TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - In a rivalry that features six Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks, the signal callers for today's matchup between Florida and Florida State aren't commanding the spotlight.
It has been the play, however, of No. 13 Florida's Austin Appleby and 15th-ranked Florida State's Deondre Francois that has allowed both teams to gain momentum late in the season.
Appleby, who is a graduate transfer from Purdue, threw for 144 yards and a touchdown in the Gators win at LSU last Saturday. That win allowed Florida (8-2) to clinch the SEC East Division and a spot in the conference championship game.
In five starts at Florida, Appleby has completed 61.8 of his passes with six touchdowns against two interceptions. He had a 98-yard touchdown pass to Tyrie Cleveland that is the second-longest pass play in school history.
"For him to be able to do what he's doing, guys around him believe in him. And that has to do more so because they see the work that he puts in studying, playing and affecting the people around him in a positive way," Florida coach Jim McElwain said of Appleby.
Francois leads all freshmen QBs nationally in passing yards per game (271.8). He threw for 315 yards at Syracuse last week which marked his fifth 300-yard game.
One thing Francois is also doing a good job of is taking care of the football. He has only five interceptions, which is the fewest among freshmen QBs, and 17 touchdowns, which is third.
"I think his understanding of all the little details and why they are so important to create the inches to win," Fisher said of how Francois has matured this season. "I see his understanding why things are done now and the urgency to want to do them right even if he messes them up, to turn around and want to go get them again."
Florida State (8-3) is looking for its fourth straight win against Florida, which would mark only the third time in series history - and first since 1990 - that happened.
Here's some other things to watch in the Florida-Florida State game:
Dalvin Cook became Florida State's career rushing leader last week. The junior is averaging 163.5 rushing yards in two meetings against Florida and has 10 straight 100-yard games at home against FBS teams.
Florida comes into the game ranked in the top five in six defensive categories including third in scoring (13 points per game) and fourth in passing yards allowed (160 per game).
Florida comes into the game in the same situation as last year but it dropped games to FSU, Alabama (SEC championship) and Michigan (Citrus Bowl) by an average of 24.3 points.