Florida Gators football#Florida's All-Time Roster

{{main|History of Florida Gators football}}

{{See also|History of the University of Florida|List of Florida Gators football seasons}}

File:Gators1907.jpg

The University of Florida was established in Gainesville in 1906 and fielded its first official varsity football team that fall. Since then, Florida Gator football squads have played in over 40 bowl games; won three national championships (1996, 2006 and 2008) and eight Southeastern Conference championships (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2006 and 2008) and have produced three Heisman Trophy winners, over 90 first-team All-Americans and 50 National Football League (NFL) first-round draft choices.

Discounting interim coaches, there have been twenty-five head coaches in program history, including three who were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for their coaching success. Florida's first head coach was Pee Wee Forsythe, and the current coach is Billy Napier.

File:2008 Florida Gators football team celebrates in Florida Field (January 11 2009).jpg]]

Florida competed for its first several seasons as an independent before joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1912. They moved to the Southern Conference in 1922, then joined with a dozen other schools to establish the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1932, where it has remained ever since.

The SEC allowed considerable leeway with regard to conference schedules for several decades after its founded in 1932. Like most members, Florida played a few conference foes every season but would not play other schools for several years at a time until the conference attempted to balance schedules by establishing a rotation of sorts in the late 1960s.

Schedules were further standardized in 1992 when the SEC expanded to twelve teams, established two divisions, and set eight team conference schedule plus a championship game between the two division winners. Florida was placed in the SEC Eastern Division and played every division foe every season. From 2012 until 2023, the Gators' annual conference slate consisted of Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt along with permanent Western Division opponent LSU plus another Western Division team on a rotating schedule.

In 2024, the SEC expanded to 16 schools and abolished divisions, though it kept the eight game conference slate and retained most annual rivalries for at least one season as member schools worked to establish a new scheduling system.{{cite news |title=SEC reveals 2024 football opponents and locations |url=https://www.secsports.com/article/37854660/sec-reveals-2024-football-opponents-locations |publisher=The Southeastern Conference |date=June 12, 2023}}

Historically, Florida's key conference rivals include Georgia (played in Jacksonville usually around Halloween), Tennessee (historically played in mid-September), and LSU, though other conference rivalries have resulted in memorable games over the years.

Florida has played in-state rival Florida State every year since 1958 except for the pandemic-altered 2020 season. The Gators and Seminoles have faced off around Thankgiving since the 1970s, and their emergence as perennial football powers during the 1990s helped build the Florida–Florida State rivalry into a game that often had national-title implications. In-state rival Miami was once another annual opponent. However, the rivalry was dropped when the SEC expanded its yearly schedule in the late 1980s, and the Florida–Miami rivalry has been renewed on an infrequent basis since then. The remaining dates on Florida's regular schedule are filled by non-conference opponents which vary from year to year.

{{main|Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium}}

The University of Florida's campus did not include sports facilities when it opened in 1906, so UF's first several football and baseball squads played their home games at The Ballpark, a primitive municipal facility near downtown Gainesville. In 1911, the school purchased the bleachers from the city and moved them to University Athletic Field, a newly-cleared patch of land on the west side of campus along University Avenue. Larger bleachers were installed in 1915, when the facility was renamed Fleming Field.{{cite book | last = Carlson | first = Norm | title = University of Florida football Vault : The History of the Florida Gators | publisher = Whitman Pub | location = Atlanta, GA | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-0794822989 }}

The football program first gained national recognition in the late 1920s, prompting UF president John J. Tigert to initiate plans for a modern stadium. A shallow ravine just south of Fleming Field was the chosen site, and 20,000 seat Florida Field opened in 1930. The facility underwent major expansions in the mid-1960s, early 1980s, and early 1990s to increase stadium capacity to about 90,000, the largest in the state.Gatorzone.com, Facilities, [http://gatorzone.com/facilities/?venue=swamp&sport=footb Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810202634/http://www.gatorzone.com/facilities/?venue=swamp&sport=footb |date=August 10, 2014 }}. Retrieved May 22, 2023. Its name was extended to "Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium" in 1989 to honor

UF benefactor Ben Hill Griffin, and the field was rechristened "Steve Spurrier-Florida Field" in 2016 to honor Gator player and coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier also coined the stadium's nickname of "The Swamp" in 1992, early in his tenure as head football coach.{{cite news | url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17464429/steve-spurrier-back-home-florida | title=Swamp Sweet Swamp: Steve Spurrier is back home at Florida | publisher=ESPN | date=September 4, 2016 | access-date=May 22, 2023| author=Low, Chris}}

Florida's football program is a charter member of the Southeastern Conference, which began play in 1933. Before that, the Gators were affiliated with two different conferences after having founded the program without a conference affiliation.{{cite book|author=Marty Gitlin|title=Florida Gators|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aG90xCiBX8QC&pg=PA14|date=1 September 2012|publisher=ABDO Publishing Company|isbn=978-1-61480-310-2|page=14}}{{cite web|url=https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll10|title=CONTENTdm|website=digital.la84.org}}2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide, [http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/09fbguide/74-77standings.pdf?SPSID=35576&SPID=1781&DB_OEM_ID=4000 Year-by-Year Standings], Southern Conference, Spartanburg, South Carolina, p. 74 (2009). Retrieved August 30, 2010.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNThHqwUK7kC|title=The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia |first1=Bob |last1=Boyles|first2=Paul|last2=Guido|date=1 January 2009|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc.|via=Google Books|isbn=9781602396777 }}

• Independent (1906–1911)
• Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1912–1921)
• Southern Conference (1922–1932)
• Southeastern Conference (1933–present)

The Florida Gators have been named national champions five times by NCAA-designated major selectors.{{cite book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf |title=2020 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records |section=Final National Poll Leaders |pages=114–119 |publisher=The National Collegiate Athletic Association |date=July 2020 |location=Indianapolis |access-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101032438/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf |url-status=live}}

Florida claims three national championships, for the 1996, 2006 and 2008 seasons. At the end of each season the Gators were ranked No. 1 in both the final AP and Coaches polls and were recognized as consensus national champions after winning a designated national championship bowl game.

Florida has been named national champion by NCAA-designated "major selectors" in two additional years, 1984 and 1985. Partially because the football program was on NCAA probation in the mid-1980s, the university has never claimed a share of the national championship for either season.{{Cite news |url=http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20091120/COLUMNISTS/911209919?p=all&tc=pgall |title=Do not forget 1984, UF football's first SEC title |last=Dooley |first=Pat |date=20 November 2009 |work=Gainesville Sun |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308045308/http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20091120/COLUMNISTS/911209919?p=all&tc=pgall |archive-date=8 March 2017 }}

Florida has won eight officially recognized SEC football championships. The Gators won their first championship with a conference record of 5–0–1 in 1984, but the title was vacated several months after the season by the SEC university presidents because of NCAA infractions by the Florida coaching staff under Charley Pell. The 1985 and 1990 teams also finished atop the standings with conference records of 5–1 and 6–1, respectively, but Florida was ineligible for the championship due to its NCAA probation for rule violations by previous coaching staffs. The Gators won their first official SEC football championship in 1991.

With the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina to the Southeastern Conference in 1992, the conference split into eastern and western divisions and a game between the division winners determined the SEC champion. Florida has made thirteen appearances in the SEC Championship Game, most recently in 2020. The Gators have a 7–6 record all-time in SEC Championship Games as of 2020. With the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC in 2024, the conference eliminated divisions that year.

†Florida tied with Georgia atop the SEC east during the 1992 season and played in the 1992 SEC Championship Game by virtue of its head-to-head victory.

Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee ended the regular season in a 3-way tie in 2003, but Georgia advanced to the 2003 SEC Championship Game due to its higher BCS ranking.

Florida and Georgia again tied atop the SEC East in 2012 but Georgia advanced to the 2012 SEC Championship Game by virtue of its head-to-head victory.

|- align="center";

! Name !! Position !! Consecutive season at Florida in current position !! Previous position

|- align="center";

| Rob Sale || Co-offensive coordinator / offensive line || 3rd || New York Giants – Offensive line (2021)

|- align="center";

| Austin Armstrong || Defensive coordinator|| 2nd || Southern Mississippi – Defensive coordinator / inside linebackers (2021- 2022)

|- align="center";

| Gerald Chatman || Defensive line|| 1st || Tulane – Defensive line (2023)

|- align="center";

| Jabbar Juluke || Associate head coach for offense / running backs || 3rd || Louisiana – Assistant head coach / running backs (2018–2021)

|- align="center";

| Will Harris || Secondary|| 1st ||

Los Angeles Chargers – Assistant secondary coach(2023)

|- align="center";

| Jonathan Decoster || Assistant Offensive line coach || 1st || Cleveland Browns – Offensive assistant (2022-2023)

|- align="center";

| Billy Gonzales|| Wide receivers || 2nd ||

FAU – Wide receivers (2022)

|- align="center";

| Russ Callaway || Co-offensive coordinator / Tight ends || 1st ||

New York Giants – Offensive Assistant (2021)

|- align="center";

| Mike Peterson || Outside linebackers || 3rd ||

South Carolina – Outside linebackers (2016–2021)

|- align="center";

| Ron Roberts|| Executive Head Coach / Co-Defensive coordinator / Inside linebackers|| 1st ||

Auburn – Defensive coordinator (2023)

|- align="center";

| Tyler Miles || Director of Football Strength and Conditioning|| 1st || Duke – Assistant Director of Sports Performance (2022)

|-

| colspan="4" style="font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"|Reference:{{cite web|title=2022 Football Coaching Staff|url=https://floridagators.com/sports/football/coaches|website=floridagators.com}}

|}

File:Victorious "Gator Ray" Graves.png victory.]]

Florida has appeared in 49 NCAA-sanctioned bowl games, garnering a 25-24 record. This includes a streak of 22 consecutive bowl-game appearances from 1991 through 2012, the fifth-longest in college football history.{{cite web|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/alltime_consecutive.php|title=All-Time Consecutive Bowl Appearances|work=cfbdatawarehouse.com|access-date=2013-02-08|archive-date=2012-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002050025/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/alltime_consecutive.php|url-status=dead}} Four of their bowl games were for a National Championship, with two under the Bowl Alliance and two in the Bowl Championship Series. Florida is 3–1 in national championship games.

† The 1912 Bacardi Bowl held in Havana, Cuba was not sanctioned by the NCAA and was intended to be one half of a two-game event which was not completed due to a dispute over the rules of the game. As such, the University of Florida Athletic Association does not include the contest in the Gators' official bowl record.

‡ Coalition, Alliance, BCS or New Year's Six Bowl game.

The Southeastern Conference began play in 1933, and for several decades, each member was free to arrange its own conference schedule, with some schools meeting much more regularly than others due to the cost of travel and various other considerations.The SEC began to more closely regulate conference slates in the 1960s, and schedules became standardized when the league split into two divisions in 1992. Florida was placed in the SEC East and played annual contests against divisional opponents Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Georgia, and South Carolina along with SEC West foe LSU, with other SEC west teams played on a rotating basis. Beginning with the 2024 season, the SEC expanded to 16 teams, abolished divisions, and devised a new scheduling formula, with the league planning to adjust as needed in future seasons.{{Cite web |last=Skiver |first=Kevin |title=SEC schedule release: Full schedules for all SEC teams including Texas, Oklahoma football |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/SEC/2023/12/13/sec-schedule-release-full-schedules-all-southeastern-conference-teams-oklahoma-texas-alabama-georgia/71910942007/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=SEC establishes 2025 football schedule format |url=https://www.secsports.com/news/2024/03/sec-establishes-2025-football-schedule-format |website=Southeastern Conference |language=en}}

The table below includes non-conference meetings played either before the founding of the SEC or before Florida's opponent joined the conference.

|}

Records as of the end of the 2024 season.{{cite journal |title=2024 UF Football Media Guide (PDF) |journal=University of Florida Athletic Association |url=https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/8/13/2024_UF_Media_Guide.pdf |language=en}}

{{see also|Southeastern Conference#History}}

The Southeastern Conference was founded in 1932 by thirteen member institutions. Three original members had left by 1966 and six were added from 1992 onwards. The following table includes some games played before, during, and after the opponents' SEC tenure.

Records as of the end of the 2024 season.

Early Florida football teams played limited slates of games, mostly against squads from nearby schools.Local scheduling resulted in the development of gridiron rivalries with several in-state private colleges, most notably Stetson, Southern College, and Rollins. Of those early opponents, Southern College and Rollins no longer sponsor intercollegiate football programs, and after dropping the sport for half a century, Stetson competes in a lower division of college football. Florida also scheduled occasional games against teams organized by amateur athletic clubs or nearby military bases during the first half of the 20th century. However, the Gators have not faced off against a non-collegiate opponent since 1945.

In more modern times, Florida began an annual rivalry with the University of Miami Hurricanes in 1938 that continued uninterrupted until 1987. The teams have met on an occasional basis since then and are still considered rivals. Florida State (FSU) established a football program in 1947 and first faced Florida in 1958, beginning an annual series that has been uninterrupted except for the COVID-19-affected season of 2020.

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Records as of the end of the 2024 season.

{{main|Alabama–Florida football rivalry}}

Although the series started in 1916, many consider the rivalry between Florida and Alabama to have started in 1992, with the advent of the SEC Championship Game.{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Trey |title=Alabama vs. Florida: A Rivalry Made by Champions |url=https://tide1009.com/alabama-vs-florida-a-rivalry-made-by-champions/ |website=Tide 100.9 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |date=September 18, 2014 }} Florida has appeared in 13 of the 30 conference championship games with Alabama appearing in 14. 10 of those matches were against each other, the most common matchup so far. Alabama leads the conference championship match-up 6–4, following the most recent match-up between both programs, the 2020 SEC Championship Game, which saw Alabama beat Florida 52–46.{{cite web |last1=Schuster |first1=Blake |title=Mac Jones, No. 1 Alabama Beat No. 7 Florida to Win 2020 SEC Championship |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2923184-mac-jones-no-1-alabama-beat-no-7-florida-to-win-2020-sec-championship |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=February 18, 2021 |date=December 19, 2020 }}

Alabama leads the series 28–14 since the end of the 2021 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/games/alabama/vs/florida|title=Winsipedia - Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida Gators football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

{{main|Auburn–Florida football rivalry}}

Auburn and Florida played annually from 1945 to 2002.College Football Data Warehouse, [http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=220 Florida vs. Auburn] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707055451/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=220 |date=2015-07-07 }}. Retrieved March 11, 2012. In the overall series won-lost record, Auburn is Florida's most evenly-matched SEC opponent. Beginning in the 1980s, one team was usually highly ranked coming into the game and it had conference- and national-title implications.{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2013/12/auburn-florida_state_big_win_i.html|title=Auburn-Florida State: Big win in Jordan-Hare propels Seminoles|date=December 27, 2013|website=al}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RS4VAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA62|page=62|title=Where Football Is King: A History of the SEC|author=Christopher J. Walsh|isbn=9781461734772|date=2006-07-18|publisher=Taylor Trade }} The series has had several notable upsets. Auburn defeated previously-unbeaten Florida teams in 1993, 1994, 2001, 2006 and 2007, although the Gators won SEC championships in 1993, 1994 and 2006.

The annual series ended in 2002, when the SEC adjusted its football schedules so each team played one permanent and two rotating opponents from the opposite SEC division every year (instead of one rotating and two permanent teams).{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2014/05/auburn_will_have_to_wait_until.html|title=Auburn will have to wait until 2019 to play Florida as SEC sets 12-year schedule rotation|date=May 20, 2014|website=al}} When Texas A&M and Missouri joined the conference in 2012, the schedule was changed again; each team played one permanent and one rotating opponent from the opposite division every year. LSU was designated as Florida's annual SEC Western Division opponent, and Florida and Auburn play two regular-season games every 12 years. Auburn leads the series 43–39–2 through the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/florida/vs/auburn|title=Winsipedia - Florida Gators vs. Auburn Tigers football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

{{main|Florida–Florida State football rivalry}}

File:Uf vs fsu 07.jpg

The University of Florida and the Florida State College for Women became co-educational in 1947.{{Cite web|url=http://www.floridahistorynetwork.com/may-15-1947---florida-state-college-for-women-goes-co-ed-renamed-fsu.html|title=On this day in Florida history - May 15, 1947 - Florida State College for Women goes co-ed, renamed FSU|website=Florida History Network - Your one-stop source for celebrating and preserving Florida's past, today|access-date=2016-06-03}} The new Florida State Seminoles football team began playing small colleges, moving up to the major-college ranks in 1955.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nolefan.org/summary/f1955.html|title=Florida State Football - 1955 Year In Review|website=www.nolefan.org|access-date=2016-06-03}} Almost immediately, Florida State students and supporters called for the teams of Florida's two largest universities to play each other annually.Norm Froscher, "[http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20081128/NEWS/811280285/1130?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar Golden anniversary history lesson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715001359/http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20081128/NEWS/811280285/1130?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar |date=2014-07-15 }}," The Gainesville Sun (November 28, 2008). Retrieved December 1, 2012.

Contrary to popular belief, Florida's state legislature did not decree that Florida and Florida State should meet on the field; a bill mandating the game was rejected by the Florida Senate.{{Cite web|url=http://nolefan.org/summary/fsu_uf.html|title=FSU-UF Rivalry|website=nolefan.org|access-date=2016-06-03}} Prodding by Florida governor LeRoy Collins facilitated an agreement between the two universities to begin an annual series in 1958.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tampatribune.com/Sports/columns/MGBLIVRP8GE.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814154438/http://www.tampatribune.com/Sports/columns/MGBLIVRP8GE.html|url-status=dead|title="50 Things you should know about the UF-FSU rivalry" - The Tampa Tribune|archive-date=August 14, 2009}} Due to Florida State's smaller stadium, the first six games were played at Florida Field. The series has alternated between the campuses since 1964, when Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee was expanded.{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2005-11-24-uffsu24-story.html|title=Gators-Seminoles rivalry has come long way|first=Emily Badger, Sentinel Staff|last=Writer|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|date=24 November 2005 }} The Florida–Florida State game has had national-championship implications since 1990, and both teams have entered the game with top-10 rankings thirteen times.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/2015/11/26/fsu-uf-rivalry-good-gets/76438230/|title=FSU-UF rivalry as good as it gets|first=Corey|last=Clark|website=Tallahassee Democrat}} Among these was the Sugar Bowl rematch at the end of the 1996 season, when Florida avenged its only regular-season loss and won its first national championship 52–20.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allstatesugarbowl.org/site94.php|title=1997 Game Recap / Allstate Sugar Bowl|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-date=2010-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116173902/http://www.allstatesugarbowl.org/site94.php|url-status=dead}}

Florida dominated the early series with a 16–2–1 record through 1976. Both teams have produced significant winning streaks, and the series is nearly tied over the past four decades; Florida State holds a 21–20–1 advantage since 1980. Since 2000, the teams share 10-10 records against one another. Florida leads the all-time series 37–28–2 through the 2023 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/florida/vs/florida-state|title=Winsipedia - Florida Gators vs. Florida State Seminoles football series history|work=Winsipedia}}

{{main|Florida–Georgia football rivalry}}

File:Steve Spurrier vs. Georgia.png under center v. Georgia, 1966]]

Historically, Florida's most hated and fierce rival has been the Georgia Bulldogs. Previously known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," and now most commonly called the "Florida–Georgia game" by Gator fans, this rivalry often decides the SEC East and has national implications.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20101028/SPORTS/801242218|title=Georgia-Florida game needs a name and a trophy|first=Michael|last=DiRocco|website=The Florida Times-Union}} The game is held at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, usually on the last Saturday in October or the first Saturday in November.{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlygators.com/03/16/2016/florida-georgia-agree-to-keep-rivalry-game-in-jacksonville-through-2021/|title=Party on: Florida, Georgia agree to keep rivalry game in Jacksonville through 2021 {{!}} OnlyGators.com|last=Says|first=Cline|access-date=2016-06-03}} The designated "home" team alternates, with ticket distribution split evenly between the schools.{{Cite web|url=http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida-gators/2011-02-24/story/florida-georgia-tickets-not-going#|title=Florida-Georgia tickets not going up|website=jacksonville.com|access-date=2016-06-03}} Since 2009, the Okefenokee Oar has been awarded to the winner of the Florida-Georgia game.{{cite web |url=https://www.gatorcountry.com/florida-gators-football/uf_uga_war_for_the_okefenokee_oar/|title=UF-UGA: War for the 'Okefenokee Oar' {{!}} GatorCountry.com|date=2012-10-26 |website=GatorCountry.com|access-date=2016-06-03}}

In the rivalry's early years, games rotated among locations in Savannah, Tampa, Jacksonville and, occasionally, Gainesville and Athens. Since 1933 the game has been played in Jacksonville, except for 1994 and 1995 (when the teams played a pair of home-and-home games at their respective stadiums). Georgia had early success in the rivalry, winning the first six games and holding a 21–5–1 series lead before 1950. After the 2018 game Florida has won 21 out of the most-recent 29 games, and holds a 38–30–1 advantage in the series since 1950.College Football Data Warehouse, [http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=1265 Florida vs Georgia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707055319/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=1265 |date=2015-07-07 }}. Retrieved March 11, 2012. Georgia lead the series overall 56–44–2 through the 2024 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/florida/vs/georgia|title=Winsipedia - Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

{{main|Florida–Kentucky rivalry#Football}}

File:End zone at Florida Gators 2 (October 25, 2008).jpg during the 2008 Florida–Kentucky game in which Florida would win 63–5.]]

When the Southeastern Conference split into geographical divisions in 1992,{{Cite web |last=Harwell |first=Hoyt |date=1990-11-29 |title=Southeastern Conference Will Split Into 2 Divisions, Presidents Decide |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-29-sp-7788-story.html |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Florida and Kentucky were both placed in the SEC East. This guarantees that both teams play each other every season, which they have done consecutively since 1967. The Gators and Wildcats will meet in 2024 despite the end of SEC divisions after the 2023 season.{{Cite web |title=SEC reveals 2024 football opponents and locations |url=https://www.secsports.com/article/37854660/sec-reveals-2024-football-opponents-locations |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=www.secsports.com}} The two teams have played 74 times, with Florida holding a 53–21 lead in the series. From 1987 to 2017, Florida won every single game between the two schools. This 31-year streak was the third longest in FBS history, and the longest in the Southeastern Conference's history. Since 2017, the series has become incredibly competitive with a 4–3 split between the two teams with the winning margin being 11.4 points on average. Because of these factors, this rivalry is relatively new even though the series dates back to 1917.

Former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier was notable for having a particular disdain for Kentucky. During his tenure at Florida, he was known for running up the score in non-competitive games. In his 12 years coaching the Gators, Spurrier never lost to Kentucky, winning by an average score of 32.7 points. Spurrier was famous for the comments he made about his opponents (often referred to as "Spurrierisms"){{cite web | url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2002/01/08/spurrierisms/ | title=Spurrierisms }}{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2017/08/09/steve-spurrier-quotes-insults-best-lines-ranked | title=The definitive ranking of Steve Spurrier's best insults | date=9 August 2017 }} but he poked fun at Kentucky the most.{{Cite web |last=Franklin |first=Drew |date= September 19, 2015|title=A Look Back At 28 Consecutive Years Of Losing To Florida |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/a-look-back-at-28-consecutive-years-of-losing-to-florida/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=www.on3.com |language=en}} Even after leaving Florida, Steve Spurrier would go out of his way to make comments at Kentucky's expense. In November 2004, Steve Spurrier accepted the head coaching job at the University of South Carolina.{{Cite web |date=2004-11-23 |title=Steve Spurrier Announced as New Head Football Coach at South Carolina |url=https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2004/11/23/steve-spurrier-announced-as-new-head-football-coach-at-south-carolina/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=University of South Carolina Athletics |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2004-11-24 |title=Spurrier takes over at South Carolina |url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/11/24/19863111/spurrier-takes-over-at-south-carolina |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} In 2006, the South Carolina Gamecocks upset their rival, the Clemson Tigers. In the following week, Clemson would go on to lose to Kentucky in the 2006 Music City Bowl. Following the bowl game, Steve Spurrier said" "We thought we had done something good beating Clemson. And then Kentucky beat 'em."{{Cite web |title=Top 25: Spurrier defeats Kentucky again {{!}} The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2007/oct/05/top-25-spurrier-defeats-kentucky-again/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=www.spokesman.com}}

{{main|Florida–LSU football rivalry}}

Florida and LSU first met on the football field in 1937, and have been annual opponents since 1971.College Football Data Warehouse, [http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=1793 Florida vs. Louisiana St] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707060422/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=1793 |date=2015-07-07 }}. Retrieved March 11, 2012. Since 1992, LSU has been Florida's permanent inter-divisional rival from the SEC Western Division. The winner of the Florida–LSU game went on to win the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national championship game in the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2019 seasons. This rivalry has been known recently for close games, with both teams highly ranked. Florida leads the all-time series 34–31–3 through the 2024 season. Three LSU wins were vacated in 2023.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/florida/vs/lsu|title=Winsipedia - Florida Gators vs. LSU Tigers football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

{{main|Florida–Miami football rivalry}}

Miami is Florida's only pre-World War II in-state rival that still plays major college football. The schools first met on the gridiron in 1938 and again every season until 1987, when the SEC's expansion of its conference schedule to seven games precluded the annual matchup.{{cite news|last1=Dame|first1=Mike|title=Gators Maneuvering to Add Miami to Schedule|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/05/31/gators-maneuvering-to-add-hurricanes-to-schedule/|access-date=July 9, 2020|work=The Orlando Sentinel|date=May 31, 1995}} A contract to renew the annual rivalry in the 1990s fell through when the SEC expanded its schedule again to eight games, and the Florida and Miami did not play again until the 2001 Sugar Bowl.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/games/florida/vs/miami-fl|title=Winsipedia - Florida Gators vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes football series history games list|website=Winsipedia}} The home and home series briefly resumed in 2002 and 2003, and they played again in the 2004 Peach Bowl.College Football Data Warehouse, [http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=1968 Florida vs. Miami] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707055429/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=1968 |date=2015-07-07 }}. Retrieved March 11, 2012. Since then, the schools have played intermittently during the regular season, with home and home series split across several years.

Miami leads the series 30–27 through the 2024 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/florida/vs/miami-fl|title=Winsipedia - Florida Gators vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

The next scheduled matchup between the schools will be in Miami Gardens on September 20, 2025.

{{main|Florida–Tennessee football rivalry}}

File:Spread option uf vs ut.jpg in the spread v. Tennessee, 2007]]

Although Florida and Tennessee are charter members of the SEC, irregular conference scheduling resulted in the teams meeting infrequently for many years. Tennessee won the first ten games between 1916 and 1954, when Florida finally defeated the Volunteers.College Football Data Warehouse, [http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=3180 Florida vs. Tennessee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707060828/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/f/florida/opponents_records.php?teamid=3180 |date=2015-07-07 }}. Retrieved March 11, 2012. In 1969, Florida hired Tennessee head coach (and former Florida quarterback) Doug Dickey to replace the retiring Ray Graves immediately after their teams met in the Gator Bowl.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19700101&id=VY0bAAAAIBAJ&pg=6778,44643&hl=en|work=The Dispatch|title=Dickey Replaces Graves As Florida Grid Coach|date=January 1, 1970}}

The rivalry reached a peak during the 1990s. In 1992, the SEC expanded to twelve schools and split into two divisions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-02-sp-1412-story.html|title=Arkansas Joins SEC; There May Be More : Colleges: Miami, Texas, Florida State, South Carolina, Texas A&M also might wind up in Southeastern Conference.|last=WOJCIECHOWSKI|first=GENE|date=1990-08-02|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-06-03}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/best-season-14-teams-since-sec-split-divisions/|title=Best season for all 14 teams since SEC split into divisions|date=2016-02-12 |website=Saturday Down South|access-date=2016-06-03}} Florida and Tennessee (in the Eastern Division) have met every year since, usually in mid-September for both teams' first conference game of the season. Led by coaches Steve Spurrier and Phillip Fulmer and featuring players such as Danny Wuerffel and Peyton Manning, both teams were regularly ranked in the top 10 when they met, giving the rivalry conference and national title implications. Florida and Tennessee combined to win six SEC titles and two national championships during the 1990s.{{cite web |url=https://www.seccountry.com/sec/steve-spurrier-phillip-fulmer-helped-fuel-fantastic-florida-tennessee-rivalry|title=Steve Spurrier, Phillip Fulmer helped fuel fantastic Florida-Tennessee rivalry |date=14 October 2015}}

Since becoming annual opponents in 1992, the Gators and Volunteers have combined to represent the Eastern Division in the SEC Championship Game 16 times. Florida had an 11-game winning streak against Tennessee (2005–2015) and leads the series 33–21 following the 2024 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/florida/vs/tennessee|title=Winsipedia - Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Volunteers football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Heisman Trophy

:Steve Spurrier (1966)Heisman.com, Heisman Winners, [http://www.heisman.com/winners/s-spurrier66.php 1966 – 32nd Award: Steve Spurrier] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235839/http://www.heisman.com/winners/s-spurrier66.php |date=October 4, 2013 }}. Retrieved November 16, 2012.

:Danny Wuerffel (1996)Heisman.com, Heisman Winners, [http://www.heisman.com/winners/d-wuerffel96.php 1996 – 62nd Award: Danny Wuerffel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327063047/http://www.heisman.com/winners/d-wuerffel96.php |date=2012-03-27 }}. Retrieved November 16, 2012.

:Tim Tebow (2007)Heisman.com, Heisman Winners, [http://www.heisman.com/winners/t-tebow07.php 2007 – 73rd Award: Tim Tebow] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108162117/http://www.heisman.com/winners/t-tebow07.php |date=2011-11-08 }}. Retrieved November 16, 2012.

• Maxwell Award

:Danny Wuerffel (1996){{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/maxwell.html |title=Maxwell Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510053905/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/maxwell.html |archive-date=2013-05-10 }}

:Tim Tebow (2007, 2008)

• Walter Camp Award

:Danny Wuerffel (1996){{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/camp-poy.html |title=Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510062528/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/camp-poy.html |archive-date=2013-05-10 }}

• Sammy Baugh Trophy

:John Reaves (1971){{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/baugh.html |title=Sammy Baugh Trophy Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520114012/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/baugh.html |archive-date=2013-05-20 }}

:Danny Wuerffel (1995)

• Davey O'Brien Award

:Danny Wuerffel (1995, 1996){{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/obrien.html |title=Davey O'Brien Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605033207/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/obrien.html |archive-date=2013-06-05 }}

:Tim Tebow (2007)

• Rimington Trophy

:Maurkice Pouncey (2009){{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/rimington.html |title=Dave Rimington Trophy Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616232618/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/rimington.html |archive-date=2013-06-16 }}

• Ray Guy Award

:Chas Henry (2010){{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/guy.html |title=Ray Guy Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425032625/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/guy.html |archive-date=2016-04-25 }}

• Jim Thorpe Award

:Lawrence Wright (1996){{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/thorpe.html |title=Jim Thorpe Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812173940/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/thorpe.html |archive-date=2016-08-12 }}

{{col-2}}

• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

:Danny Wuerffel (1996){{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/unitas.html |title=Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826190018/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/unitas.html |archive-date=2016-08-26 }}

• Chic Harley Award

:Steve Spurrier (1966){{Cite web|url=http://www.drafthelp.com/CFA_OutstandingPlayers2.htm|title=NCAA Football Awards (Chic Harley Award / Sporting News Player of the Year) - DraftHelp.com|website=www.drafthelp.com}}

:Tim Tebow (2007)

• Lou Groza Award

:Judd Davis (1993){{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/groza.html |title=Lou Groza Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403022720/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/groza.html |archive-date=2016-04-03 }}

• John Mackey Award

:Aaron Hernandez (2009){{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/mackey.html |title=John Mackey Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812183224/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/mackey.html |archive-date=2016-08-12 }}

:Kyle Pitts (2020){{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/mackey.html|title = John Mackey Award Winners}}

• Draddy Trophy

:Brad Culpepper (1991){{cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/roster.aspx?roster=12|publisher=National Football Foundation|title=The William V Campbell Trophy List}}

:Danny Wuerffel (1996)

:Tim Tebow (2009)

• Wuerffel Trophy

:Tim Tebow (2008){{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1q8Fcka4ue4C|title=Tebow Time: Insights on Winning from Football's Rising Star|first=Jesse|last=Hines|date=30 August 2012|publisher=Penguin|via=Google Books|isbn=9781101612743}}

• Manning Award

:Tim Tebow (2008){{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/manning.html |title=Manning Award Winners - College Football at Sports-Reference.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405021430/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/manning.html |archive-date=2016-04-05 }}

• Rhodes Scholarship

:William McRae (1933)

:Bill Kynes (1977)

{{col-end}}

Thirteen people associated with Florida have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, four as head coaches and ten as players.

• Steve Spurrier was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986 for his record as Florida's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from 1964 to 1966 and again in 2017 for his head coaching achievements at Duke, Florida, and South Carolina. He is one of four members of the College Football Hall of Fame inducted as both a player and a coach.{{Cite web |url=http://floridagators.com/news/2017/1/8/florida-legend-steve-spurrier-reenters-college-football-hall-of-fame.aspx |title=Steve Spurrier Re-enters College Football HOF |last=Pantages |first=Will |website=floridagators.com |publisher=University of Florida |date=9 January 2017}}
• Doug Dickey, Florida's quarterback in 1951 and 1952, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 for his record as head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers from 1964 to 1969 and the Gators from 1970 to 1978.
• Marcelino Huerta, a standout Gator lineman from 1947 to 1949, was inducted in 2002 for his record as head coach of the Tampa Spartans, Wichita State Shockers and Parson Wildcats.

{{Main|List of Florida Gators football All-Americans}}

Since Florida's first season in 1906, 89 players have received one or more selections as first-team All-Americans.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/florida/index.html|title=Florida Gators Football Record By Year|website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com}} This includes 32 consensus All-Americans, of which six were unanimous.2012 NCAA Football Records Book, [http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2012/Awards.pdf Award Winners], National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 7–12, 14 (2012). Retrieved January 16, 2013. The first Florida first-team All-American was end Dale Van Sickel, a member of the 1928 team.{{Harvnb|McEwen|1974|pages=86–102}} Florida's first consensus All-American was quarterback Steve Spurrier, the winner of the Heisman Trophy for the 1966 Gators.Heisman.com, Winners [http://www.heisman.com/winners/s-spurrier66.php 1966 – Steve Spurrier] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235839/http://www.heisman.com/winners/s-spurrier66.php |date=October 4, 2013 }}. Retrieved February 1, 2013.

{{main|SEC Football Legends}}

Since 1994, the Southeastern Conference has annually designated one former football player from each SEC member school as an "SEC Legend." Through 2023, the following Gators have been named SEC Legends:

{{colbegin}}

• Carlos Alvarez
• Jack Youngblood
• Kerwin Bell
• John Reaves
• Neal Anderson
• Nat Moore
• Glenn Cameron
• Huey Richardson
• Brad Culpepper
• Larry Smith
• Lomas Brown
• Trace Armstrong
• Louis Oliver
• Ralph Ortega
• Reidel Anthony
• Errict Rhett
• Kevin Carter
• Ike Hilliard
• Steve Tannen
• Wes Chandler
• Lito Sheppard
• Fred Taylor
• Steve Spurrier
• Danny Wuerffel
• Lawrence Wright
• Jevon Kearse
• Alex Brown
• Shane Matthews

{{colend}}

{{main|Fergie Ferguson Award}}

The Fergie Ferguson Award is given in memory of one of the University of Florida's finest athletes, Forest K. Ferguson. Ferguson was an All-SEC end for Florida in 1941 and state boxing champion in 1942. Subsequently, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he led an infantry platoon during the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944.Hall of Valor, [http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=22105 Forest Ferguson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519010655/http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=22105 |date=2012-05-19 }}, Military Times. Retrieved August 23, 2009. Ferguson helped clear the way for his troops to advance on the Axis position, and was severely wounded leading his men in the assault. A recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions, he died from war-related injuries in 1954. The award, a trophy, is given to the senior football player who most displays "leadership, character, and courage."[http://www.wildcatnation.com/article.php?sid=1411 About the award].

The University of Florida Athletic Association established the Florida Football Ring of Honor in 2006 to recognize the program's greatest players and coaches during the 100th year of Gator football. (The Gators do not have any retired jersey numbers. Although Steve Spurrier's (11) and Scot Brantley's (55) numbers were retired in the 1970s, Spurrier reissued them when he was Florida's head coach, and numbers worn by all members of the Ring of Honor are available for use by current players.){{cite web|url=http://www.rockmnation.com/2012/7/20/3169222/mizzou-sec-florida-football-spurrier|title=Mizzou Moves To The SEC: The Ol' Ball Coach And The Nouveau Riche|first=Bill|last=C|date=20 July 2012}}

Originally, members of the Ring of Honor had their jersey painted on the endzone facade at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. When expanded video screens were installed in that location a few years later, inductees were each recognized with an 18-foot wide sign perched atop the north endzone grandstand.{{cite web |title=Ring of Honor at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium |url=https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_facilities_q_bhgriffin_ring_honor.aspx |website=Florida Gators |publisher=University of Florida Athletic Association |language=en}} Five honorees were inducted in 2006 and 2007, with Tim Tebow added in 2018."(https://floridagators.com/news/2018/7/10/football-tim-tebow-named-to-ufs-ring-of-honor.aspx)," To date, the only person who meets the Ring of Honor criteria and has not yet been inducted is two-time national championship winning former head coach Urban Meyer.{{cite news |last1=DelVecchio |first1=Steve |title=Urban Meyer's daughter starts campaign to get father in Florida's Ring of Honor |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/urban-meyer-s-daughter-starts-campaign-to-get-father-in-florida-s-ring-of-honor/ar-BB16IWgk |access-date=May 13, 2021 |work=Larry Brown Sports |publisher=msn.com |date=July 14, 2020}}

To be considered for induction into the Ring of Honor, a former player or coach must be absent from the university for five seasons, be in good standing, and meet at least one of the following criteria:{{Cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_facilities_q_bhgriffin_ring_honor.aspx|title=Ring of Honor at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium|website=Florida Gators}}

• Heisman Trophy winner (Spurrier, Wuerffel, Tebow)
• Former All-Americans inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as players (Smith, Youngblood)
• Former All-Americans who are NFL career category leaders (Smith)
• College-career category leaders (Tebow)
• Coaches with one or more national championship (Spurrier)
• Coaches with three or more SEC championships (Spurrier)
• Players with two or more consensus All-America honors who were also named national offensive or defensive player of the year (Marshall, Tebow)

A Florida Football All-Time Team was compiled by the Florida Alumnus, the official publication of the Florida alumni, in 1927.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19271014&id=mc1PAAAAIBAJ&pg=5359,6502208|title=Writer Picks All-Time Gator Eleven, Going Back 10 Years To Name Taylor And Storter|date=October 14, 1927|work=The Evening Independent|page=5A}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

First team

QB – Rammy Ramsdell

HB – Dummy Taylor

HB – Ed Jones

FB – Bill Middlekauff

E – Ferdinand H. Duncan

T – Cy Williams

G – Goldy Goldstein

C – Bo Gator Storter

G – Tootie Perry

T – Jim Coarsy

E – Joe Swanson

{{col-2}}

Second team

QB – Bob Shackleford

HB – Ark Newton

HB – Harvey Hester

FB – Ray Dickson

E – G. P. Wood

T – Pus Hancock

G – Arthur Doty

C – Lamar Sarra

G – Ed Meisch

T – Robbie Robinson

E – Frank Oosterhoudt

{{col-end}}

Another University of Florida all-time team was chosen by the Miami Herald according to a fan vote in August 1983.{{nonspecific|date=May 2016}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

First Team Offense

QB – Steve Spurrier

RB – Larry Smith

RB – Nat Moore

WR – Cris Collinsworth

WR – Wes Chandler

TE – Jim Yarbrough

OT – Randy Jackson

OT – Mike Williams

OG – Burton Lawless

OG – Guy Dennis

C – Bill Carr

PK – David Posey

First Team Defense

DL – Jack Youngblood

DL – Scott Hutchinson

DL – David Galloway

DL – Charlie LaPradd

LB – Ralph Ortega

LB – Scot Brantley

LB – Wilber Marshall

LB – Glenn Cameron

DB – Steve Tannen

DB – Jackie Simpson

DB – Bernie Parrish

P – Bobby Joe Green

{{col-2}}

Second Team Offense

QB – John Reaves

RB – Rick Casares

RB – James Jones

WR – Carlos Alvarez

WR – Charles Casey

TE – Chris Faulkner

OT – Mac Steen

OT – Charlie Mitchell

OG – Larry Beckman

OG – John Barrow

C – Steve DeLaTorre

PK – Brian Clark

Second Team Defense

DL – Robin Fisher

DL – Joe D'Agostino

DL – Lynn Matthews

DL – Vel Heckman

LB – David Little

LB – Fred Abbott

LB – Sammy Green

DB – Bruce Bennett

DB – Tony Lilly

DB – Hagood Clarke

P – Don Chandler

{{col-end}}

The Florida Football All-Century Team, chosen by Gator fans, was compiled by The Gainesville Sun in the fall of 1999.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19991120&id=auRNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6218,7829262&hl=en|work=Lakeland Ledger|date=November 20, 1999|title=Wuerffel, Marshall Highlight Gator All-Century Team}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

First Team Offense

QB – Danny Wuerffel (1993–96)

RB – Neal Anderson (1982–85)

RB – Emmitt Smith (1987–89)

WR – Carlos Alvarez (1969–71)

WR – Wes Chandler (1974–77)

TE – Jim Yarbrough (1966–68)

OT – Lomas Brown (1981–84)

OT – David Williams (1985–88)

OG – Burton Lawless (1972–74)

OG – Donnie Young (1993–96)

OC – Jeff Mitchell (1993–96)

PK – Judd Davis (1992–94)

KR – Jacquez Green (1995–97)

First Team Defense

DE – Jack Youngblood (1968–70)

DE – Kevin Carter (1991–94)

DT – Brad Culpepper (1988–91)

DT – Ellis Johnson (1991–94)

LB – Wilber Marshall (1980–83)

LB – Scot Brantley (1976–79)

LB – David Little (1977–80)

CB – Steve Tannen (1967–69)

CB – Jarvis Williams (1984–87)

S – Louis Oliver (1985–88)

S – Bruce Bennett (1963–65)

P – Bobby Joe Green (1958–59)

{{col-2}}

Second Team Offense

QB – Steve Spurrier (1964–66)

RB – Rick Casares (1951–53)

RB – James Jones (1979–82)

WR – Reidel Anthony (1994–96)

WR – Ike Hilliard (1994–96)

TE – Kirk Kirkpatrick (1987–90)

OT – Jason Odom (1992–95)

OT – Mike Williams (1973–75)

OG – Larry Gagner (1963–65)

OG – Jeff Zimmerman (1983–86)

OC – Phil Bromley (1981–84)

PK – David Posey (1973–76)

KR – Jack Jackson (1992–94)

Second Team Defense

DE – David Ghesquiere (1967–69)

DE – Lynn Matthews (1963–65)

DT – David Galloway (1979–81)

DT – Charlie LaPradd (1950–52)

LB – Sammy Green (1972–75)

LB – Alonzo Johnson (1983–85)

LB – Ralph Ortega (1972–74)

CB – Fred Weary (1994–97)

CB – Richard Fain (1987–90)

S – Tony Lilly (1980–83)

S – Wayne Fields (1972–75)

P – Ray Criswell (1982–85)

{{col-end}}

The 100th-Anniversary Florida Team was selected in 2006 to celebrate a century of Florida football. Fans voted by mail and online.{{Cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/news/2006/11/13/11223.aspx|title=Gator Fans' All-Century Football Team Announced|website=Florida Gators}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Offense

QB – Danny Wuerffel (1993–1996)

RB – Errict Rhett (1990–1993)

RB – Emmitt Smith (1987–1989)

RB – Fred Taylor (1994–1997)

WR – Carlos Alvarez (1969–1971)

WR – Cris Collinsworth (1977–1980)

WR – Chris Doering (1992–1995)

WR – Ike Hilliard (1994–1996)

OL – Lomas Brown (1981–1984)

OL – Mike Degory (2002–2005)

OL – Jeff Mitchell (1993–1996)

OL – Jason Odom (1992–1995)

PK – Jeff Chandler (1998–2001)

{{col-2}}

Defense

DL – Trace Armstrong (1988)

DL – Alex Brown (1998–2001)

DL – Kevin Carter (1991–1994)

DL – Brad Culpepper (1988–1991)

DL – Jack Youngblood (1968–1970)

LB – Scot Brantley (1976–1979)

LB – Channing Crowder (2003–2004)

LB – Jevon Kearse (1996–1998)

LB – Wilber Marshall (1980–1983)

DB – Louis Oliver (1985–1988)

DB – Lito Sheppard (1999–2001)

DB – Fred Weary (1994–1997)

P – Shayne Edge (1991–1994)

{{col-end}}

File:Florida against Florida Atlantic.jpg

File:Swamp green unis.jpg

The Florida football team has worn a home uniform of blue jerseys (usually a variation of royal blue) with white pants for most of the program's history. The most notable exception was a decade-long period from 1979 until 1989, when at the suggestion of coach Charlie Pell, the Gators switched to orange home jerseys.{{cite web|url=http://www.gainesville.com/news/20060930/retro-gators-the-gators-will-wear-throwback-jerseys-when-they-take-the-field-today|title=Retro Gators: The Gators will wear throwback jerseys when they take the field today|first=LEAH COCHRAN Special to The|last=Sun}} For road games, Florida wears white jerseys with blue, orange, or white pants, depending on the colors of the opponent or the choice of the players that week.

Steve Spurrier restored the home blue jerseys when he became the Gators' head ball coach in 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/news/2015/9/3/31155.aspx|title=Flashback: 25 Years Ago, Gators Football Changed Forever|website=Florida Gators}} From 1990 until 2014, Florida's primary home uniforms were blue jerseys with white pants, with blue pants an option for high-profile games, especially at night. Former coach Jim McElwain usually allowed his senior players to decide which uniform combination the team wore for each game. Since this practice began during the 2015 season, the Gators have worn many different combinations of blue or orange jerseys along with blue, orange, or white pants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/look-florida-gators-wear-all-orange-uniforms-for-first-time-since-1989/|title=LOOK: Florida Gators wear all-orange uniforms for first time since 1989|website=CBSSports.com|date=12 September 2015 }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/story-behind-florida-gators-white-helmets-111115 |title=Story Behind the Gators' White Helmets |last=Poole |first=Brian |date=11 November 2015 |work=foxsports.com}}

Florida has occasionally worn alternative uniforms, which are usually similar to current or former uniforms and used an orange and blue color scheme. One exception were the "swamp green" uniforms used at a home game against Texas A&M in October 2017. These used a dark green theme for the entire uniform from shoes to helmet that was inspired by the appearance of actual alligators. The uniform marked the 25th anniversary of former coach Steve Spurrier introducing the Swamp nickname for Florida Field.{{cite news|last1=Lucas|first1=Paul|title=Florida goes with 'swamp green' for new unis|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/20973366/florida-unveils-new-gator-inspired-uniforms|access-date=12 November 2017|work=ESPN.com|date=10 October 2017}}

For the first time in program history, Florida debuted an all black uniform on November 4, 2023 in its contest against the Arkansas Razorbacks to honor members of the armed forces, veterans and local first responders. In lieu of their names, each player's nameplate displayed one of five words that are "synonymous with the principles embodied by those who serve." The five words were Commitment, Courage, Excellence, Honor and Integrity.

Florida has had a number of helmet designs, especially early in the program's history. Since the end of the leather helmet era, base colors have alternated between orange, white, and (occasionally) blue, and logos have included the “Gators” script font, an interlocking "UF", a simple "F", and the player number.National Champs.net, [http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/sec.htm The Helmet Project - SEC]. Retrieved July 22, 2011.

From 1979 until 2006, Florida wore orange helmets with a script "Gators" logo in all contests. To commemorate the 100th year of the football program in 2006, the Gators played one game wearing throwback uniforms modeled after their mid-1960s uniforms which included white helmets with a simple "F" logo.UniformCritics.com, [http://uniformcritics.com/football/college/florida-gators/2006-uf-throwback-unis/ Photos of 2006 Florida Gators Throwback Uniform]. Retrieved July 19, 2013. In 2009 the Gators participated in Nike's Pro Combat uniform campaign, wearing specially-designed blue uniforms and white helmets with a slant-F logo.UniformCritics.com, [http://uniformcritics.com/football/college/florida-gators/2009-florida-nike-pro-combat/ Photos of 2009 Florida Gators Nike Pro Combat Uniform]. Retrieved July 19, 2013. These uniforms were worn for the last regular-season game against Florida State, and the white helmets were worn again the following week against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game with white jerseys and pants.UniformCritics.com, [http://uniformcritics.com/football/college/florida-gators/2009-uf-solid-white-sec-championship/ Photos of 2009 Florida Gators White SEC Championship Uniform]. Retrieved July 19, 2013. Florida introduced a different white alternative helmet in 2015 which featured the script "Gators" logo on one side and the slant-F logo on the other, and in 2018 replaced the slant-F with script "Gators" on both sides. In 2017, the Gators wore "swamp green" helmets for one game. These dark green helmets featured a color-altered Gator head logo on one side and the player's number in orange on the other.

For the 2019 homecoming game versus Auburn, Florida wore the same mid-1960s throwback uniforms, including the white helmets with the blue "F" logo within an orange circular outline. The Gators wore the blue helmets for two games in 2020: the tweaked 1960s version with the orange "F" logo within an orange circular outline for their home game against Missouri, and the traditional version with the "Gators" script in orange font for their road game at Tennessee. The team wore the 1960s throwback uniforms again for their 2021 homecoming game versus Vanderbilt, but with orange helmets including the interlocking "UF" logo.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Gators wore white helmets with the red, white, and blue American flag styled "Gators" script for their 2021 road contest at the University of South Florida.

File:UF logo (1966-1967).png|Gator helmet logo during the mid-1960s

File:Florida Gators script logo.svg|Primary helmet logo since 1979

File:Florida Gators alternate logo.svg|Alternate Florida Athletics logo since the early 2000s

From 1992 to 2023, Florida played in the East Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the West Division. The SEC will expand the conference to 16 teams and will eliminate its two divisions in 2024, causing a new scheduling format for the Gators to play against the other members of the conference.{{cite web|first=Seth|last=Emerson|title=SEC approves 8-game football schedule for 2024, no decision yet on long-term format|publisher=The Athletic| url=https://theathletic.com/4573099/2023/06/01/sec-football-schedule-2024/|date=2023-06-01|access-date=2023-06-20}} The 2024 conference schedule was announced on June 14, 2023, while the conference still considers a new format for the future.{{cite web|first=Edgar|last=Thompson|title=Gators set to face a difficult 8-game SEC slate in 2024|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/06/14/florida-gators-set-to-face-a-difficult-8-sec-slate-in-2024/|date=2023-06-14|access-date=2023-06-21}} The 2025 conference schedule was announced on March 20, 2024, in which teams will play the same opponents in 2025 that they played in 2024, with sites changed for equal home and away competition over the course of the two seasons.{{Cite web |title=SEC establishes 2025 football schedule format |url=https://www.secsports.com/news/2024/03/sec-establishes-2025-football-schedule-format |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Southeastern Conference |language=en}}

{{CFB schedule

|{{CFB schedule entry

| neutral = y

| opponent = Georgia

| site_stadium = TIAA Bank Field

| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL

| gamename = rivalry

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| away = y

| opponent = Kentucky

| site_stadium = Kroger Field

| site_cityst = Lexington, KY

| gamename = Rivalry

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| away = y

| opponent = LSU

| site_stadium = Tiger Stadium

| site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA

| gamename = rivalry

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| opponent = Mississippi State

| site_stadium = Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| away = y

| opponent = Ole Miss

| site_stadium = Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

| site_cityst = Oxford, MS

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| opponent = Tennessee

| site_stadium = Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL

| gamename = rivalry

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| opponent = Texas

| site_stadium = Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| away = y

| opponent = Texas A&M

| site_stadium = Kyle Field

| site_cityst = College Station, TX

}}

}}

Florida has played a continuous series against in-state rival Florida State (FSU) since 1958. While the eight game SEC slate plus the annual matchup with FSU are set years in advance, the schedule allows for two or three additional non-conference games against various opponents that are usually played in Gainesville for revenue purposes. In recent years, Florida has been also invited to participate in several season opening non-conference neutral-site games which do not count against the NCAA cap on regular season games.

Announced opponents and dates are as of March 24, 2025.{{cite web |url=https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/florida/ |title=Florida Gators Future Football Schedules |website=FBSchedules.com |access-date=March 24, 2025}}

• Texas, along with fellow Big 12 rival Oklahoma, are slated to join the SEC in 2024.

{{Portal|American football|College football|Florida}}

• List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
• University Athletic Association
• American football in the United States
• College football

{{reflist|30em|group=note}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20151208143532/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide], University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida (2015).
• {{cite book|last=Carlson|first=Norm|title=University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators|publisher=Whitman Publishing, LLC|location=Atlanta, Georgia|year=2007|isbn=978-0-7948-2298-9}}
• {{cite book|last=Golenbock|first=Peter|title=Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory|publisher=Legends Publishing, LLC|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|year=2002|isbn= 0-9650782-1-3}}
• {{cite book|url=http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00007572/00001/9j|title=History of the University of Florida|last=Graham|first=Klein}}
• {{cite book|last=Hairston|first=Jack|title=Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told|publisher= Sports Publishing, LLC|location=Champaign, Illinois|year=2002|isbn=1-58261-514-4}}
• {{cite book|last=Horne|first=Larry E.|title=Florida Gators IQ|isbn=978-1-4499-8947-7|year=2012|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform }}
• {{cite journal|first=Ric A.|last=Kabat|jstor=30148092|title=Before the Seminoles: Football at Florida State College, 1902–1904|journal=Florida Historical Quarterly|volume=70 |pages=20–37|number=1|date=July 1991}}
• {{cite book|last=McCarthy|first=Kevin M|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Tk-IQepI6cC|title=Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|location=Mount Pleasant, South Carolina|year=2000|isbn=978-0-7385-0559-6}}
• {{cite book|last=McEwen|first=Tom|title=The Gators: A Story of Florida Football|publisher=The Strode Publishers|location=Huntsville, Alabama|year=1974|isbn=0-87397-025-X}}
• Nash, Noel, ed., The Gainesville Sun Presents The Greatest Moments in Florida Gators Football, Sports Publishing, Inc., Champaign, Illinois (1998). {{ISBN|1-57167-196-X}}.
• {{cite book|last=Pleasants|first=Julian M. |title=Gator Tales: An Oral History of the University of Florida|publisher=University of Florida|location=Gainesville, Florida|year=2006}}
• Proctor, Samuel, & Wright Langley, Gator History: A Pictorial History of the University of Florida, South Star Publishing Company, Gainesville, Florida (1986). {{ISBN|0-938637-00-2}}.

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Florida Gators football}}

{{Florida Gators athletic program navbox}}

{{Southeastern Conference football navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Florida Gators Football}}

Category:American football teams established in 1906

Category:1906 establishments in Florida