Oklahoma Grinds Florida Down in 23-7 SEC Rivalry
A 20-play, 13-minute drive in the third quarter drained the clock and sealed the Sooners' victory in the first regular-season meeting at Gainesville.
By Justin Brooks ·
The Florida Gators held hope for a comeback for three quarters, but the Oklahoma Sooners controlled the clock to secure a 23-7 victory on Sunday. The win ends Florida’s recent losing streak in a different way, leaving the home team with five points on the board and a depleted offensive rhythm.
This marked the first time Oklahoma played at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The two programs met previously only in postseason games, including the 2009 BCS National Championship and the 2020 Cotton Bowl. Neither team had experienced the regular-season atmosphere of the other’s home field before this contest.
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer led the Sooners with 207 passing yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Rocky Beers caught four passes for 72 yards, the team’s highest receiving total. Mateer also rushed for 56 yards. The Sooners totaled 351 yards of offense, nearly double Florida’s 203.
Florida’s offense struggled against the Sooners’ defense. Tramell Jones Jr. completed 10 of 22 passes for 133 yards and threw two interceptions. The Gators also faced penalties that stalled drives, including two holding calls on lineman Caden Jones that nullified an 18-yard gain early in the game.
Jadan Baugh provided a spark for Florida with a 15-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The play required a replay review after officials initially called Baugh out of bounds. The score, aided by an extra point from Patrick Durkin, brought Florida within 10-7 with 3:15 left in the first half.
The Sooners extended the lead to 13-7 at halftime on a 48-yard field goal by Tate Sandell. In the third quarter, Florida’s defense forced three punishes, creating scoring opportunities that the offense failed to capitalize on.
The deciding sequence began with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter. Florida faced fourth and three from the Oklahoma 17-yard line. Instead of attempting a field goal that would have cut the deficit to three points, the Gators went for the first down.
Jones threw to Eric Singleton Jr. in the end zone, but Oklahoma defensive back Courtland Guillory intercepted the pass. The turnover gave the ball back to Oklahoma with six points of lead and under three minutes left in the third quarter.
Oklahoma then ran a 20-play, 89-yard drive that consumed 12 minutes and 45 seconds of game clock. The long possession kept Florida on the field and prevented the Gators from mounting a final push. Mateer connected with Isaiah Sategna III for a six-yard touchdown with 4:56 left, making the score 20-7.
Florida’s next drive ended when Kip Lewis sacked Jones for a 15-yard loss on fourth down. Sandell kicked a 31-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining to set the final margin. Oklahoma dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 37 minutes and 50 seconds compared to Florida’s 22 minutes and 10 seconds.
Florida drops to a 5-4 overall record and 3-4 in the SEC. The Gators will face the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday, November 14.
The Sooners improved their standing with the win, capitalizing on Florida’s inability to convert defensive stops into points. The clock management proved decisive in a game that remained competitive on the scoreboard for a long time.
