With the first college football kickoff just held on August 24, it seems like not much has changed, yet a strange aura has continued to wreak havoc in the realm, evident from #8 Florida’s 24 - 20 win over Miami. Although it is conventional for the higher ranked team to prevail, the amount of sloppy play suggests that this College Football season will be packed to the brim with upsets, strange story lines, and unsung heroes. Despite the streamline, expected outcome, many unforeseeable factors affected both teams’ play.
One of these factors was evidently clear, nervousness. Felipe Franks played very inconsistently, throwing 2 interceptions along with 2 touchdowns. Moreover, the teams amassed a total of 5 combined fumbles, 3 for Miami and 2 for Florida. For Miami, their 1st year starting QB, Jarren Williams, lost the ball twice in his debut under the bright lights. Similarly, Felipe Franks, Florida’s 3rd year starting QB, fumbled the ball once, as the pressure of the long-lasting Canes vs Gators rivalry affected almost everyone on the field.
Moreover, there were likely coaching factors that played into the game. For one, Florida played with nothing to lose despite being the 8th ranked team in the country. This allowed for some gutsy plays, including an early fake punt that got the gators driving to what eventually turned into a vital score. Moreover, Franks’ streaky play allowed for certain play calls, such as long passes, to convert back to back, building up confidence for the Gators. Despite this confidence, the game was still close as the Gators were barely able to rattle off a win. In fact, after the game, Coach Dan Mullen said, "Last five minutes of the game, I aged 10 years. That was exhausting."
As Florida and Miami enter the next few weeks of the college football regular season, many key changes will have to be made in order for both teams to prosper. Although these changes must be enforced by both coaches, at the end of the day, it’s the players that need to come in clutch and deliver when it really matters.