In what’s been a recurring theme for the Vanderbilt Commodores this season, the offense got out to a slow start, gaining a single first down on its first three drives as the homestanding Florida Gators scored easily on their first two possessions to take an early 14-0 lead. The good news, if there was any, is that the game didn’t get completely out of hand in the first quarter.
It looked like Florida would have a good chance at making it 21-0 with the Gators getting great field position off a line-drive punt by Vanderbilt’s Harrison Smith that the Commodores’ coverage team couldn’t catch up with, allowing a big return to the Vanderbilt 44, but Gator backup quarterback Anthony Richardson immediately threw a pass that was intercepted by Vanderbilt’s Elijah McAllister.