Florida players jumped around on the sideline, then rushed the field in celebration.

It was more like a collective sigh of relief.

The sixth-ranked Gators staved off the biggest upset in school history Saturday.


Loucheiz Purifoy was getting ready to take his place on the left outside of the Florida defensive line for what was the final ticks in a game Saturday that Florida probably had no rights winning. Louisiana-Lafayette were just a couple of breaks away from ruining the Gators' hopes of a ninth win for the first time in three seasons.

Against UL (5-4), the Gators gained just one first down on consecutive fourth-quarter possessions, but their defense kept them in the game. Florida held the Ragin' Cajuns to 267 total yards and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd forced a fumble that led to a 38-yard field goal by Caleb Sturgis in the third quarter.