TALLAHASSEE -- Try as it might, Florida State can't give away a win this season.
The Seminoles overcame Jameis Winston's four interceptions and eked out a 24-19 victory over in-state rival Florida at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday. FSU also denied Will Muschamp a win in his final game as the Gators' head coach.
FSU finished the regular season 12-0 and will play Georgia Tech next weekend in the ACC Championship in Charlotte, N.C. The Gators fell to 6-5 and will await an invitation to a bowl, where they will play for interim coach D.J. Durkin.
"Survive and advance," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "That's what we did. The kids were resilient and kept playing and kept playing hard."
UF had chances in the second half to deny the Seminoles their 28th consecutive win but failed to make a play that would spell the difference. Kicker Austin Hardin, who made four field goals earlier in the game, missed a 52-yarder in the third quarter and a 42-yarder in the fourth. Either kick, if successful, would have given the Gators the lead.
"That was the key to the game," Fisher said. "Three turnovers and all they get are field goals. ... The whole defense in general played a heck of a football game."
FSU, the top-ranked team in the Associated Press poll and No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, held on late for its second straight win over the Gators. Roberto Aguayo's 37-yard field goal provided the final margin, and UF turned the ball over on downs at midfield on its final possession.
In a season filled with mistakes, Winston may have turned in his worst performance as the Seminoles' starting quarterback. He was intercepted three times in the first quarter, and FSU found itself in a 9-0 hole early.
"I made a few mistakes that hurt us," Winston said. "But it's a family here, and the defense had my back."
Florida flirted with a bigger lead late in the first quarter, but Treon Harris' pass to Tevin Westbrook ended up in the hands of FSU linebacker Terrance Smith, who ran 94 yards untouched to pull the Seminoles within 9-7.
"That was a big turning point in the game and gave us some juice," Winston said.
Winston connected with tight end Nick O'Leary on a pair of touchdown passes in the second quarter. O'Leary's first touchdown, a 10-yard reception, capped a 12-play, 93-yard drive. His second touchdown, a 6-yard catch, finalized an 8-play, 83-yard drive.
As soon as it looked like the Seminoles had taken command of the game, UF reversed the momentum with a blocked punt. Harris located Clay Burton for a 15-yard touchdown pass on the next play from scrimmage to send the Gators into the locker room trailing just 21-16.
Hardin made kicks from 52, 39 and 43 yards in the first half, and his 32-yarder rallied Florida within 21-19 with 10:16 left in the third quarter. Hardin pushed his final two kicks wide right, however.
Freshman running back Dalvin Cook set a career high with 144 yards on 24 carries. He dominated the touches out of the backfield in the second half after Karlos Williams exited the game with a concussion.
FSU outgained Florida 181-113 on the ground. The Gator defense came into the matchup ranked 13th in the nation allowing just 110 yards per game.
Harris, who struggled through a combined 9-for-23 passing performance in his last two games, completed 13 of 32 passes for 169 yards. He was intercepted twice.
FSU limited Kelvin Taylor to 13 carries for 37 yards and Matt Jones to nine carries for 29 yards. Harris led the Gators with 41 yards on nine rushes.