GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Mack Brown had tears in eyes before the game and a smile on his face after.

In between, he ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns -- and vomited on the sideline.

Not a bad start for Brown or No. 10 Florida.

Brown's career day, Jeff Driskel's efficiency and a dominant defense carried the Gators to a 24-6 win over Toledo in the teams' season opener Saturday.

"I felt like I was useless for the last couple of years," said Brown, a fourth-year junior who did little his first three years in Gainesville. "Getting an opportunity. Just took it and ran with it. It felt good, man. I can't really express it."

Brown ran 25 times, equaling his carries from all of last season.

He was making his first career start, in the lineup in place of Matt Jones. The sophomore missed the opener while recovering from a viral infection. He is expected to return next week at Miami, but Brown certainly stated his case to get some carries the rest of the season.

"There's no question," coach Will Muschamp said. "The more a guy plays, and the more he plays well, it gives you great confidence in putting him in the game and knowing he's going to play well. ... We expected him to play extremely well today."

His teammates weren't too bad, either.

Driskel completed 17 of 22 passes for 153 yards and a score, rolling out often and getting rid of the ball early. Florida's defense, which ranked fifth in the country in 2012, looked every bit as good as last year's version despite losing eight starters and its coordinator.

The Gators controlled both lines of scrimmage, opening holes for Brown and keeping steady pressure on Toledo's experienced offense. It was exactly the style of play Florida has become known for under Muschamp. No flashiness. Few highlight-reel plays. But a win in the end.

It was Florida's 24th consecutive season-opening victory, the second-longest active streak in the country. Only Nebraska (27) has a longer current run.

Some thought Florida would struggle against the Rockets, who were picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference's West Division. Toledo returned nine starters on offense, four on defense, played in three consecutive bowl games and even beat a ranked team last season.