Five turnovers doom Florida State in season-ending, 31-11 loss to Gators
One of the ugliest seasons in Florida State history came to a typically ugly conclusion Saturday night inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
Facing a Florida Gators team that has benefited greatly from opponents’ turnovers in recent weeks, the Seminoles were more than accommodating hosts, turning the ball over five times in a 31-11 loss.
Florida State actually fumbled the ball eight times and lost five of them. The Gators scored their first touchdown after FSU fumbled at its own 14-yard line, and they later added a field goal after the Seminoles fumbled a punt at their own 12.
One year after winning 13 games and claiming an ACC Championship, Florida State finishes 2024 with a 2-10 record. That’s the worst performance by an FSU team since the 1974 Seminoles went 1-10.
Florida improves to 7-5 and finishes the regular season with three straight wins.
FSU trailed 24-3 late in the fourth quarter until freshman quarterback Luke Kromenhoek led the Seminoles on an 11-play, 59-yard touchdown drive. Senior running back Lawrance Toafili capped off the drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge, and Kromenhoek connected with freshman tight end Landen Thomas on the two-point conversion to make it 24-11.
UF then tacked on another touchdown to make it 31-11.
Kromenhoek finished his second career start with 140 yards passing while completing 15 of 28 attempts.
After getting shut out in the first half, Florida State’s first points came on a 39-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald midway through the third quarter. That capped off a nine-play, 42-yard drive.
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FSU’s next drive went 68 yards on 13 plays, but it ended at the UF 7-yard line after yet another fumble.
The Seminoles trailed 14-0 at halftime and had just 79 yards of total offense. Kromenhoek completed 6 of 11 passes in that period, but for just 36 yards. And Florida State had 43 rushing yards on 21 carries.
The FSU defense played fairly well in the first half, but the Gators put together a late touchdown drive to take a 14-0 lead into the break. After scoring on just one of their first drives — being forced to punt three times and throwing an interception — the Gators went 80 yards on nine plays on their final possession.
Lagway completed four passes on that drive for 60 yards; he had 40 yards passing on UF’s first five possessions.
UF’s first score came after Kromenhoek fumbled deep in FSU territory.
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