The College Football BeltThe CFB Belt
Belt / 2016 season / Reign #297 · Game 1,513 of 1,643
December 3, 2016 Week 14 · Regular Season Neutral site Belt defended

Alabama defends the belt, 54–16, at a neutral site over Florida.

Home · Challenger
FloridaAP No. 15 16
AT
Away · Defending Holder
AlabamaAP No. 1 54

AP poll, week 14: Alabama No. 1 at Florida No. 15 · No. 1 that week: Florida. The belt vs. the polls →

Belt context

Where this game sits in the lineage

Alabama came in 42 days into reign #297, which began with a win over Texas A&M, with 4 defenses already behind it; this was its 5th defense. Alabama went on to defend it 1 more time before Clemson took it on January 9, 2017, 79 days after the reign began.

For Florida this was its 20th shot at the belt; it had held the belt 5 times before.

It was the 6th of 8 belt games between the two; going in, Alabama led the belt series 4–1; all-time Alabama leads 7–1. Every meeting →

AI-Written

Recap

Alabama's defense dominated the first quarter against Florida, with Shaun Dion Hamilton returning an interception 40 yards to set up a field goal, while Minkah Fitzpatrick added a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown to give Alabama an early lead despite Florida's opening touchdown pass to Antonio Callaway. The Crimson Tide's offense took over in the second quarter, with Jalen Hurts leading efficient scoring drives capped by touchdown passes to Gehrig Dieter and Joshua Jacobs, while Florida managed only a late touchdown pass to DeAndre Goolsby before halftime. Alabama's defense continued to suffocate Florida throughout, forcing three turnovers total while the Gators managed just 261 total yards and zero rushing yards, allowing Alabama to control the game and maintain the belt with their dominant 54-16 victory.

Written by Claude from the box score and play-by-play on this page — a plain-English recap of the numbers below, not a substitute for them.

Full Box Score

Team stats

CFBD box score
 FloridaAlabama
Total yards261372
Rushing yards0234
Passing yards261138
First downs1618
3rd down conv.7/165/11
Turnovers30
Penalties–yards7–532–14
Time of possession35:0824:52

Full team box score from CFBD’s /games/teams data. This section only appears for belt games from 2003 onward — CFBD doesn’t have team-level stats that far back.

Play By Play

Key plays

CFBD play-by-play
WhenTeamYardsPlay
Q1 10:24Florida+24 ydAustin Appleby pass complete to Antonio Callaway for 24 yds to the Alab 5 for a 1ST down
Q1 9:51Florida+5 ydAntonio Callaway 5 Yd pass from Austin Appleby (Eddy Pineiro Kick)
Q1 15:00Alabama+21 ydAdam Griffith kickoff for 50 yds , Mark Thompson return for 21 yds to the Fla 36
Q1 9:45Alabama-10 ydJalen Hurts run for a loss of 10 yards to the Alab 15 Jalen Hurts fumbled, recovered by Alab Jalen Hurts
Q1 7:56Florida-40 ydAustin Appleby pass intercepted Shaun Dion Hamilton return for 40 yds to the Fla 12
Q1 6:58Alabama+31 ydAdam Griffith 31 Yd Field Goal
Q1 5:06Florida-44 ydMinkah Fitzpatrick 44 Yd Interception Return (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q1 1:42Florida+27 ydJoshua Jacobs 27 Yd Return of Blocked Punt (Adam Griffith PAT blocked)
Q1 1:42Alabama+0 ydDavid Reese Defensive PAT Conversion
Q1 1:42Alabama+25 ydAdam Griffith kickoff for 65 yds , Chris Thompson return for 25 yds to the Fla 25
Q2 13:21Alabama+52 ydJalen Hurts pass complete to Calvin Ridley for 52 yds to the Fla 9 for a 1ST down
Q2 11:55Alabama+6 ydGehrig Dieter 6 Yd pass from Jalen Hurts (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q2 9:38Alabama+40 ydAdam Griffith 40 yd FG MISSED
Q2 8:28Florida+47 ydJohnny Townsend punt for 62 yds , Trevon Diggs returns for 47 yds to the Fla 43
Q2 8:20Alabama+22 ydBo Scarbrough run for 22 yds to the Fla 21 for a 1ST down
Q2 6:27Alabama+25 ydAdam Griffith 25 Yd Field Goal
Q2 5:30Florida+0 ydAustin Appleby pass intercepted Tony Brown return for no gain to the Alab 38
Q2 6:27Alabama+27 ydAdam Griffith kickoff for 65 yds , Chris Thompson return for 27 yds to the Fla 27
Q2 4:24Alabama+32 ydJalen Hurts pass complete to O.J. Howard for 32 yds to the Fla 15 for a 1ST down
Q2 3:47Alabama+6 ydJoshua Jacobs 6 Yd Run (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q2 2:56Florida+22 ydAustin Appleby pass complete to DeAndre Goolsby for 22 yds to the Fla 31 for a 1ST down
Q2 0:19Florida+25 ydDeAndre Goolsby 25 Yd pass from Austin Appleby (Eddy Pineiro Kick)
Q3 9:21Florida+32 ydAustin Appleby pass complete to Lamical Perine for 32 yds to the Alab 2 for a 1ST down
Q3 3:40Alabama+34 ydBo Scarbrough run for 34 yds to the Fla 2 for a 1ST down
Q3 4:30Alabama+31 ydJalen Hurts pass complete to ArDarius Stewart for 31 yds to the Fla 44 for a 1ST down
Q3 6:17Alabama+23 ydDamien Harris run for 23 yds to the Alab 34 for a 1ST down
Q3 3:32Alabama+2 ydBo Scarbrough 2 Yd Run (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q3 3:32Alabama+33 ydAdam Griffith kickoff for 65 yds , Chris Thompson return for 33 yds to the Fla 33 Chris Thompson fumbled, forced by Trevon Diggs, recovered by Fla Garrett Stephens
Q4 9:15Alabama+1 ydBo Scarbrough 1 Yd Run (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q4 13:01Alabama+21 ydDamien Harris run for 21 yds to the Fla 30 for a 1ST down
Q4 6:12Florida+36 ydJohnny Townsend punt for 42 yds , Trevon Diggs returns for 36 yds to the Fla 21
Q4 3:48Alabama+10 ydDerrick Gore 10 Yd Run (Andy Pappanastos Kick)
Q4 3:48Alabama+23 ydJK Scott kickoff for 64 yds , Chris Thompson return for 23 yds to the Fla 24

Scoring plays, turnovers, and gains of 20+ yards, pulled from CFBD’s play-by-play. This section only appears for belt games with play-by-play on file (2003 onward).

Box Score

Player stats

CFBD player stats

Passing

Florida

PlayerC/ATTYDSAVGTDINTQBR
Austin Appleby26/392616.72330.7

Alabama

PlayerC/ATTYDSAVGTDINTQBR
Jalen Hurts11/201386.91027.8

Rushing

Florida

PlayerCARYDSAVGTDLONG
Jordan Scarlett11171.504
Mark Thompson5163.207
Lamical Perine382.707
Jordan Cronkrite122.002
Brandon Powell111.001
Josh Hammond111.001
Antonio Callaway2-2-1.000
Johnny Townsend1-11-11.000
Austin Appleby5-32-6.404

Alabama

PlayerCARYDSAVGTDLONG
Bo Scarbrough11918.3234
Damien Harris88610.8023
Josh Jacobs6355.8112
Derrick Gore4215.3111
Jalen Hurts810.1012
ArDarius Stewart100.000

Receiving

Florida

PlayerRECYDSAVGTDLONG
DeAndre Goolsby79113.0125
Antonio Callaway46315.8124
Brandon Powell9596.6013
Lamical Perine13232.0032
C'yontai Lewis2105.006
Josh Hammond144.004
Jordan Cronkrite122.002
Mark Thompson100.000

Alabama

PlayerRECYDSAVGTDLONG
Calvin Ridley44310.8052
ArDarius Stewart34214.0031
O.J. Howard24120.5032
Gehrig Dieter166.016
Josh Jacobs166.006
Show more stats (7 more categories)

Defense

Florida

PlayerTOTSOLOSACKSTFLPDQB HURTD
Chauncey Gardner Jr.9400.5100
Marcell Harris7611100
Daniel McMillian7500000
Kylan Johnson5402000
Keivonnis Davis500.50.5010
Jarrad Davis4400000
Teez Tabor4401000
Quincy Wilson3200000
Johnny Townsend2100000
Cece Jefferson210.50.5000
Jabari Zuniga2100010
Jachai Polite2101.5000
Ahmad Fulwood1100000
Taven Bryan1100000
Mark Norvelis1100000
David Reese1100000
Mark Thompson1100000
Chris Thompson1000000

Alabama

PlayerTOTSOLOSACKSTFLPDQB HURTD
Reuben Foster11922.5000
Ronnie Harrison7500200
Dalvin Tomlinson5200020
Anthony Averett4301000
Jonathan Allen421.51.5020
Minkah Fitzpatrick4201.5001
Tony Brown3300000
Rashaan Evans3200.5000
Anfernee Jennings3201000
Ryan Anderson3100110
Da'Shawn Hand3100.5010
Derek Kief2200000
Tim Williams210.50.5010
Deionte Thompson2100000
Trevon Diggs2100000
Keith Holcombe2000000
Christian Miller2000000
Jamar King2000000
Mack Wilson2000000
Hootie Jones1100000
Levi Wallace1100010
Shaun Dion Hamilton1000000
Joshua Frazier1000000
Shyheim Carter1000000
Raekwon Davis1000000
Terrell Lewis1000000
Josh Jacobs0000001

Fumbles

Florida

PlayerFUMLOSTREC
Chris Thompson100

Alabama

PlayerFUMLOSTREC
Jalen Hurts100

Interceptions

Florida

No recorded stats in this category.

Alabama

PlayerINTYDSTD
Minkah Fitzpatrick1441
Shaun Dion Hamilton1400
Tony Brown100

Kick Returns

Florida

PlayerNOYDSAVGLONGTD
Chris Thompson512424.8330
Mark Thompson12121.0210

Alabama

No recorded stats in this category.

Kicking

Florida

PlayerFGPCTLONGXPPTS
Eddy Pineiro0/00.002/22

Alabama

PlayerFGPCTLONGXPPTS
Adam Griffith2/366.7315/611
Andy Pappanastos0/00.001/11

Punt Returns

Florida

No recorded stats in this category.

Alabama

PlayerNOYDSAVGLONGTD
Trevon Diggs39030.0470
Josh Jacobs12727.0271
Derrick Gore100.000

Punting

Florida

PlayerNOYDSAVGTBIn 20LONG
Johnny Townsend421854.50062
100.0000

Alabama

PlayerNOYDSAVGTBIn 20LONG
JK Scott28140.50041

Full player stats from CFBD’s /games/players data, split out by team. This section only appears for belt games from 2003 onward — CFBD doesn’t have player-level stats that far back. Linked player names go to that player’s stat line in every other belt game they’ve appeared in.

Sources Box score at ESPN · Game record: College Football Data (id 400926943) · This game in the downloadable dataset