Surrendering the game-winning touchdown with just six seconds left is demoralizing.
Losing back-to-back contests for the first time since 2007 is paralyzing.
And falling to your lowest ranking in the Urban Meyer era is humbling.
But there is one thing No. 22 Florida (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) still has control of after its national championship hopes were dashed in a 33-29 loss to No. 9 LSU on Saturday in The Swamp: its own conference destiny.
Despite losing to two SEC opponents, the Gators still have not dropped a game within their own division — the SEC East.
“We still can control our own destiny,” left guard Carl Johnson said. “If we win out, we still make it to Atlanta. We have to win out now. We have no room for error. We just blew our last chance.”
That last chance came against the Tigers.
Florida had a golden opportunity to defeat LSU (6-0, 4-0 SEC) despite being down for most of the game, but the Gators couldn’t secure the victory.
UF grabbed the lead on a Mike Gillislee 5-yard touchdown run with a little more than three minutes left in the game. But the Gators’ defense let it slip through its hands.
“I didn’t think we had the game,” quarterback John Brantley said of the late lead. “I thought we had a good chance, but that’s a good team. They still had plenty of time to go down the field and score.”
The LSU offense — ranked 91st nationally in total yards before the game — did just that. It put together a 62-yard drive that ate up almost the entire clock to win. Florida forced a fourth down, but it wasn’t enough as Tigers coach Les Miles had yet another trick up his sleeve.
Miles, who is known for his late-game antics and unconventional decisions, opted for a fake field goal rather than a 53-yard attempt to tie the game. Holder Derek Helton flipped the ball to kicker Josh Jasper, who ran five yards for a first down to extend the drive. The play was similar to the one LSU ran in 2007 to beat South Carolina.
The trick play proved its worth when LSU wide receiver Terrence Toliver caught a game-winning fade pass in front of UF cornerback Jeremy Brown on the left side of the south end zone with six seconds left.
But the result didn’t just fall on the Gators’ defense.
Florida’s offense did little for most of the game, as has been the case for most of the season.
The unit came into the game ranked 84th in total offense and fell to 96th after a subpar performance Saturday. The Gators’ offense totaled 65 yards in the first half, marking the fourth time UF has been held to fewer than 100 first-half yards this season.
“I have to attribute [the offensive struggles] to something,” Meyer said. “That’s our job. We are struggling right now. How’s that for attributing it to something? We got to get a little better and try to get everybody healthy.”
Apparently Brantley is one of the guys who needs to work his way back to 100 percent. A report surfaced that the UF quarterback sustained four broken ribs and a broken thumb in his throwing hand in the loss to Alabama. A UF spokesman denied the injury and so did Meyer.
“They’re not cracked,” said Meyer, who added that Brantley just has a sprained thumb. “There’s something in the side of the ribs, but I don’t want to say cracked ribs. There’s some damage to his ribs.”
The junior fought through the injuries and played the entire game. But he threw for just 154 yards along with an interception. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is now 6:4 this season, giving him the 10th-worst passing efficiency in the SEC.
The running backs didn’t help Brantley’s cause, either.
Junior Jeff Demps missed Saturday’s game with a sprained foot despite dressing out. Emmanuel Moody and Mike Gillislee played in his place and ran for 34 and 20 yards, respectively.
Florida’s offense will have to improve if it wants to achieve its goal of an SEC Championship because the road to Atlanta looked a little tougher Saturday. Not just because of UF’s loss, but because of South Carolina’s victory against Alabama.
If the Gators can right the ship and avoid any other letdowns, the division will likely come down to a Nov. 13 showdown against the Gamecocks in Gainesville.
“I don’t know anybody that likes this feeling,” Johnson said. “If you like this feeling then you’re a born loser. I don’t like it. So I already know I can’t do this week in and week out.”
