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LSU's Jayden Daniels makes history in 52-35 win vs. Florida

On3 imageby:Shea Dixon•11/11/23•

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jayden-daniels
© Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels entered the week with more total yards than any player in college football.

He will firmly hold the same spot atop the NCAA’s list entering Week 12.

In a 52-35 win over Florida, Daniels became the first player in FBS history to pass for more than 350 yards and run for more than 200 yards in one game. Even with three losses, Daniels will certainly put himself among the leaders in the Heisman Trophy race.

Daniels finished the game 17-for-26 passing for 372 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 234 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries.

That’s an average of 22 yards per catch and 20 yards per carry as LSU’s offense finished the game with 701 yards on offense.

LSU moved to 7-3 on the year with the win, and the Tigers have two regular season games remaining against Georgia State and Texas A&M.

Here’s the rundown on how the game played out, video of all the touchdowns, the stats and more.

FIRST QUARTER

(Florida won the toss and deferred to the second half)

LSU entered the week with the nation’s top offense, and it took no time for the Tigers to find the end zone against the Gators.

On the game’s first drive, LSU marched 75 yards in seven plays before Josh Williams punched it in the touchdown from the goal line.

The biggest play of the drive came on a third down when the Tigers, coming out of a timeout, rolled the pocket right and quarterback Jayden Daniels hit wide receiver Malik Nabers, who then took off for a 38-yard gain. Nabers also had an 18-yard catch-and-run on a sweep play to get the offense inside the 5-yard line.

LSU 7, Florida 0 – 11:50 remaining in first quarter

The Gators came back with a quick answer against an LSU defense that has struggled all season.

With a combination of gains on runs and passes, the Gators popped off two key plays to receiver Ricky Pearsall of 14 yards and 19 yards.

Eugene Wilson finished off the drive with a nine-yard catch-and-run for the score.

LSU 7, Florida 7 – 8:58 remaining in first quarter

The offense didn’t slow down, with Daniels coming out and hitting on four straight passes to wide receiver Chris Hilton (9 yards), tight end Mason Taylor (18 yards), Nabers (6 yards) and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (10 yards).

From there, running back John Emery and Daniels used a pair of runs to move the ball into the red zone for the second time across the game’s first two LSU drives.

Emery then pulled off an impressive juke to get free for what looked like a potential touchdown, but after a 14-yard gain he dropped to the ground holding his knee on a non-contact play. Emery was carried off by trainers minutes later, and Williams came in to run the ball on three straight plays, but after a five-yard gain, the Tigers couldn’t get across the line from one yard out.

On fourth down, LSU head coach Brian Kelly gave the green light on a fourth down call, and Williams was stuffed again for no gain to lead to the turnover on downs at the 1-yard line.

Florida immediately popped a 24-yard pass from the 1-yard line, which got the Gators out of the shadows of their own end zone. From there, Florida quarterback Grahama Mertz moved the chains again with another completion to tight end Hayden Hansen.

Then came a big play by the LSU defense, with edge rusher Bradyn Swinson stripped Mertz, and freshman Javien Toviano – making his second career start at cornerback – scooped up the loose fumble.

The Tigers weren’t able to capitalize on the field position, though. After an opening drive that went for a touchdown and another drive that went to the 1-yard line, the Tigers ran four straight plays before Daniels was sacked on fourth down for back-to-back turnovers on downs.

SECOND QUARTER

After a pair of penalties on the Florida offense, the Gators were forced to punt it back to the Tigers.

LSU struck quickly, hitting Thomas on a great throw from Daniels for a 41-yard gain, then Daniels followed it up by flashing his speed on a scramble that went for 38 yards and got the offense into the red zone.

From there, an incomplete pass, a three-yard run and a throw that was caught short of the sticks set up a fourth down. LSU kicker Damian Ramos stepped in and hit the 28-yarder to give the Tigers the lead.

LSU 10, Florida 7 – 11:52 remaining in second quarter

After picking up a third down conversion, the Gators ran into trouble when Harold Perkins stripped Mertz as he dropped back to pass. Florida recovered, but had to punt it away on 4th-and-15.

It took Daniels just one play to take it 85 yards for an impressive rushing touchdown, picking up some key blocks from receivers along the way as LSU’s quarterback outran the entire Florida defense.

Through five drives, Daniels had 143 passing yards and 134 rushing yards – continuing to look the part of the best player in college football.

LSU 17, Florida 7 – 8:21 remaining in second quarter

The Tigers appeared to be in line for a quick three-and-out, but the Gators converted the 3rd-and-8 with an 18-yard catch-and-run by running back Montrell Johnson. The play resulted in LSU safety Andre Sam being ejected for the game after the officials ruled targeting on a hit, which forced the Tigers to turn to true freshman Ryan Yaites with the first-team at safety.

After a run by Mertz, the officials hit LSU with another crucial penalty, this time a personal foul on Jacobian Guillory for unnecessary roughness.

With the Gators inside the red zone, an end-around rush by Wilson put the ball at the 5-yard line with less than five minutes to play in the first half. LSU starting JACK linebacker Ovie Oghoufo was banged up on the play, remaining on the field throughout the TV timeout before walking off without assistance from the medical staff.

Florida running back and Louisiana native Trevor Etienne took in the touchdown from seven yards out on the following play.

LSU 17, Florida 14 – 4:30 remaining in second quarter

LSU quickly got into Florida territory thanks to a 14-yard catch-and-run by Nabers, but the Tigers were hit with a holding call on third down that was declined and forced LSU to punt from midfield with 2:18 left on the clock.

LSU punter Jay Bramblett hit a nice punt that forced Pearsall into a fair catch at the 10-yard line with 2:11 remaining until halftime.

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The Gators were hit with a false start as LSU’s crowd got loud, and then had to call a timeout two plays later as a result of the noise. Ultimately, the Tigers forced the Gators into a fourth down, but LSU had already spent all the team’s timeouts. Florida, backed inside the 20-yard line, chose to let the clock run out on the half.

HALFTIME: LSU 17, Florida 14

THIRD QUARTER

The LSU defense forced Florida into a quick three-and-out, and the Tigers made good on the punt by driving 81 yards on six plays for the touchdown.

Daniels took off on a 27-yard run to get the drive going, then running back Josh Williams caught a pass and took it 45 yards to the Florida 5-yard line.

Two plays later, running back Kaleb Jackson punched it in for the touchdown.

LSU 24, Florida 14 – 11:05 remaining in third quarter

Florida was quick to answer as Mertz hit Pearsall for a 33-yard gain that got the Gators into LSU territory.

After an 18-yard run by Etienne, he followed it up with a 21-yard run for the touchdown.

LSU 24, Florida 21 – 9:32 remaining in third quarter

After Jackson ran it in for a touchdown on the prior drive, the true freshman coughed up the football on the kickoff and gave the Gators the ball back with a chance to take the lead.

And Florida did just that, going 23 yards on five straight run plays to take the lead on a quarterback sneak by Mertz.

Florida 28, LSU 24 – 7:16 remaining in third quarter

The shootout has now officially begun.

After Daniels hit Hilton and Nabers for a pair of 12-yard gains, LSU’s star took off running, this time bobbing and weaving his way 51 yards down the field for the touchdown – his second rushing score of the day.

Daniels joined Johnny Manziel as the lone player with 200 yards passing + 200 yards rushing in an SEC game. 226 yards passing 220 yards rushing

LSU 31, Florida 28 – 6:09 remaining in third quarter

LSU’s defense came up with a much-needed stop, forcing Florida into a quick three-and-out.

After the punt, running back Noah Cain stepped off the bench for a nice 8-yard run, then Thomas got open down the sideline and – once again – Daniels hit him in stride for the 52-yard gain.

With the ball at the Florida 10-yard line, Cain carried it for four yards before catching a third down pass and finding his way into the end zone for the touchdown to extend the LSU lead late in the third quarter.

LSU 38, Florida 28 – 2:18 remaining in third quarter

A 20-yard gain on the drive’s second play got the Gators near midfield as time expired in the third quarter with the Gators trailing by 10 points.

FOURTH QUARTER

After converting on a third down, Florida continued to march down the field with the run game, and Etienne scored on a five-yard run to cut the lead to three points. It was the Louisiana native’s third touchdown of the game.

LSU 38, Florida 35 – 10:27 remaining in the fourth quarter

Three plays later, LSU had extended the lead back to double-digit.

After a run by Cain, Daniels hit Nabers for a 44-yard yard gain. Brian Thomas Jr. was flagged for holding downfield, which still gave the Tigers a first down on Florida’s 37-yard line.

One play later, Thomas made up for the mistake with a 37-yard touchdown catch.

LSU 45, Florida 35 – 9:14 remaining in fourth quarter

The Tigers immediately forced Florida into a third down, and the Gators turned the ball over on downs after Sage Ryan broke up a pass on 4th-and-3.

With 6:34 remaining, LSU’s offense handled business.

The Tigers drove 49 yards in seven plays before Thomas found the end zone again, this time on a 7-yard catch that put LSU ahead by 17 points with a little more than two minutes left in the game.

LSU 52, Florida 35 – 2:25 remaining in fourth quarter

With a little more than two minutes left, Florida’s offense went down the field, getting to the 5-yard line after an 11-play stretch that included a conversion on 4th-and-12.

On 4th-and-goal from the 5-yard line, LSU’s Saivion Jones batted down the pass attempt by Mertz to keep the Gators out of the end zone.

LSU kneeled out the clock with 28 seconds remaining to secure victory on a night when the offense put up 701 yards.

FINAL: LSU 52, Florida 35

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