LOOK: Florida-Florida State rivalry starts with animosity

The Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles are playing much more than just a rivalry game, as the winner of Saturday’s contest will notch their sixth win, making them bowl eligible. And there’s plenty of animosity ahead of the big game.

Greg Knox, the Gators’ interim head coach, saw his tenure get off to a shaky start before the game even kicked off, and that shaky start meant no handshakes between Florida and Florida State captains.

Well before the captains took the field, while the Florida State Seminoles made their way to the locker room for pregame programming, the Florida Gators’ entire roster seemed to be there, exchanging choice words, as the Seminoles left the field.

As #FSU was leaving the field, Florida made its way over to talk to them a bit. Sure it was a perfectly friendly conversation. pic.twitter.com/ZfeZYYn0BA

— Curt Weiler (@CurtMWeiler) November 27, 2021

Shortly thereafter, Florida’s unwelcoming reception of the visiting Seminoles continued, as the captains refused to shake hands at midfield for the coin toss.

FSU DL Jermaine Johnson was chopping as #Gators captains Zach Carter and Malik Davis came to midfield.

No handshakes or pleasantries shared between the two sets of captains.

Let's do this football.

— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) November 27, 2021

At the onset of the game, the Florida Gators appeared capable of backing up all the talk. The Gators got off to as good a start as they could have asked — they received the opening kickoff, then orchestrated a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, giving them a 7-0 lead. The possession was capped off by a 47-yard Emory Jones touchdown pass to wide receiver Kemore Gamble, and both Jones (5-for-8, 78 yards, one passing touchdown) and Anthony Richardson (one rush for four yards) saw the field.

Then, the Gators again made good on their promise to come out fast against their in-state rivals, forcing Florida State into a three-and-out in the Seminoles’ first possession of the game.

Bruce Feldman: A favorite has emerged in the Florida coaching search

There has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks about who will replace Dan Mullen as the head coach of the Florida Gators. According to Bruce Feldman, a favorite might be emerging in Florida’s coaching search.

Feldman said on Fox Big Noon Kickoff that Louisiana head coach Billy Napier is the favorite at this point to become the next head coach of the Gators.

“One coach I do expect to move is Louisiana’s Billy Napier,” Feldman said on Fox Big Noon Kickoff. “He’s done a terrific job in the Sun Belt. He has emerged as a favorite for the Florida vacancy, I’m told.”

Napier has worked as an assistant under Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban in his career. He also has experience at Colorado State, Florida State, South Carolina State, and Arizona State. Over the past four seasons at Louisiana, Napier has led the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 38-12 overall record. Louisiana has three consecutive bowl appearances, and this season will extend that streak to four. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 10-1 this season.