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Most Important College Football Game for Each Top 25 Team During 2016 Season

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver D.J. Chark (82) is tackled by Florida Gators defensive back Teez Tabor (31) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. The Gators defeat the Tigers 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver D.J. Chark (82) is tackled by Florida Gators defensive back Teez Tabor (31) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. The Gators defeat the Tigers 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

17. Florida Wins Rescheduled and Relocated LSU game 16-10 (Nov. 19)

For the second straight season under head coach Jim McElwain, the Gators managed to hold off the rest of the pack to win the SEC East. They did so despite losing to Tennessee for the first time in 12 years, and entering their final game of SEC play Florida was still in danger of falling behind the Volunteers in the standings. Originally slated to play LSU on Oct. 8 in Gainesville, Hurricane Matthew led to the game’s postponement. A contentious rescheduling battle caused the game to shift to Baton Rouge on the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Forced to play their pivotal game on the road, Florida looked listless in the first half. Their opening drive took 10 plays to net just 13 yards, eating over six minutes of clock in the process. LSU scored on the ensuing drive on a Derrius Guice TD run, and Florida responded with a field goal. The defenses kicked into high gear, and the Tigers took a 7-3 lead into the locker room at the intermission. Florida took the lead on their first play of the second half as Austin Appleby hit Tyrie Cleveland on a 98-yard touchdown play. LSU tied the game on a short field goal early in the fourth quarter, but two more Eddy Pineiro chip shots were enough to give Florida the win on the road.

Had the Gators lost in Baton Rouge, the door would have been open for Tennessee to take the SEC East in its final game against Vanderbilt. The fact that the Vols lost to the Commodores made this game no less significant in retrospect, as it guaranteed Florida a shot at the league title and ensured the Gators would maintain its place in the College Football Playoff Top 25 even after closing the regular season with losses to Florida State and Alabama.

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