Game recap: No. 4 FSU football defeats Florida, first undefeated regular season in nearly a decade

GAINESVILLE - No. 4 Florida State (No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings) is looking to cap off a perfect regular season on Saturday as it takes on rival Florida here at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 7 p.m.

The Seminoles are coming off a 58-13 win over North Alabama last week but saw quarterback Jordan Travis sustain a left leg injury, sidelining him for the rest of the season. Tate Rodemaker is expected to start in Travis' place against the Gators.

Florida will be without its starting quarterback, as Graham Mertz suffered a fractured left collarbone in the Gators' game against Missouri last week. Florida lost, 33-31. The Gators are expected to start freshman Max Brown at quarterback.

FSU beats Florida 24-15, finish regular season undefeated

For the first time in nearly a decade, FSU finished the regular season undefeated.

A three-touchdown game from Trey Benson led the Seminoles to a nine-point victory over the Gators. FSU turned around a slow start to the game to leave the Swamp with a win.

It also extended FSU's win streak to 18.

Rodemaker completed 12-of-25 passes for 134 yards and Benson rushed for 95 yards alongside his three scores. Linebacker Kalen DeLoach sealed the game with a late interception. Jared Verse and Patrick Payton both recorded two sacks in the win.

Next for FSU is the ACC Championship game against Lousiville.

Rodemaker returns, Benson scores third touchdown of the game

After exiting the game following a hit to the head, Rodemaker returned for the Seminoles. On third and three, Rodemkaer hands off to Trey Benson, who cuts through the Florida defense and scores his third touchdown of the game.

This is Benson's second three-touchdown game this season, the other coming against Southern Miss, and his fourth multi-touchdown game.

Q4 | 2:48: FSU 24, Florida 15

Tate Rodemaker leaves game after hit to the head, Brock Glenn in at QB

Rodemaker leaves the game after taking a hit near the head from two Florida defensive backs. True freshman quarterback Brock Glenn now in at quarterback for FSU.

Q4 | 3:38: FSU 17, Florida 15

Seminoles take back lead on a field goal

FSU drives 55 yards in 12 plays to take the lead back. Seminoles couldn't get into the endzone on a few tries, a drop from Keon Coleman on first and goal was followed by two runs for no gain by Trey Benson, forcing FSU into the field goal and taking a two-point lead.

Q4 | 7:17: FSU 17, Florida 15

Florida leads FSU by one point entering the fourth quarter

After both teams opened the second half with scoring drives, the defenses have stepped up and forced a number of stops. Gators have the ball on their 28-yard line to open the final quarter of play. Gators run game has got going in the second half, Montrell Johnson leads the way with 105 yards and one touchdown.

Q4: Florida 15, FSU 14

Gators take back lead with 37-yard field goal

After the Seminoles marched down the field for a half opening score, the Gators take the lead back on their opening drive of the second half. UF goes 56 yards in 11 plays, kicking a 37-yard field goal to get a one-point advantage.

FSU forced the field goal after a third down stop from Shyheim Brown, who tackled a running Max Johnson, stopping him from picking up the first down and forcing the kick.

Q3 | 5:58: Florida 15, FSU 14

FSU takes first lead of the night, Benson scores second touchdown

On the opening drive of the second half, the Seminoles go 75 yards in six plays to open the half. Trey Benson takes the handoff 36 yards for the score, his second of the night.

After struggling against the Florida defensive line early, the FSU run game has found some rhythm, up to 52 yards now after spending much of the first half with negative yardage.

Q3 | 12:31: FSU 14, Florida 12

Second half kicks off, FSU starts with the football

The Seminoles start the second half on the 25-yard line after a touchback.

Florida leads FSU at halftime, FSU gets late-half momentum

The Seminoles trail the Gators 12-7 at halftime, the first time FSU is trailing at the break since the Duke game on Oct. 21.

After a rocky start to the game, FSU's offense put together a scoring drive at the end of the first half, with Trey Benson scoring on a one-yard rush. The Gators came down and attempted a 52-yard field goal as the time expired on the first half and missed it wide left.

UF outgains FSU 184-85 in the first half. Gators quarterback Max Brown goes 7-10 for 74 yards, Seminoles Tate Rodemaker 7-13 for 72 yards.

Seminoles open the second half with the football.

HALFTIME: Florida 12, FSU 7

Seminoles score first touchdown at end of the first half

After struggling for most of the first half, the FSU offense came alive for its best drive of the night. A 10-play 90-yard drive was capped off by a one-yard Trey Benson touchdown run.

The Seminoles open the second half with the football.

Q2 | 0:26: Florida 12, FSU 7

Florida's defense frustrating FSU's offense, get a safety

The Gators' defense is hounding the Seminoles. FSU has only 10 yards of total offense and has yet to pick up a first down. Lots of blitzes from the Gators in this one, forcing Tate Rodemaker to make quick decisions or get sacked.

Florida starts with the football at midfield after the punt.

Q2 | 5:08: Florida 12, FSU 0

UF kick field goal, lead Seminoles by 10

After a stop on a third and short quarterback sneak attempt, the Gators get a 35-yard field goal from Trey Smack to extend the lead.

A shanked punt out of bounds by Alex Mastromanno gave UF good field position. A couple of good runs from Trevor Etienne put the Gators in the red zone. The Seminoles defense kept the Gators out of the endzone but not off the scoreboard.

Q2 | 10:21: Florida 10, FSU 0

Gators strike first, score games first touchdown.

After a scoreless first quarter, UF open the second quarter with an early touchdown.

Running back Montrell Johnson takes the quick handoff five-yards and the Gators are on the board first after a 13-play, 70-yard drive that took over seven minutes to complete. A controversial thrid and goal penalty on Akeem Dent gave the Gators a fresh set of downs and set up the score.

Q2 | 14:27: Florida 7, FSU 0

Tate Rodemaker, FSU's first drive ends in a three-and-out

It was a quick first drive for Tate Rodemaker and the Seminoles as a second down loss of 11 yards from running back Trey Benson forced FSU into third and long.

Rodemaker's pass was incomplete on the play and Alex Mastromanno punted the ball to the Gators 25 yardline.

Max Brown leads first UF drive, Gators miss field goal

The Gators redshirt freshman quarterback Max Brown takes UF 45 yards on 13 plays on the opening drive. Forced into a 48-yard field goal after a third down stop by the Seminoles defense, Gators kicker Trey Smack missed his kick wide right.

UF picked up three third-down conversions on the opening drive.

FSU takes the field for a rivalry showdown against UF

The Seminoles are welcomed by a loud chorus of boos from the Florida crowd as it looks to be a near sellout here in Gainsville. FSU wins the toss and defers the option to receive until the 2nd half as we are set for kickoff here at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Gators will open the game with the ball.

Tate Rodemaker leads the Seminoles quarterbacks onto the field

Tate Rodemaker and the FSU quarterbacks have taken the field and begun final preparation, Jordan Travis joined the QB's for warmups.

FSU players wearing #FINISHFOR13 shirts

FSU players are wearing #FINISHFOR13 pregame warm-up shirts to show support for Jordan Travis. Special teams on the field in uniform for the final walkthrough before game time.

Seminoles rocking a gold helmet, white jersey and gold pants uniform combination tonight, Gators going with orange helmets, blue jerseys and pants.

Tate Rodemaker, Gators players warming up pregame

FSU's new QB1 Tate Rodemaker is going through his pregame warmups ahead of the second start of his career.

Gators players and coaches have taken the field for pregame warmups.

Rain still lightly falling under 90 minutes away from kickoff.

Jordan Travis on the sidelines for FSU's showdown with Florida

Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis made the trip to Gainsville with the FSU team, he is on crutches on the sideline pregame. Quarterbacks AJ Duffy, Brock Glenn and Michael Grant are on the field warming up.

FSU players take the field

Jared Verse leads the Seminoles out to the field for a pregame walk around the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Overcast clouds and light rain in Gainsville just about two hours before kickoff between No. 5 FSU and Florida.

What time does FSU play today?

• When: 7 p.m. Saturday, November 25

• Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

What channel is FSU football vs. Florida on today?

• TV: ESPN (Channel 206 on DirecTV, Channel 140 on Dish)

• Streaming: WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider subscription needed), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)

Florida State vs. Florida can be seen on ESPN. Chris Fowler will be the play-by-play announcer with Kirk Herbstreit as analyst and Holly Rowe as sideline reporter.

Streaming options include fuboTV, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

FSU-Florida betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, November 21.

• Spread: FSU (-6.5)

• Over/under: 50.5 points

• Moneyline: FSU -275, Florida +225

FSU football schedule

Florida football schedule

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football beats UF, finish regular season undefeated