Alongside Auburn and Kentucky, LSU football suffered the biggest upset in SEC Football during Week Six. The Tigers were ranked fifth before falling to Florida in Gainesville.
The week of October 6 was the time for upsets of highly ranked programs in the SEC, including the LSU football team. Both Auburn (nationally ranked eighth) and Kentucky (nationally ranked thirteenth) suffered the same fate later that same night and all three happened on the road.
Which team was hit the hardest? Most likely LSU, due to being the biggest rivalry played in college football this week. You may debate Texas-Oklahoma along with that, but it was LSU who had the hardest ending.
Defense ruled the game
Once again, the Florida defense played out their part, sacking Joe Burrow five times. Vosean Joseph and Jachai Polite each had two and Jabari Zuniga one. Burrow was also picked off twice, including the game winner by Brad Stewart Jr.
The LSU defense was forced to work together as a team without any key player stepping up to totally slow down the Florida offense. Safety Grant Delpit had the only key play defensively with an interception in the end zone to start the third quarter.
Evenly matched across the board
Both the Florida and LSU football teams had to have been mirror images of themselves as far as SEC Football is concerned. Stats were nearly identical with the exception of Florida leading in rushing yards (215 to180) and total yards (391to 371).
While Florida suffered more penalties than LSU, the Gators were able to keep the turnover margin down. The only battle Florida did not win was the time of possession, that belonged to LSU in a losing effort (30:24 to 29:36).
Florida won the stat battle, and the winning interception with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter was the true icing on the cake. The Florida defense under Dan Mullen appears to get better and better every week.
Feleipe Franks owned the game offensively for Florida
While most critics Feleipe Franks may be considered inconsistent, the Florida quarterback obviously took this rivalry game seriously. Franks was no doubt the offensive player of the game, throwing for 161 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 42.
Franks also had one reception for 15 yards, thanks to a left-handed pass by tight end Lucas Krull. Franks knew the importance of this rivalry and not even the lone interception slowed him down, along with avoiding sacks.
Burrow, Brossette fell short of perfection.
While Joe Burrow threw 30 yards better than Franks, the LSU quarterback was the victim of late turnovers hitting the ground hard. Throwing under 200 yards in a game would eventually catch up to him, as did the two Interceptions in the final two minutes.
Nick Brossette scored twice on the ground for LSU football, but was five yards short of making his third 100 yard game. Brossette hasn’t had a 100-yard game since September 8 against Southeast Louisiana.
A second effort by Brossette would have been the true key to winning this game and remaining undefeated for the SEC West crown. Only 15 carries should have been 20 or more to win the offensive team battle.
Florida and LSU football aftermath after the rankings
Despite being the hardest fought game for LSU, the lack of expected offense and second effort will cause them to fall hard in the upcoming rankings. Florida was ranked 22nd before the matchup began and has since rebounded from the home loss to Kentucky.
Dan Mullen must go through Vanderbilt before preparing for Georgia in Jacksonville, which will be huge. The Gators will most likely be inside the top 20, if not the top 15 by the time they meet. Florida has now rebuilt momentum towards the end of October.