LIVE Game Blog: LSU 20, Florida 10 - FINAL
No. 3 LSU opened SEC play vs. Florida on Saturday night in Death Valley in a matchup that saw the Gators win in Gainesville a year ago.
LSU began SEC play in Week 3 after wins on the road at Clemson and at home against Louisiana Tech, while an opening week win over Long Island was quickly erased by a home loss to South Florida for the Gators.
With multiple pre-game skirmishes, the Tigers and Gators kicked off at 6:44 p.m. to a sold out crowd in Baton Rouge.Kickoff is set for 6:44 p.m. CT on ABC and the LSU Sports Radio Network.
Here’s how the game unfolded in Death Valley!
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LSU picks off DJ Lagway for the 5th time to secure the win
09/13/2025 10:20:09 PMLSU’s defense, despite being down two starters, stepped up across the entire 60 minutes to secure the 20-10 win over Florida and move to 3-0 on the season and start SEC play with a 1-0 record. On the final offensive drive for the Gators, quarterback DJ Lagway was intercepted for a fifth time. After interceptions by LSU starting safeties A.J. Haulcy and Tamarcus Cooley, and a pair of interceptions with a pick-6 by backup safety Dashawn Spears, true freshman and former Rivals 5-star and No. 1 cornerback DJ Pickett – a Florida native – secured the final pick for the defense in the game’s final minutes. A 51-yard run by LSU’s Caden Durham put the ball near the goal line with less than two minutes left in the game, and the Tigers kneeled it out for the 10-point win.
LSU takes 20-10 lead into the 4th Quarter
09/13/2025 09:35:04 PMLSU’s defense held firm through the third quarter, giving up zero points in the 15 minutes that followed halftime in Death Valley. Unfortunately, after Whit Weeks was ejected for targeting three snaps into the game for LSU’s defense, his brother West – the team’s other starting linebacker – was injured to close out the third quarter and isn’t expected to return. The third Weeks brother on roster, freshman Zach Weeks, stepped in with the first-team at linebacker as LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker looked to fill the void left by both Whit and West exiting the game.
Lagway’s third INT leads to a TD from Dashawn Spears
09/13/2025 09:07:46 PMLSU’s starters at safety are transfers Tamarcus Cooley and A.J. Haulcy, and Haulcy picked off Florida quarterback DJ Lagway in the second quarter. The other two interceptions (midway through the third quarter) came from the team’s first safety off the bench Dashawn Spears. On his second interception, the Louisiana native outran Lagway down the sidelines for the touchdown. The pick-6 gave LSU a 20-10 lead after Florida’s second drive of the second half (UF’s first drive resulted in a punt).
LSU defense gets INT No. 2, Tigers steal lead before halftime
09/13/2025 08:27:26 PMThe LSU defense got back to business after giving up the long scoring drive when transfer safety A.J. Haulcy intercepted Lagway, giving the Tigers a second interception in the second quarter. With Florida trying to drive the ball across midfield and take a field goal lead before halftime, the turnover gave LSU the opportunity to do the same, and kicker Damian Ramos converted on a 45-yard field goal – even after a false start pushed the kick back five more yards. The field goal by Ramos, his second of the first half, gave LSU a 13-10 lead as the final seconds ticked off the clock in the first half.
Gators strike back with team’s first TD to tie the game at 10-10
09/13/2025 08:05:44 PMLSU took the lead on a 10-play drive that took 7:33 off the clock in the second quarter, and Florida answered with a 10-play drive that took only 3:25 off the clock. The Gators converted on two third-downs in the red zone, both going to UF receiver Aidan Mizell, who hauled in a great throw to the corner of the end zone by Gators quarterback DJ Lagway for the game-tying score from 10 yards out.
Nussmeier heats up, LSU takes a 7-3 in 2nd Quarter
09/13/2025 07:54:51 PMLSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the offense were slow to get going after the first four drives resulted in three punts followed by a field goal – which came after the Tigers started the drive in Florida territory. Then, the offense settled in and put together a 76-yard drive for the go-ahead score. Nussmeier was 6-for-7 passing for 77 yards and a touchdown pass on the scoring drive, hitting star receiver Zavion Thomas for the 23-yard score.
Big momentum swings tie the game at 3-3 to start 2nd Quarter
09/13/2025 07:32:12 PMLSU’s offense stalled on the first three drives of the game, going 3-and-out each time before punting it to the Gators. Then came a pair of big momentum swings for LSU’s defense. First, safety DaShawn Spears grabbed his first career interception when he picked off Florida quarterback DJ Lagway. On Florida’s next drive, the punt team pinned the Gators deep, but Death Valley fell quiet when Florida hit on an 87-yard touchdown. Then came the ruling from the official of holding on the Gators, which wiped the touchdown off the board and led the Florida waving the white flag with a handoff on 3rd-and-long before punting it back to LSU. The Tigers got the offense’s first 1st Down on the next drive, which brought the first quarter to a close before Damian Ramos hit a 47-yard field goal on the first snap of the second quarter.
LSU’s offense punts twice on first two possessions
09/13/2025 07:07:48 PMLSU’s offense started the game with a pair of three-and-outs despite picking up 7 yards on the first snap of the game and 6 yards on the first play of the second drive, the second punt coming after running back Caden Durham’s 3rd-and-1 rushing attempt was stuffed for no gain.
LSU star LB Whit Weeks ejected on Florida’s first drive
09/13/2025 07:00:11 PMLSU linebacker Whit Weeks, who was named the team’s captain on defense, entered the weekend with the second-most tackles in the SEC. On the first drive of the game for Florida’s offense, Weeks was ejected for targeting – a big blow to an LSU defense that has been one of college football’s best to start the 2025 season. LSU buckled in on defense after the ejection and held the Gators to a field goal, giving Florida the 3-0 lead after one possession for each team.