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Florida Football: 3 biggest surprises from Gators’ 2019 season

By Connor Muldowney

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators looks to pass against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators looks to pass against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

1. Final record despite loss of starting quarterback

Losing Feleipe Franks in the middle of the Kentucky game seemed to be the end of the Gators’ run at a division title, but that wasn’t the case.

Although the Gators were losing to the Wildcats in Lexington when Franks went down, Kyle Trask entered the game and led an impressive comeback. The Gators shook off a loss to Kentucky the year before and improved to 3-0 on the season which gave them, and Trask, some much-needed momentum heading into conference play.

Florida stretched its record to 6-0 with a win over No. 7 Auburn at home and it looked like the Gators would have a shot at an SEC title, but LSU had other ideas in Baton Rouge. The game was close early on and even in the second half, but the Tigers put it away with a 42-28 win.

The Gators then nearly pulled off a comeback against Georgia three weeks later, but lost a second SEC game to fall out of the division race barring a complete meltdown from the Bulldogs.

Dan Mullen’s team didn’t lose another game, improving to 10-2 during the regular season and earning a berth in the Orange Bowl versus Virginia, which the Gators won.

Next. Ranking college football's top 50 fanbases. dark

Going 11-2 despite losing their starting quarterback in the third game of the season was the biggest surprise for just about everyone — including Florida fans.

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