■ Florida’s defense stonewalls Michigan in Peach Bowl triumph,

Wolverines held to 21 points below season average in rout.

In two recent meetings against Michigan, Florida’s defense offered little resistance to anything the Wolverines did.

On Saturday in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the story changed.

In games against Michigan in the 2015 and 2017 seasons, Florida’s defense was overrun, allowing an average of 468 yards and 37 points. In the program’s first win over the Wolverines on Saturday, Florida limited Michigan to 77 rushing yards, 249 passing yards and one touchdown in a 41-15 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson was 22-of-36 passing for 236 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Patterson rushed for only 5 yards on 10 carries and was sacked five times.

Michigan averaged 36.8 points, 214.3 rushing yards and 212.9 passing yards entering Saturday’s game.

“In Year 1, to come here and to know where we were this time a year ago to where we are today, it’s special to me,” Florida coach Dan Mullen said.

Beyond the below-average stats Michigan recorded, Florida’s defense proved it had the mental edge, succeeding in several stressful situations.

The first situation occurred on Michigan’s first drive when a 41-yard TD was called back after running back Christian Turner’s foot was ruled out of bounds on the Gators’ 38-yard line. After video review, Michigan faced a third-and-1 play, but Florida stonewalled Michigan on third and fourth downs, keeping the game scoreless.

Michigan was 6-of-15 on thirddown plays and 0-of-2 on fourth downs.

Florida brought the same defensive edge from the first half into the second half, when it limited Michigan to 137 total yards and eight points. On Michigan’s first drive of the second half, Patterson was intercepted by Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who returned the pick 53 yards to the Michigan 44-yard line. The Gators went on to score a touchdown six plays later on a 5-yard pass to running back Lamical Perine, extending their lead to 20-10 with 8:06 left in the third quarter.

“It’s been a ride,” Gardner-Johnson said of the Gators going from a 4-7 record last season to a New Year’s Six bowl. “Last year was the most painful for us . ... This year was nothing but joy.”

Gardner-Johnson, chosen the Peach Bowl defensive MVP, returned an interception for a TD late in the fourth quarter to give the game its final score and finished the game with five total tackles and two interceptions.

HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM Florida DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson celebrates as he scores a touchdown on an interception return in the fourth quarter Saturday. Gardner-Johnson had 2 picks in the game and was named defensive MVP.