It was a rough day for the Florida Gators as Quinn Nordin became the first Michigan kicker to make two 50-yard field goals in the same game, one of them in a quick go-ahead spurt after halftime. Those two field goals helped the 11th-ranked Wolverines beat the Gators 33-17 and hand Florida its first season-opening loss in nearly three decades.
The Gators had won 27 consecutive season openers, the nation's longest such streak, since a home loss to Mississippi in 1989.
Michigan trailed 17-13 at halftime before scoring three times in the first 6 minutes of the second half against a Gators defense which got plenty of work in as the Florida offense sputtered throughout the entire game. After Karan Higdon's 3-yard TD run capped a half-opening 75-yard, 10-yard drive, Ambry Thomas forced and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. That set up a 30-yard field goal by Quinn, who then made a 50-yarder after Michigan recovered another fumble by the Gators.
Nordin made four field goals, including a 55-yarder in the first half. He missed two attempts wide right in the fourth quarter, one of those from 52 yards. Nordin, the nation's No. 1 kicker in the 2016 recruiting class, had initially committed to Penn State but signed with the Wolverines after a home visit that included a sleepover by Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
Florida's only touchdowns came on defense when Duke Dawson and CJ Henderson returned interceptions for touchdowns. Those came on consecutive throws by Michigan starting quarterback Wilton Speight in the second quarter.
The Gators will open their home schedule next week as they host Northern Colorado.
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