Florida Gators Overhyped Media Machine Pushing Narrative Past Texas A&M to 2019 LSU Team
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
If a diehard college football fan had been traipsing the galaxy since mid-September unaware of the actions during the 2020 season, a return visit to Earth on Monday may have the feel that the Florida Gators are a once in a decade kind of team. After three consecutive decisive victories, including a 44-28 neutral site destruction of then- No. 5 Georgia, this Florida team is getting quick comparisons to last season’s LSU 15-0 national championship squad. But the correlations are largely unfounded outside of a couple gaudy offensive numbers.
The easy draw for college football pundits talking about Florida is comparing Gators’ starting quarterback Kyle Trask to LSU’s 2019 starter Joe Burrow. For about nine games Burrow was pushed by then Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but Burrow went on to lead not only the SEC in all major statistical categories, but he also led the nation in passing yards (5,671), passing touchdowns (60), and QB rating (202.0) while leading the nation with a 76.3 completion percentage against just six interceptions thrown in 527 attempts.
At the moment, Trask leads the nation in touchdown passes (28), but is not even leading the SEC in passing yards. Ole Miss sophomore quarterback Matt Corral holds a 2,359 yard to 2,171 advantage over Trask. Worth noting that Alabama’s Mac Jones is ahead of Trask in yards (2,196), completion percentage (78.5/70.1), and QB rating (210.3/197.5).
LSU from a year ago and Florida somewhat align on points per game, but the Tigers averaged 48.40 over 15 to Florida’s 45.83 over six thus far. The Tigers’ defense was dinged unmercifully for allowing an average of 21.87 while the Gators are giving way to 30.0 per.
The Tigers’ first six SEC games in 2019 included three top-10 teams, No. 7 Florida, No. 9 Auburn, and No. 3 Alabama. For the season, LSU would end up chopping down seven top-10 teams topping No. 3 Clemson 45-25 for the trophy. Florida has played one top-10 team Georgia. The only other ranked team they played, they lost 41-38 on the road to Texas A&M – the forgotten team.
Florida’s remaining schedule includes Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee, and LSU. Of the four, none of the teams have a winning record and poor Vanderbilt is winless.
The team college football talking heads are skipping over, even though the Aggies are ranked one spot ahead is Texas A&M. The Aggies took a 52-24 road loss to Alabama, the No. 2 team in the nation on Oct. 3. The Crimson Tide are undefeated and now ranked No. 1 while Georgia is 4-2 ranked No. 13.
Perhaps because the Aggies are not as flashy only scoring 33 points per game with the nation’s 28th ranked total defense, Florida is getting the national love. A&M has remaining games against Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn, and Tennessee with the last two coming on the road. If the Aggies are for real, we will find out. They will be pushed by the Rebels’ much-improved offense and the SEC refs in Jordan-Hare Stadium; if the Mississippi game is made up after an announced postponement on Monday.
Unless a drastic change happens in Baton Rouge, Florida can essentially coast to the regular season finish line without facing a ranked or winning team setting up a Dec. 19 meeting with Alabama in the SEC Championship Game to be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Before Florida can be coronated the “next LSU”, which would mean claiming their first SEC title and national championship since 2008, Alabama will have something to say about that. Mac Jones and Matt Corral may have input on which quarterback is not only the best in the SEC but also tops in the country among the eyes of Heisman Trophy voters. Shane Buechele (SMU), Dillon Gabrield (UCF), Zach Wilson (BYU), and Sam Howell (UNC) might have an opinion on the subject as well.
Meanwhile, A&M will be sending care packages to College Football Playoff Selection Committee members sitting on the outside of a championship game appearance looking in.
Photo credit: Tampa Bay Times; Dan Mullen Florida sidelines (2020)