By Dave Singleton
SouthernPigskin.com

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Dave Holcomb recaps LSU’s 37-34 triumph in Gainesville.

The best (and maybe worst if youre an analyst) thing about college football is as soon as you think youve figured it out, the sport tosses a very big wrench at you.

On Saturday night, LSU threw a wrench into Floridas plans to move into a playoff spot by earning a highly improbable upset victory in the Swamp, 37-34. The Gators trailed at halftime for the first time all season, crawled their way back into the lead by the end of the third only to then suffer an excruciating loss in the final seconds.

Theres plenty to discuss. Here are the five biggest discussion points for the socially distanced water cooler on Monday morning:

The Penalty Heard around College Football

The Gators defense had a stop with under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter of a tied game. And then it didnt.

After the third-down stop, Florida senior defensive back Marco Wilson grabbed the shoe of LSUs Kole Taylor and tossed it more than 20 yards down the field in celebration. The officials called an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which gave LSU a first down.

The new set of downs led to the game-winning field goal.

Considering the circumstances, its hard to think of a more ill-timed (or bone-headed) penaltyxa6 maybe ever. It was so dumb, the officials should have awarded LSU the amount of yards the shoe traveled rather than the standard 15. Better yet, it should have been a spot foul 4 where the cleat landed.

The penalty could very well cost Florida a spot in the playoffs, and it will have ramifications for other teams such as Texas A&M, Clemson and Notre Dame.

LSU Triple Dips Around Halftime

Most of the conversation for this game is going to center around the shoe penalty, and for good reason. But LSU placed itself in a position to win because of its play late in the first half and early in the third quarter.

From the 2:25-mark of the second quarter to the 8:29-mark of the third quarter, Florida ran just two plays, and LSU scored 13 points (touchdown, field goal, field goal). The Tigers responded to a Gators touchdown late in the first half with one of their own and then tallied a late field goal after stripping the ball from Kyle Trask on the next Gators possession.

On the first drive of the third quarter, LSU ran 17 plays and chewed up 6:31. The Tigers settled for a field goal, but that stretched the lead to 10. The Gators would retake the lead by the end of the quarter, but still, this stretch of 10 minutes proved extremely crucial to giving the Tigers a chance to win the fourth quarter.

LSU freshman quarterback Max Johnson was great all night, particularly at the end of each half. He finished 21 of 36 with 239 yards and three touchdowns.

Tigers Redzone Defense Enough to Pull Upset

The box score says the LSU defense did not have a good night. Florida racked up 609 yards, including 474 passing yards. The Gators averaged 9.9 yards per pass.

Yet, Florida struggled to score points. In the first half, the Gators had 346 yards but only two touchdowns. The Tigers stopped the Gators on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line on the first possession of the game and intercepted a pass in the red zone.

Those plays took away points. The Tigers defense also provided points. Eli Ricks returned an interception for a touchdown for LSU, and the previously mentioned strip sack led to a field goal.

Those big defensive plays proved to be huge in the three-point win.

Kyle Trasks Heisman Stock Drops

The Gators play caller racked up 474 yards and threw two more touchdowns. With those totals, he moved closer to becoming Floridas all-time single-season passing leader, and second on the SEC single-season passing touchdowns list.

But Trasks three turnovers in the first half were too much to overcome. Its probably too harsh to say Trask lost the Heisman on Saturday night, but he might need to earn back some support for the award next week in the SEC Championship.

Florida Playoff Hopes on Life Support

Based on how flat Florida was at the beginning of the game and on the decision to crestd Kyle Pitts, Dan Mullen didnt believe Saturday nights affair with LSU was a must-win game. In fact, from the conversation Sean McDonough shared early in the second half, Mullen basically admitted to the play-by-play announcer he thought Florida could lose to LSU and still make the CFP if it beats Alabama next week.

However, I do not share that belief, and a vast majority of college football analysts dont either.

Granted, its 2020. Anything can happen. But a 2-loss team has never made the playoffs. The committee has proved several times previously that conference championships arent automatic bids into the Top 4, so even without the SEC title, Alabama might already be in the playoff now with Floridas loss. If they arent, Texas A&M, who beat Florida, is knocking on the door ready to move into the Top 4 ahead of the Gators.

This season has been too crazy to assume Florida is definitely out, but theres no doubt the Gators playoff hopes took a huge hit with Saturdays loss. What we know about Pitts status before the game, the defeat also makes the decision to hold out Pitts more egregious.

The Gators need chaos next week to make the Top 4.