Florida capped a week of upheaval on Saturday by snapping a three-game losing streak with a record-setting 70-52 win over Samford. The only problem is that not all the records were good ones, particularly when it came to those 52 points scored by the Bulldogs, which finished tied for the most points ever scored by an FCS team on an FBS foe since Division I split in 1978.
Embattled Florida coach Dan Mullen parted with defensive coordinator Todd Grantham after the Gators' embarrassing 40-17 loss at South Carolina last week, but there were no immediate dividends from the move as the team's defense went from bad to worse against the Bulldogs.
Samford's 42 points in the first half were the most ever allowed in a single half by Florida, beating the previous mark of 38 set by Florida State against UF in 1992. The Bulldogs' 52 total points were the most ever allowed by Florida against a nonconference, non-Power Five opponent; the Gators have been playing football since 1906.
In its last game against an FBS team back in 2019, Samford lost 52-0 to Auburn. The Bulldogs are now 0-25 against FBS foes since resurrecting their football program in 1984 but gave the Gators a serious scare. It wasn't until Dameon Pierce's 24-yard touchdown run with 5:37 remaining that Florida could truly exhale with a three-possession lead. Samford finished with 530 total yards.
As disappointing as the defensive effort was for the Gators, the offense was certainly impressive from a statistical standpoint. Quarterback Emory Jones finished with 550 total yards, breaking the program's single-game record previously set by Tim Tebow in the 2010 Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati. It was Florida's first time scoring more than 70 points since it hit 71 in a 2001 win over Vanderbilt. The Gators' 717 total yards were also the second-most in program history.
Despite the gaudy offensive numbers, the performance will do little to cool Mullen's hot seat. The Gators are now 5-5 and have Missouri and Florida State left on their schedule to close Mullen's fourth season.
In addition to parting with Grantham after the South Carolina loss, Mullen also fired offensive line coach John Hevesy. But Saturday's performance was just another reminder of how far south things have gone in less than a year since Florida played for and nearly won the SEC championship against Alabama.
