Florida Ends 2025 Season with Statement Win Over Florida State
The 2025 season has been anything but smooth sailing for Florida football, but the Gators made sure to end it with a bang-and more importantly, with a win over their in-state rivals. In a rivalry game where records get tossed out the window, Florida came out swinging and never let up, handing Florida State a crushing 40-21 loss in The Swamp.
For the Seminoles, the stakes were clear: win and secure bowl eligibility. But Florida had no interest in letting that happen. The Gators, battered and bruised from a long, disappointing season, found one last spark-and used it to spoil FSU’s postseason hopes in emphatic fashion.
Let’s dive into the three biggest takeaways from a rivalry clash that gave Gator Nation something to smile about heading into the offseason.
Jadan Baugh Hits 1,000 Yards-and Then Some
If there’s been one constant in Florida’s turbulent 2025 campaign, it’s sophomore running back Jadan Baugh. Week after week, he’s been the engine of the offense, and on Saturday, he didn’t just reach a milestone-he bulldozed through it.
Baugh entered the game needing 96 yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the season. By halftime, he was already there. By the final whistle, he had racked up a staggering 266 yards on 38 carries with two touchdowns, setting a new single-game rushing record for a Florida sophomore.
Only one name stands ahead of him in the Florida record books for most rushing yards in a single game: Emmitt Smith, who posted 316 yards against New Mexico State back in 1989. That’s the kind of company Baugh now keeps.
He becomes just the 12th Gator in program history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season-and the first since Kelvin Taylor did it a decade ago in 2015.
Florida’s game plan was clear from the jump: feed Baugh, force FSU to commit to the run, and open up the play-action game. It worked like a charm. This was one of the most complete offensive performances we’ve seen from the Gators all year, and Baugh was the heartbeat of it all.
DJ Lagway Caps Season with Three-TD Performance
It’s been a rollercoaster season for DJ Lagway, and that’s putting it lightly. The sophomore quarterback came into 2025 with sky-high expectations after a promising freshman year, but injuries and inconsistency derailed what was supposed to be his breakout campaign.
Still, Lagway found a way to finish strong. Against the Seminoles, he tied his season-high with three touchdown passes, connecting with J.
Michael Sturdivant, Tony Livingston, and Hayden Hansen. It wasn’t just the stat line-it was the poise, the decision-making, and the confidence that had been missing for much of the year.
There’s no sugarcoating it: Lagway’s season didn’t go as planned. But this final performance offers a glimmer of what could be if he can stay healthy and take a leap in development this offseason.
The tools are there. Now it’s about turning potential into production.
And if this game was any indication, the arrow might finally be pointing back up for Florida’s young signal-caller.
Defense Steps Up in Rivalry Showdown
Florida’s defense hasn’t exactly been a strength this season, but when it mattered most-against their biggest rival-they showed up with fire and focus.
From the opening snap, the Gators played with urgency and aggression, making life miserable for Florida State’s offense. They tallied seven tackles for loss, four sacks, and came up with multiple fourth-down stops that swung momentum in their favor.
Linebacker Myles Graham led the charge, finishing with eight tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry. He was everywhere, setting the tone for a defense that played its most inspired football of the season.
This wasn’t just about getting a win. This was about pride.
About refusing to let a rival celebrate bowl eligibility on their home turf. And after a deflating loss in The Swamp just a week prior, the Gators made sure this one would end differently.
A Season to Forget Ends with a Game to Remember
There’s no sugarcoating the 2025 season for Florida-it was rough. But rivalry games have a funny way of resetting the narrative, even if just for a night.
With their backs against the wall, the Gators delivered their most complete performance of the year. Jadan Baugh cemented his place in Florida history.
DJ Lagway found a groove. The defense played with purpose.
And the Gators sent the Seminoles home without a bowl bid.
It won’t erase the struggles of the past few months, but it does offer a sense of hope-something to build on as Florida turns the page to 2026.
For now, the Gators get to hold onto one thing: bragging rights. And in a rivalry like this, that means everything.