UGA fans might not be pleased with the following statement, even if it's more real than imagined:
Florida football is back!
That's the prevailing notion after watching the No. 10 Gators swamp No. 7 Michigan in the Peach Bowl, rolling to a 41-15 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
For one afternoon, Florida (10-3 overall) resembled the physical offenses of Alabama and Georgia, continually pushing the Michigan defense on its heels and rushing for more than 250 yards.
This next-level proficiency also spilled over to embattled quarterback Feleipe Franks, who notched 247 total yards (74 rushing) and two touchdowns.
Of equal importance, Franks committed zero turnovers and demonstrated great pocket presence ... which often served as a 'knock' on the quarterback during the regular season.
As for the revenge aspect (mentioned in the headline)?
Heading into Saturday's event, Jim Harbaugh was a sterling 2-0 against Florida, with an average victory margin of 25 points.
Of course, that was on someone else's watch.
Under Mullen, the Gators were fast, physical and full of vit and vigor during tense moments.
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The first half offered no indication of a one-sided Gators blowout.
In fact, if Jake Moody's 52-yard field goal attempt hadn't missed (barely wide left), Michigan and Florida would have been tied at the break.
This, in hindsight, might have been the Wolverines' downfall, naively believing they were only a few plays—here and there—from regaining their composure and recapturing the lead.
Nope, for the second half, it was all Gators.
As such, Michigan's final score came off a punt-block safety.
The one saving grace of Michigan's debacle: The punt-block team showed up in a big way, knocking down two kick attempts.
But alas, the Gators didn't punt enough ... to give the Wolverines (10-3 overall ... two straight defeats) a viable shot at victory.
