Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators represent Florida State University and the University of Florida, respectively, and are two of the top football schools in the nation. They compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC), respectively. The Florida State Seminoles began their collegiate journey in 1902 and the Gators in 1906. The Florida State Seminoles play at the Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida State whereas the Florida Gators play their home games at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Both the Seminoles and the Gators have helped players earn All-American recognition and have won numerous Bowl, Conference, and National Championships. The Sunshine Showdown is the rivalry between the Florida State Seminoles and the Florida Gators where the teams compete for the Makala Trophy.
Florida State vs Florida Football Rivalry History
The Florida State vs. Florida rivalry began in 1958 and has been played annually since then. The game is considered one of the toughest games in the entire collegiate football as it's a clash between two of the nation’s top programs. Historically, the Gators and Seminoles have contended for state pride and have recruited players such as Winfred Bailey and Frank Dempsey that can dominate this rivalry. Florida State was labeled as the ‘Choke at Doak’ after losing to Florida in 1994. This rivalry got intense when Florida won the National Championship in 1996. The competitiveness of this rivalry comes from the rise to national prominence by both schools in the latter half of the 20th century, making it a must-watch game.
Florida State vs Florida Football Rivalry Head-to-Head Stats
The table below summarizes key statistics for the Florida State vs. Florida rivalry:
| Stat | Florida State | Florida |
| First Meeting (1958) | 7 | 27 |
| Total Meetings | 67 | |
| All-Time Wins | 28 | 37 |
| Largest victory | 52-17 | 49-0 |
| Longest Win Streak | 2 (2022-2023) | 9 (1968–1976) |
| Makala Trophy | 1 | 2 |
Florida State vs Florida Football Rivalry Winner Year-by-Year
Below is a table of Florida State vs. Florida rivalry results from 2000 to 2023:
| Year | Winner | Score |
| 2023 | Florida St. | 24-15 |
| 2022 | Florida St. | 45-38 |
| 2021 | Florida | 24-21 |
| 2019 | Florida | 40-17 |
| 2018 | Florida | 41-14 |
| 2017 | Florida St. | 38-22 |
| 2016 | Florida St. | 31-13 |
| 2015 | Florida St. | 27-2 |
| 2014 | Florida St. | 24-19 |
| 2013 | Florida St. | 37-7 |
| 2012 | Florida | 37-26 |
| 2011 | Florida St. | 21-7 |
| 2010 | Florida St. | 31-7 |
| 2009 | Florida | 37-10 |
| 2008 | Florida | 45-15 |
| 2007 | Florida | 45-12 |
| 2006 | Florida | 21-14 |
| 2005 | Florida | 34-7 |
| 2004 | Florida | 20-13 |
| 2003 | Florida St. | 38-34 |
| 2002 | Florida St. | 31-14 |
| 2001 | Florida | 37-13 |
| 2000 | Florida St. | 30-7 |
FAQs on Florida State and Florida
A. The first game Florida State and Florida played was in 1958, with Florida winning 27-7.
A. Florida State vs. Florida is commonly referred to as the "Sunshine Showdown."
A. Florida leads the series with 37 wins as of 2023.
A. Florida State vs. Florida game is typically held during Thanksgiving weekend.
