Florida vs. LSU final score: Tigers outpace Gators in high-scoring affair

Zac Al-Khateeb

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Florida vs. LSU final score: Tigers outpace Gators in high-scoring affair image

No. 5 LSU faced its biggest test of the season to date on Saturday, and it passed with flying colors.

The Tigers managed to hold off seventh-ranked, upset-minded Florida in Tiger Stadium en route to a 42-28 win. The victory not only keeps the Tigers neck-and-neck with top-ranked Alabama in the SEC West race, but it also keeps alive their hopes for a first College Football Playoff berth.

MORE: Top-25 highlights, scores from Saturday's games

Once again, the story of the night was LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who completed an absurd 21 of 24 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns to no interceptions. That he did so against a Florida defense that came in ranked third with 26 sacks and first in the nation with 12 interceptions makes his line all the more impressive. Tigers receivers Ja'Marr Chase (seven receptions, 127 yards, two touchdowns) and Justin Jefferson (10 receptions, 123 yards, one touchdown) also stood out.

Give Florida credit, though. The Gators kept it close until late in the game, even taking a 28-21 lead early in the third quarter before giving up 21 unanswered points to end the game. Kyle Trask completed 23 of 39 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns to one costly interception. Florida left 14 potential points on the board by failing to score on two of its six red-zone visits — ultimately, that was the difference in the game.

Check out Sporting News' highlights of this top-10 heavyweight bout:

Florida vs. LSU score

  1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q F
Florida 7 14 7 0 28
LSU 7 14 14 7 42

Florida vs. LSU updates, highlights

Final: LSU 42, Florida 28

11:32 p.m.: Final stats from Baton Rouge:

UF-LSU-GAME STATS-101219-CPB

11:26 p.m.: And that'll do it. Gators attempt a weird option-type play on fourth-and-goal and Trask is hammered for a loss. LSU will take over with less than a minute remaining, and that should do it.

11: 25 p.m.: There's only 1:08 remaining and Florida has still yet to score. Gators' hopes hinge on an onside kick at this point, even with the score.

11:22 p.m.: Florida is saved. Trask threw an interception (again to Stingley), but Florida is given a fresh set of downs after LSU is called for roughing the passer. First-and-goal at the 2 with 1:39 left upcoming.

11:16 p.m.: Florida has it at LSU's 16 with 2:04 and three timeouts remaining. Gators need a score here to have a shot.

11:15 p.m.: Florida nickel-and-diming down the field, but Kyle Trask takes a big sack on first down. Not ideal, but the Gators aren't out yet.

11:06: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. Four plays later, LSU may have put the final nail in the coffin: a 54-yard touchdown connection between Burrow and Chase to make it 42-28 LSU.

11:02 p.m.: Disaster for Florida. Trask throws his first pick to Stingley, who was draped over the intended receiver. Curious play call for a third-and-1 situation. LSU will take over at its 20 with 7:26 left to play.

10:57 p.m.: And now Mullen's digging into his bag of tricks with the reverse! Swain takes it 8 yards to the LSU 17. Florida has had the ball for 10 plays and 4:17 minutes of game clock.

10:54 p.m.: Another key conversion on third-and-long! This time Trask finds Trevon Grimes in the zone for a 19-yard pickup. Florida now driving across midfield.

10:52 p.m.: Some gutsy play-calling there. Dan Mullen takes advantage of the aggressive defense and throws a slips creen to Freddie Swain with Trask in his own end zone. It gets them out to the 29 for a 21-yard gain.

10:50 p.m.: Florida takes over at its 8 with 12:32. Here we go.

10:49 p.m.: It looks like LSU was going to go for it, but a false start along the offensive line brings on the punt unit.

10:48 p.m.: LSU now facing fourth-and-3 at Florida's 35. Big play upcoming here with 13:14 left in the game.

Third quarter: LSU 35, Florida 28

10:41 p.m.: And on third-and-8, Florida gives up a 14-yard gain to Ja'Marr Chase. Tigers are driving at their 39.

10:39 p.m.: Not to be hyperbolic, but the way LSU is moving the ball the Gators may need a stop here before this game gets out of hand.

10:37 p.m.: Florida suffers another three-and-out, this time with Emory Jones at quarterback. Tigers pinning their ears back and it has made all the difference these last two drives.

10:33 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. And now Tyrion Davis-Price gets on the board! He takes it 33 yards to the house for his first score of the game and the go-ahead touchdown. It's 35-28 LSU with 3:15 remaining in the third quarter.

10:29 p.m.: LSU forced a Florida three-and-out and will take over at its 48. Jabari Zuniga is down for the Gators.

10:26 p.m.: A long Florida gain is nullified after a holding call. Gators have it first-and-20 at their 15.

10:19 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. These teams are going blow for blow out here. The latest punch landed comes from LSU in the form of a 5-yard touchdown by Edwards-Helaire (capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive). It's 28-all.

10:12 p.m.: Another development: It seems Derek Stingley Jr. is getting looked at by trainers on the sideline. He's a big part of that LSU secondary.

10:07 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, FLORIDA. The Gators were all business on offense to open the half, going 76 yards in eight plays and 4:06 of elapsed time for the touchdown. Trask was also efficient, completing all four of his passes for 51 yards, including this 2-yarder to Jefferson. He and Michael Divinity both were shaken up on the play. It's 28-21 Florida.

10:01 p.m.: And we're back at it. Florida opens the half with connections of 20 and 17 yards between Trask and Jefferson to move inside the Tigers' 40.

Halftime: LSU 21, Florida 21

9:39 p.m.: Your halftime stats:

UF-LSU halftime stats-101219-CPB

9:37 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, FLORIDA. The Gators aren't going away! They drive 75 yards in 11 plays to score with 4 seconds remaining in the half. The tying score: a 6-yard touchdown connection between Trask and Van Jefferson. It's 21-all heading into halftime, barring a huge special teams play to end the half.

9:34 p.m.: Emory Jones back in at quarterback now that Florida has broached the red zone. Gators driving with less than a minute remaining.

9:30 p.m.: Florida's drive is extended thanks to a pass interference call on JaCoby Stevens. The Gators are driving at their own 44 with 3:03 remaining in the half.

9:24 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. The Tigers strike back! Four plays and 75 yards later, the Tigers are on the board again thanks to a 39-yard run from Edwards-Helaire. It's 21-14 LSU.

9:18 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, FLORIDA. In a somewhat lucky turn of events, Florida has evened it up with 5:48 left to play. Emory Jones pretended to run right, backed up in the face of pressure and lobbed a prayer into the end zone. Linebacker Patrick Queen should have intercepted/knocked it down, but instead tipped it into the waiting hands of Lamical Perine. It's 14-all.

9:15 p.m.: Florida's going on it on fourth-and-goal from the 1 down 14-7. A big momentum play coming up.

9:12 p.m.: Also: Florida is mixing Emory Jones at quarterback. Jones is a notably better dual-threat QB than Trask.

9:10 p.m.: Florida deep in LSU territory on its latest drive. Grant Delpit makes a touchdown-saving tackle but is now walking off the field. Could be a big development later.

8:57 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. The Tigers are back on top with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to Justin Jefferson. The Tigers had no problem moving the ball on that drive. It's 14-7 LSU.

8:55 p.m.: LSU back at it again. Burrow runs for 14 yards, followed by a 36-yard pass to Justin Jefferson and a 15-yard pass interference call against the Gators. Tigers are driving at the 16.

8:52 p.m.: And the Gators choose not to risk it. They punt, and giving LSU the ball at its own 18.

First quarter: LSU 7, Florida 7

8:48 p.m.: Florida moves the ball to the 50, but no further. The Gators will face fourth-and-1 from the 50 to start the second quarter.

8:45 p.m.: And now Florida forces a three-and-out on LSU. The Gators take over at their 17.

8:39 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, FLORIDA. And the Gators respond with a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive stamped with a 5-yard touchdown connection between Trask and Trevon Grimes. It's 7-all.

8:32 p.m.: And now Florida is churning out yards on offense. A 12-yard gain by Perine and 11-yard run by Emory Jones gives the Gators first down at the Tigers' 19.

8:30 p.m.: And now the Gators getting some nice chunk plays, including a 17-yard pass from Kyle Trask to Tyrie Cleveland and 17-yard run by Lamical Perine out to the LSU 42.

8:27 p.m.: Back on offense for Florida, which can't afford another three-and-out here.

8:20 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. The Tigers forced a three-and-out on the Gators before promptly burning their defense for a two-play, 66-yard touchdown drive punctuated by a 57-yard Clyde Edwards-Helaire run. It's 7-0 LSU.

8:17 p.m.: Of note: Jonathan Greenard is out for Florida with a high ankle sprain. That's a big loss for the Gators' pass-rush.

8:15 p.m.: And LSU misses the field goal wide left — the first time the Tigers haven't scored on their opening possession all year.

8 p.m.: LSU moving the ball downfield early with nice chunk plays of 9, 10 and 23 yards, respectively. The Tigers not fazed by Florida's pass-rush yet.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.