way we finished today, it was the first time we played a complete game,” said Billy Gonzales after his first win as interim coach. “It takes everybody on a football team to be successful. Finally, we had that the last game of the season. I’m super proud of these guys.”
Since the 55-0 opening win against an overmatched FCS opponent, the Gators (4-8) have muddled through a miserable season as the SEC’s lowest-scoring attack entering Saturday. Against FSU (5-7), Florida — led by sophomore stars Baugh and Lagway on Senior Night — rose to the occasion to end the Seminoles’ hopes for a bowl bid.
Baugh finished with the most rushing yards by a UF back other than Emmitt Smith’s 316 in 1989 against New Mexico.
“Being in a category with those guys, it’s just amazing,” Baugh said. “I don’t think I can wrap my head around it yet.”
Playing in his final game, center Jake Slaughter was glad to be part of the historic performance.
“Jadan ran like somebody was trying to kill him all night,” he said.
A sellout crowd of 90,007 at the Swamp savored each of his 38 carries during the bloodletting.
If not for a missed extra point by Trey Smack after the final score, ending a streak of 100 straight PATs without a miss, UF would have recorded its second straight win in the series by at least 20 points — a first since UF beat FSU by at least 20 points three consecutive seasons in 2007-09.
But the Seminoles never stood a chance and were on their heels all night as Baugh battered FSU’s defense to break Jimmy DuBose’s 50-year series-record of 204 rushing yards against Florida’s in-state rival.
“We came into [the game] saying that’s a guy you have to stop,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said. “For him to have that kind of production is a complete failure.”
With Baugh shouldering the load, Lagway picked his spots in the passing game.
“It’s always great to end the season on a good note,” he said. “We clicked offensively. We ran the ball at will. I feel like just a great day at the park.”
The Gators scored on their first three possessions, two ending in Lagway touchdown throws, to build a 17-7 lead.
After a 9-yard touchdown pass from Lagway to tight end Tony Livingston, FSU responded with a drive to UF’s 20 before Tommy Castellanos fumbled and lost the ball when tackled by safety Bryce Thornton, one of four UF sacks.
But two plays later, Lagway’s pass to Aidan Mizell was broken up by Michai Danzy and intercepted by Edwin Joseph, who returned it to the UF 21. Castellanos scored three plays later on a 4-yard keeper, a scoring drive aided by a personal foul on the previous play by sophomore linebacker Myles Graham.
The Seminoles, though, could not keep up the pressure as Florida steadily pulled away behind Baugh.
“It started on Sunday,” he said. “Just going into the facility understanding everything, just focusing on a mission, understanding we still have a mission to finish out the season.”
A rare combination of speed, size (6-foot ¾, 230) and elusiveness, Baugh was on a mission. After FSU cut the lead to three points, he had runs of 20 and 14 yards to set up Lagway’s 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hayden Hansen.
Baugh ended Florida’s next series with a 22-yard touchdown run for a 31-14 lead.
Baugh even recovered an onsides kick by FSU with 3:06 after a 17-yard touchdown pass from Castellanos to Lawayne McCoy cut the lead to 34-21. But Baugh was not finished.
He ended a special night with a 12-yard TD run with 56 seconds remaining to deliver the final salvo to the Seminoles, even when Baugh could have taken it easy on FSU.
“Coach told me don’t score. He told me to slide,” Baugh said, “I’m like, ‘Coach, don’t do me like that. We don’t like them guys.’ I feel like it was good for our team to just score at the end of the game.”