WATCH: Florida State defender not ejected for post-play punch

The Florida vs Florida State rivalry has always provided chippy interactions and plenty talking between the lines, but 2021 has brought new levels of altercation. After a pregame dust up, the two sides have gone back and forth with chippy interactions.

Early in the third quarter, Florida State defensive back Omarion Cooper threw a punch – or open-hand slap – at the helmet of Florida wide receiver Justin Shorter. Flags immediately came out as Shorter backed away from the altercation.

I believe they call that a palm strike pic.twitter.com/dt8xiCOR3y

— Internet #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) November 27, 2021

Cooper’s actions earned a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but did not lead to an ejection. Despite the penalty, Florida did not receive a first-down, thanks to offensive lineman Jean Delance.

While Omarion Cooper threw a punch at Justin Shorter, Jean Delance tackled a Florida State defender and knocked off his helmet. The penalties offset and Florida kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead.

Pregame scuffle

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 is 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.

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

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.