OGT-Florida Gators vs.#14 Oregon State Beavers 12/17 2:30 pm ESPN

Florida Gators (6-6, 3-5 SEC) vs.#14 Oregon State Beavers (9-3, 6-3 PAC-12)
December 17 // 2:30 p.m. Las Vegas, Nev.
ESPNAllegiant Stadium (65,000)

3 National Championships 8 SEC Championships 753 All-Time Wins
3 Heisman Trophy Winners 56 First-Round NFL Draft Picks
72 First-Team All-Americans // 258 First-Team All-SEC Selections

ESPN
Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
Analyst: Kirk Herbstreit
Analyst: Pat McAfee
Reporter: Laura Rutledge
Channel (Cox): 7 / 1007 [HD]
Channel (DirecTV): 8 [HD

Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD
Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley
Analyst: Shane Matthews
Reporter: Tate Casey
Station Freq.: Local Affiliates
Sirius Channel: TBD

Bowl Season Radio
Play-by-Play: Brian Roth
Analyst: Elvis Gallegos
Reporter: Tim Murray
Sirius Channel: TBD

 

FLORIDA
Head Coach: Billy Napier
Career Record: 46-18 (27-5 Sun Belt) [5th season]
Record at UF: 6-6 (3-5 SEC) [1st season]
Bowl Record: 2-1
Rankings: NR (AP) / NR (Coaches)
2022 Record: 6-6, 3-5 SEC (T-4th East)

OREGON STATE
Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
Career Record: 25-31 (18-25 PAC-12) [5th season]
Record at OSU: same
Bowl Record: 0-1
Rankings: 17 (AP) / 16 (Coaches)
2022 Record: 9-3, 6-3 PAC-12 (T-5th

 

NUMBERS OF NOTE

213.7 / 5.8 / 700​

Florida’s 213.7 rushing yards/game (16th in FBS) is inline to rank 10th all-time in program history while Florida’s 5.8 yards/carry (third in FBS) would rank third, behind the 2008 and 1976 seasons (5.9 YPC). Meanwhile, the RB duo of Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne represents one of eight RB duos in the FBS to have rushed for over 700 yards apiece this season, including one of four duos to do so while each rushing for over 5.5 yards/carry. They are one of five UF RB duos to rush for 700 yards apiece.

 

THE STORYLINE​

• The 2022 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl marks the first meeting between Florida and Oregon State on the gridiron.

• Florida is playing its first-ever football game in Nevada across the program’s 115-year history.

• The 2022 campaign represents the first time that Florida has faced two Pac-12 teams in the same season.

• Florida has an all-time record of 24-23 across 47 all-time bowl games dating back through 1953.

• The Gators are 8-4 in bowl games since 2009 and 10-5 dating back to 2006.

• This is Florida’s fifth-straight bowl appearance and eighth in the last nine seasons.

• Oregon State will be UF’s seventh opponent this season ranked in the CFP Final Top 25 - tied for the most in the FBS.

• UF HC Billy Napier is 2-1 all-time in bowl games: 2018 Cure Bowl (L) - Tulane 41, Louisiana 24 | 2019-20 LendingTree Bowl (W) - Louisiana 27, Miami (OH) 17 | 2020 First Responder Bowl (W) - Louisiana 31, UTSA 24

• This is the first meeting between Coach Napier and OSU HC Jonathan Smith as head coaches.

• RB Trevor Etienne leads all true freshman FBS running backs with at least 100 carries in yards per carry (6.4) and is one of eight true freshman RBs in the FBS with over 700 rushing yards.

• The trio of RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (827), Etienne (705) and QB Anthony Richardson (654) became the third trio in UF history to eclipse 600 rush yards apiece in Week 12.

• The Gators’ 5.8 yards per carry ranks third in the FBS (behind UCLA and UAB).

• Florida’s 213.7 rushing yards/game ranks 16th in the FBS, 10th in the Power Five and third in the SEC.

• The Gators boast three of the top-12 rushers in the SEC in yards per carry: Etienne (sixth - 6.4), Richardson (seventh - 6.3) and Johnson Jr. (12th - 5.7). No other SEC team has three players in the top-17 (min. five attempts per game).

• Florida is one of two FBS teams (alongside Oregon) with three qualified players averaging over 5.5 yards per carry.

• G O’Cyrus Torrence is the top-rated guard in the nation at 88.6, according to Pro Football Focus (has never allowed a sack).

• Florida boasts four come-from-behind wins this season (vs. No. 7 Utah, vs. USF, vs. EWU, at Texas A&M).

• Florida has scored in 435-consecutive games dating back to 1988 -- an NCAA record and 56 games longer than any other college football team in the history of the sport.

 

FEATS TO WATCH FOR IN LAS VEGAS
​

• Florida’s 29 rushing TDs are the program’s fifth-most all-time in a season (2008 - 42, 2007 - 39, 2010 - 31, 2009 - 30).

• UF’s 213.7 rushing yards/game ranks 10th in team history. UF needs 150 yards to maintain 10th and 238 to move into ninth.

• Etienne needs 95 rush yards for Etienne and Johnson Jr. to become the first UF RB duo to eclipse 800 yards apiece.

• Johnson Jr. needs one rushing TD to move into a tie for 11th all-time in a single season at Florida (11) and two to move into a tie for ninth (12).

• DB Trey Dean III is one pass breakup away from tying Janoris Jenkins (2008-10) and Guss Scott (2000-03) for 10th all-time in a career at UF with 25.

• K Adam Mihalek would become the first UF kicker to hit four 50-yarders in a season with another successful attempt.

 

JOHNSON JR. + ETIENNE = ONE OF FBS’ TOP BACKFIELDS
​

• In their first seasons as Gators, RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (144 carries, 827 yards, 5.7 YPC, 10 TD) and RB Trevor Etienne (110 carries, 705 yards, 6.4 YPC, 6 TD) have been highly efficient leading UF’s running game.

• They are one of eight RB duos in the FBS to have rushed for over 700 yards apiece this season, and one of four FBS RB duos to do so while each rushing for over 5.5 YPC.

• The duo has combined for a touchdown in all 12 games, scoring 17 total TDs (rushing TDs in 11 of 12 games).

• The RB duo has combined for 46 of Florida’s 74 explosive rushes (10-plus yards) this season (62.2%).

• Johnson Jr. is one of 12 FBS RBs with back-to-back seasons with 10+ rushing TDs from 2021-22 and the only to do so at two different schools.

• Johnson Jr. is the first UF running back to rush for over 800 yards since La’Mical Perine in 2018.

• Etienne’s FBS ranks among true freshmen RBs: YPC (third - 6.4), TDs (T10th - six) and rush yards (eighth - 705).

• Etienne is coming off a career-high 129 yards rushing with one TD in Week 13 vs. FSU, marking his second 100-yard rushing game in the last three weeks as well as the second of his young career.

• Johnson Jr. posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games in Weeks 10-11, including a career-high 161 yards vs.South Carolina in Week 11. He was the first UF RB with consecutive 100-yard games since Jordan Scarlett in 2016.

• In the last four games, the duo has combined for four 100-yard rushing performances, as Etienne hit 100 yards vs. South Carolina and at FSU, and Johnson did so at Texas A&M and vs. South Carolina

• Johnson Jr. and Etienne became Florida’s first pair of 100-yard rushers in 22 games (9/4/21 vs. FAU) in Week 11.

• Etienne’s 85-yard TD rush was in Week 11 was the seventh-longest TD rush in school history, and the longest by a UF player since Lamical Perine’s 88-yard TD run vs. Auburn in 2019. It was also the second-longest TD run by a freshman in school history, and the tied for the 10th-longest TD rush in the FBS this season.

• Johnson Jr. ranks t-fourth in the SEC and t-21st in the Power Five with 10 rushing touchdowns

 

PEARSALL LEADS A BALANCED RECEIVERS ROOM​

• 18 different players have caught a pass for Florida this season - most since having 21 players do so in 2018.

• Six wide receivers have led or shared the weekly lead in receiving yards: Justin Shorter (five), Ricky Pearsall (three), Xzavier Henderson (two), Trent Whittemore (one), Caleb Douglas (one) and Daejon Reynolds (one).

• At FSU in Week 13, Pearsall set a career high with 148 yards receiving while his two TDs tied his personal best.

• Pearsall caught two 40-plus yard TDs in the first half, including a career-long 52-yard TD in the first quarter.

• Pearsall has recorded a reception in 27-consecutive games. He ranks second in the FBS with 20.6 yards per catch.

• UF ended the regular season with two WRs in the top-five in the FBS in yards per catch: Shorter (fourth - 19.9).

• Florida is the only team in the FBS with two qualified WRs averaging over 19.0 yards per catch, as Pearsall’s 20.6 YPC ranks second nationally while WR Justin Shorter sits in fourth at 19.9.

• Shorter finished the season in fourth all-time at UF for single-season YPC. Pearsall’s 20.6 currently ranks third.

• Pearsall is one of seven FBS WRs with 115-plus rushing yards and 595-plus receiving yards.

• Pearsall’s 76-yard TD run vs. Eastern Washington is the longest rush by an FBS WR this season and ranks t-10th in the FBS across the last five seasons (third-longest run by a UF wide receiver in the last 25 years).

• WR Caleb Douglas made his first-career start vs. South Carolina, becoming the first true freshman to start at WR since Kadarius Toney (10/7/17 vs. LSU). Douglas led UF with three receptions and 53 yards in Week 11.

• Douglas’ 53 yards were the most by a UF WR in his first start since Josh Hammond’s 72 vs. North Texas (9/17/16).

• Henderson set a career high with 110 yards receiving vs. UGA (Oct. 29), notching the first 100-yard game of his career.

• QB Anthony Richardson connected with Henderson for a 78-yard touchdown pass vs. UGA in Week 9 –setting a new career passing long for Richardson and a new career receiving long for Henderson.

• The score was UF’s longest pass play since Austin Appleby’s 85-yard TD pass to Mark Thompson on Jan. 2, 2017 vs. Iowa. It tied for UF’s 11th-longest pass since 1996 and is tied for the 21st-longest TD pass in the FBS this year.​

 

BUILDING A DOMINANT OFFENSIVE LINE​

• The Gators’ 13 sacks allowed are tied for the 15th-fewest in the FBS (t-eighth in P5) and second in the SEC.

• Since the start of last season, Florida has out-sacked its opponents by a plus-31 margin, and the Gators’ 27 sacks allowed are tied for the 11th-fewest in the FBS (second in the SEC behind Georgia).

• Two UF OL are graded inside the top-20 in the FBS at their position according to Pro Football Focus: G O’Cyrus Torrence (#1, 88.6) and T Austin Barber (#18, 79.9).

• Torrence never allowed a QB hit or sack in 3,065 career snaps -- zero QB hurries or penalties in 698 snaps in 2022.

• Richard Gouraige has started each of the last 40 games he has been active (missed 2021 vs. Vandy to injury

 

OFFENSIVE GRAB BAG​

• Over the last five seasons, the Gators rank eighth in the Power Five with 453.5 scrimmage yards per game and 12th in the Power Five with 34.0 points per game, ranking third and fourth in the SEC, respectively.

• Since 2018, UF ranks seventh in the P5 in passing efficiency (152.7) and 12th in TD-INT ratio (2.87).

• Florida has out-gained its opponents in 18 of 25 games dating back to last season .

• The Gators have had 500-plus yards in three of the last nine games and in 15 of their last 36 games

• Florida has amassed 400-plus total yards in eight of 12 games this season, as well as 24 times in its last 35 games, and 37 of the last 54.

• Florida rushed for over 200 yards 26 times in its last 63 games (41.3%) including 14 times since 2021 and eight in 2022.

• UF scored 30-plus points 39 times in 63 games since 2018 (61.9%), and 30-plus in 26 of the last 39 (66.7%).

• UF scored 40 points 20 times in the last 63 games and six times in 25 games the last two seasons.

 

DETAILED LOOK AT RICHARDSON’S 2022 CAMPAIGN​

• The seven-top passing yardage totals of QB Anthony Richardson’s career (453 at No. 11 Tennessee, 240 vs. EWU, 185 vs. LSU, 271 vs. No. 1 UGA, 201 at Texas A&M, 400 at Vandy, 198 at FSU) all came in the last nine games.

• In Richardson’s final six career games, he had 12 TD passes, 2 INTs and four rushing TDs (16 TDs vs. two TOs).

• Richardson’s 6.3 yards/carry ranked sixth among qualified FBS quarterbacks.

• Richardson was the only FBS QB with two 400-yard passing games and two 100-yard rushing games in 2022.

• Richardson was one of three FBS players with over 2,500 pass yards and 650 rush yards (Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye).

• Richardson’s nine rushing TDs ranked second among SEC QBs and tied-for-11th among FBS QBs.

• Week 13 at FSU: Richardson posted his sixth game (fourth-straight) with three-plus total TDs (two with four).

• Week 12 at Vandy: Tied career high with three TD passes (second time) while passing for 400 yards (second time).

• Week 10 at Texas A&M: Richardson passed for 200-plus yards and finished with two passing TDs and two rushing
TDs each for the second time this season.

• At Texas A&M, Richardson’s 60-yard TD rush marked his third TD rush of 45-plus yards this season and across the last
10 seasons, he owns each of Florida’s five-longest touchdown rushes by a quarterback:
» Oct. 15, 2022 vs. LSU: 81-yard TD rush; Sept. 11, 2021 at USF: 80-yard TD rush; Sept. 4, 2021 vs. FAU: 73-yard TD
rush; Nov. 5, 2022 at Texas A&M: 60-yard TD rush; Sept. 3, 2022 vs. Utah: 45-yard TD rush

• Week 7 vs. LSU: Richardson’s 81-yard TD run to open the fourth quarter marked Florida’s third-longest TD rush
since 1996, longest by a UF QB since 1996 and is the fourth-longest TD rush among FBS QBs in 2022.

• Of Richardson’s 36 career touchdowns (24 passing, 12 rushing), he produced:
» Seven TDs of 70-plus yards, 14 TDs of 40-plus yards and 16 TDs of 25-plus yards.
» Three TD rushes of 70-plus yards, four TD rushes of 60 yards and five TD rushes of 45 yards
» Four 70-plus-yard TD passes, nine 40-yard TD passes, 10 30-yard TD passes and 11 25-yard TD passes

• Week 4 at Tennessee: Richardson finished with 515 total yards of offense, which ranked third all-time in pro-
gram history. His 515 yards of offense was the top mark in the SEC and ranked fourth in the P5 this season.
» 1. Emory Jones, 550 vs. Samford (2021) 2. Tim Tebow, 533 vs. Cincinnati (2009)

• Week 4: Richardson’s career-high 453 yards passing ranked ninth in a single game in program history and
ranked seventh in the P5 this year (third in FBS).

• Week 4: Richardson became the first Florida quarterback to pass for 450-plus yards and two-plus passing touch-
downs while rushing for 50-plus yards and two-plus rushing touchdowns in a single game

 

LONG-TERM DEFENSIVE TRENDS​

• Florida ranks second in the SEC and eighth nationally in sacks since the 2018 season with 177 - trailing only Clemson (229), Pittsburgh (217), Alabama (204), Miami (186), Ohio State (184), Marshall (179) and Oklahoma State (178).
» Since 1996, UF is tied for 13th in the FBS with 851 sacks and rank second in the SEC behind Alabama at 876.

• UF has held opponents to a 54.0 passing completion percentage since 1996, which is the seventh-lowest in the FBS and third in the SEC.

• Since 1996, The Gators are tied for fifth nationally in interceptions with 409 and lead the SEC, with the next closest team, Alabama, 19 picks behind.
» Florida is tied for sixth in the SEC with nine interceptions this season.
» The Gators have recorded an interception in six games this season - No. 7 Utah (1), No. 20 Kentucky (1), USF (2), Missouri (2), No. 1 Georgia (2) and Vanderbilt (1).

• Florida’s defense has produced 562 turnovers since 2000, leading the SEC and tied for seventh in the country

 

DEFENSIVE YOUTH​

• Ten Florida defensive players made their collegiate debuts during the regular season, including 11 that appeared for the first time as a Gator.
» Five players - LB Shemar James, DL Chris McClellan, S Miguel Mitchell, DL Tyreak Sapp and S Kamari Wilson - made their collegiate debuts in the season opener vs. No. 7 Utah and appeared in every game.
» James started at LB in the season opener, becoming the first Gator true freshman to start a season opener since Marco Wilson vs. Michigan in 2017 and the first true freshman LB since David Reese II vs. South Carolina in 2016. James earned his second-career start the next week vs. No. 20 Kentucky.
» James ranks sixth on the team in tackles (40), t-fourth in sacks (2.0) and seventh in QB hurries (3).
» At No. 11 Tennessee, James recorded his first-career sack in the first quarter, getting to Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker for a six-yard loss. The sack also marked his first-career TFL.
» Wilson earned his first-career start vs. Eastern Washington. The last true freshman to start for the Gators at safety was Trey Dean III in 2018 vs. Colorado State. He added another start at No. 16 Florida State.
» Freshman LB Jack Pyburn and Sophomore DL Keenan Landry both made their college debuts vs. Eastern Washington, as Pyburn had a solo tackle. Freshman OLB Bryce Capers later made his debut vs. South Carolina.

• Georgia transfer DB Jalen Kimber made his UF debut and finished with two tackles vs. No. 7 Utah.
» His 39-yard interception return TD vs. USF in the second quarter represented Florida’s first pick-six since CJ Gardner-Johnson’s 30-yard interception return TD against Michigan in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 29, 2018. The pick-six marked Florida’s 51st since 1996.

• CB Jason Marshall Jr. has started all 12 games this season for a total of 18 all-time and has played in all 25 games in his career.
» Four other underclassmen have earned their first-career starts this season in DL Desmond Watson (at No. 11 Tennessee), DL Justus Boone (vs. Eastern Washington), JACK Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. (at Texas A&M) and S Miguel Mitchell (vs. South Carolina).

• Eight of the 22 turnovers forced by the Gators have come from underclassmen - Powell-Ryland (2), Jalen Kimber (1), Shemar James (1), Jason Marshall Jr. (1), Miguel Mitchell (1), Desmond Watson (1) and Kamari Wilson (1

 

POWELL-RYLAND ON THE RISE​

• Sophomore Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. has started to make his impact in the last five games on the defensive side of the ball.
» He has recorded 21.0 total tackles with 5.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup.

• In Week 13 at Florida State, he posted his fifth-straight game with a TFL, which was also a strip stack for his team-leading third forced fumble of the season.
» He is one away from moving into a tie for ninth all-time for forced fumbles in a season, which was last set by Major Wright in 2007.
» Powell-Ryland Jr. is one of seven SEC defenders to have forced three fumbles this year, which is tied for the league lead.
» The last Gator to force three fumbles in a season was Jonathan Greenard in 2019.

• In his first career start at Texas A&M, he improved his career-high for tackles (six), then proceeded to do so again the following week while starting vs. South Carolina (seven tackles).
» Florida shut out the Aggies in the second half, marking the first second half shutout since Oct. 9, 2021 vs. Vanderbilt (W, 42-0).
» The Gators also held Texas A&M to 106 total yards in the second half, including 29 yards in the third quarter and 11 total rushing yards.

• According to Pro Football Focus, he owns Florida’s second-best pass rush grade with a 86.9 and is fourth overall with a defensive grade of 72.8.
» PFF also lists Powell-Ryland Jr. with the 14th-best overall defensive grade among SEC edge defenders.

 

TURNOVERS TRENDING IN 2022​

• The Gators have produced 22 turnovers this season with at least one each game, including seven with multiple.
» Last season, UF only had nine turnovers gained through the first-nine games and finished the season with 13 total.
» The last time the Gators produced at least 22 turnovers in a season was in 2019, when they finished with 23.
» Against South Carolina, Florida caused three-consecutive turnovers to start the second half, as USC only ran a total of four offensive plays - the non-turnover play was a zero-yard rush.

• The Gators rank first in the SEC in turnovers gained and second in turnover margin (+8). Last season, Florida was 11th in turnovers gained and 13th in turnover margin.

• Over the last 14 quarters, the Gators have forced eight turnovers.

• Florida has opened the season with 12-straight games with a takeaway, marking the Gators’ longest streak since having 15-straight games with a takeaway from Oct. 18, 2014 to Oct. 21, 2015 (last-seven games of 2014 + first-eight games of 2015).

• The 22 total takeaways have resulted in 70 points for the Gators.

• Eleven of the turnovers caused marked career firsts for a group of Gators: Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. (forced fumble vs. USF), Jalen Kimber (interception vs. USF), Ventrell Miller (forced fumble at Tennessee), Amari Burney (forced fumble at Tenn.), Miguel Mitchell (forced fumble vs. Eastern Washington), CB Jaydon Hill (interception vs. Missouri),
Jadarrius Perkins (interception vs. UGA), Rashad Torrence II (forced fumble vs. USC), Desmond Watson (forced fumble vs. USC), Kamari Wilson (forced fumble vs. USC) and Shemar James (forced fumble at FSU).
» The first turnover of the season by the defense was Burney’s game-winning interception vs. No. 7 Utah in the opener.

• Burney (four), Hill (two), Miller (two), Powell-Ryland Jr. (two) and Umanmielen (two) have forced multiple takeaways this year.
» Burney, Miller, Umanmielen and Powell-Ryland Jr. have forced at least two fumbles. The last time Florida had four players with two-plus forced fumbles was 2014.

• The fumble forced on Florida State’s opening drive marked the third game in which Florida caused a takeaway on the opponent’s opening drive: at. Tennessee, Ventrell Miller forced a fumble and vs. USF, Powell-Ryland Jr. forced a fumble