This is it. The final game of the 2027 regular season. What better way to see what this Troy team is made of than with a trip to the Swamp to play a ranked SEC team. We have done this in the past, big wins over ranked teams like Texas and Oregon to end the season. This is the first of a 2 and 1 series we set up with the Gators. Florida will come to Troy in two seasons in 2029 and Troy will go back to the Swamp in 2030.
After a really good week of practice, I knew this team was ready to pull this off. We are the #2 ranked team in the nation and in a playoff-less college football world, we were just three "playoff" wins away from a National Championship; @ Florida, Conference USA Title game & National Title game.
As you can see, talent wise, Florida has us beat. Not stat wise. You can see how we out rank Florida in every stat but rush offense and pass defense.
And so we arrive at a sold out and LOUD Ben Hill Griffin Stadium AKA "The Swamp"
Florida won the coin toss and kicked the ball off to us. We moved the ball well down the field but had to punt the football to the Gators.
For this game I knew we could not pass the ball all over the place on this Florida defense. I knew we had to change things up with and show up with a strong running game. The one thing I knew the Gators could not prepare for, because no one had seen it from us all season. There was no game tape on a Trojan running game all season. We have one, we just saved it just for this game.
The Gators quickly took their first possession of the game and marched down to knock in a 23 yard field goal. 3-0 Gators.
After the score it took the Trojans just 18 seconds for us to turn things around and take our first lead of the game. QB Alonzo Roberts connected with WR Chad Gordon on a post rout that he broke for a 64 yard touchdown. We would go on to add a field goal at the end of the 1st quarter. 10-3 Troy.
At this point the sold out swap got loud and Florida took over this game. Three long drives that ate up 75% of the clock in the quarter gave the Gators 17 points to our 7 in the 2nd. 20-17 Florida.
It was time to rally the troops at half time. We had played Florida so strong at this point and I just knew we could pull out the win. I told my defense simply "Do your part and play full speed at 100%. If you hold this team down, I just know that the offense can come though and win this game. It is time for the defense to step up and control this game."
The words must have spoke loud and clear to the Trojan defense, because the Gators did not score a single point in the second half.
A 63 yard touchdown run by RB Bryan Rhoden followed later in the quarter by a 23 yard TE Kyle Kidd touchdown catch quieted the swamp and helped give us, the Troy Trojans, its 2nd 12-0 season since I have been coach.
What can I say? The game plan worked to perfection. Florida had no way to prepare for a running game from us. No way to study our run game on film as we had used none all season. So we waited until now to throw it at them. 128 yard on 12 carries with 2 touchdowns for Bryan Rhoden. Gators did not see it coming. However, if it was my choice, players of the game would go to each member of the Trojans defense. They won this game for us.
There it is! The 2nd Troy win over an SEC school since I took over as coach. #13 Florida goes down!
Roberts looks primed and ready to become Troy's 2nd Heisman Trophy winner.
Here is at least one member of out defense that gets credit for the big Florida win! Matt Webster named Conference USA Defensive player of the week.
There it is. TCU #1 & Troy #2. Just one win each away from the showdown.
Down below is just some of the final numbers from the Trojans in the regular season when compared to the rest of the nation.
66 Touchdowns and 10 Interceptions. Shattering the Troy all time passing Touchdown record and setting his eyes on many NCAA passing records. What a season.
This is it. Just one game separates the Trojans from going back to the National Championship for the 2nd time in three years. The rematch of the 44-41 double overtime game from week 4. Troy vs. UTEP for the conference championship at Cowboys Stadium! #2 vs. #19!
W - vs MTSU - 72 -6
W - vs Rice* - 51-24
W - at Tulane*- 42-13
W - at UTEP*- 44-41 (OT 2)
W - vs Houston* - 50-18
W - at Memphis* - 59-31
W - vs Southern Miss* - 24-19
W - at ECU* - 49-28
W - vs UCF* - 45-28
W - vs Notre Dame - 66-13
W - vs FAU* - 59-10
W - at #13 Florida - 38-24
Week 14 - BYE
Week 15 - Conference USA Championship Game vs. #19 UTEP
Week 16 - Bowl Season
Week 16 - Bowl Season
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