The Florida Gators concluded their 2024 campaign with a remarkable transformation, showcasing resilience and defensive prowess through a four-game winning streak against formidable opponents No. 21 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss, FSU, and Tulane.
MORE: Florida Gators beat Tulane 33-8 to end 2024 season on four game win streak
“When you are in a leadership position you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with,” head coach Billy Napier reflected on the season’s turnaround. “After our first month, I am really proud of how the coaches and players collaborated to get us back on course. It could have easily gone sideways after the start of the season, but we got confidence and belief and felt we could play with anyone over the last half of the season.”
The Gators’ defensive transformation became the cornerstone of their success. In their bowl game victory, they limited Tulane to just 194 total yards, their lowest defensive yield of the season. The defense showed remarkable consistency, recording takeaways in 12 of 13 games this season.
“One way we have turned it around is by playing good defense and I thought we did that again today,” Napier emphasized. “To be a consistent championship contender you have to play really good defense. We went to Tennessee and played pretty good defense and we have kept that going the rest of the season.”
The defensive highlights included:
- Three interceptions in the bowl game, including first-career picks for Alfonzo Allen Jr. and Myles Graham
- A season total of 14 interceptions and 39 sacks
- Eight consecutive games without allowing opening drive points
- Their first bowl game first-half shutout since the 1992 Outback Gator Bowl
The Gators’ dominance was evident in the numbers, outscoring opponents by 63 points (115-52) during their four-game streak. This marked their first four-game season-ending winning streak since 2019.
“To win four in a row in impressive fashion against really good teams is a great way to finish,” Napier concluded, reflecting on the team’s strong finish. The combination of defensive excellence, consistent improvement, and resilient leadership has positioned the Gators for what appears to be a promising future under Napier’s guidance.
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