Gators Crush Upset-Minded Green Wave in Gasparilla Bowl

Photo by Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

TAMPA, Fla.—The Florida Gators (8-5) defeated the Tulane Green Wave (9-5) 33-8 on Dec. 20. The Florida Gators kicked off the Southeastern Conference's bowl season and they did not disappoint. While the first half was a bit lackluster, the Gators offense came alive, chomping at the bit in the second half behind quarterback DJ Lagway who finished the game with 305 yards passing and a touchdown from 22 completions.

Game Summary

The Gators started out the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl with the ball. After getting a first down on the ground with running back Jaden Baugh, Florida was forced to punt to the Green Wave. Tulane's first drive went significantly worse. In an attempt to get ahead, on their first play from scrimmage, the Green Wave attempted the "Flea Flicker" trick play. The Green Wave quarterback Ty Thompson's pass was terribly under-thrown and was intercepted by Gators defensive back Trikweze Bridges. The Gators drove down and scored a field goal.

A big moment late in the first quarter was when safety Kevin Adams III picked off Lagway and returned it to the Gators' 24-yard line. The Green Wave got nothing from that interception as they went three-and-out and kicker Patrick Durkin missed the kick wide-left.

Toward the end of the first half, the Gators were in position to score their first touchdown. That did not go to plan as Lagway was picked for the second time—this time by linebacker Dickson Agu. Once again, the Gators held the Green Wave at bay, forcing them to punt this time.

After another three-and-out from the Gators, the Green Wave got the ball and got on the edge of field-goal range with just a few seconds remaining. They opted to go for it and the pass was incomplete. The Gators had six seconds remaining and ran a screen to running back Ja'Kobi Jackson. Jackson was tackled after 21 yards. At halftime, the Gators led 6-0. It was the lowest scoring Gasparilla Bowl since 2017.

Gators' Turning Point

Coming out of halftime, the Gators drove down to the Green Wave 6-yard line before being stopped. Gator head coach Billy Napier opted to take another field goal to give the Gators a two-score lead over Tulane, making it 9-0. The following drive, Gators defensive back Alfonzo Allen Jr. picked off Thompson, reigniting the mostly Gator crowd. The Gators finally scored the game's first touchdown with a pass from Lagway to tight end Tony Livingston for 7 yards, increasing the lead to 16.

Photo by Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 

The Gators put the game away when Trey Smack, once again, added another field goal, making it 19-0. However, that wasn't the end of the scoring. The Gators scored two more touchdowns from running backs KD Daniels and Anthony Rubio while the Green Wave finally scored thanks to a Mario Williams touchdown catch.

Going Into the Offseason

For the Gators, the win against the Green Wave gives them a lot of confidence as well as win number eight headed into the offseason. It was also Billy Napier's first bowl win as the Gator's head coach. With the Gators having a great recruiting class already, they may be getting five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson from Oregon who plans to sign with the Gators after requesting to be released from his National Letter of Intent. That is just some of that massive names the Gators have.

For Tulane, they have lost star quarterback Darian Mensah to Duke. Following that, several other players entered the portal including their third-string quarterback Kai Horton. However, they bring in a few players to counteract the departures: Western Kentucky quarterback TJ Finley as well as Florida Atlantic's running back Zuberi Mobley and FAU receiver Omari Hayes.