Gators and Seminoles: A Football Rivalry for the Ages

The University of Florida and Florida State University are two of the best institutions of higher learning in the third most populous state in our country. They cooperate in many academic ventures and have joint programs, especially in the sciences. They do not, however, cooperate in athletic endeavors and, in fact, compete fiercely in all sports, especially football. Since 1958, when they first started playing football against each other, they have met 60 times, twice in postseason bowl games, one of which was for the national championship. The two teams have each had three Heisman Trophy winners and have won the national championship in Division I a total of 13 times: five for Florida and eight for Florida State. This then is the story of one of this country’s fiercest football rivalries, complete with outstanding players and coaches, as well as controversies.