Penn State was ranked #1 for the first three weeks of the season and were 7–0 before losing to eventual national champion Michigan.
They won two of their last three games but ultimately finished tied for second in the Big Ten Conference.
The defending national champion Gators were ranked #1 for three weeks in the season as well, though two losses to LSU and Georgia within two weeks of each other knocked Florida out of the contention for the Southeastern Conference title, though they finished the regular season in the AP top 10 for the fifth straight year.
Noah Brindise gave Florida a 7–0 lead on a touchdown sneak after an 80-yard drive that took only 4:12 and had Fred Taylor contribute 47 yards of rushing.
After Johnson's injury to his shoulder, Jesse Palmer stepped in as quarterback and led Florida to an early fourth quarter touchdown pass to Green to make the final score 21–6 as Penn State was stifled by the defense of Florida.