Honestly, if you looked at the box score of the 2025 game without knowing the history, you’d think it was just another messy November afternoon in the South. Florida beat Florida State 40–21 in Gainesville. It wasn't particularly close by the fourth quarter.
But here’s the thing. Florida finished that season 4–8. Florida State went 5–7. Both teams missed bowl games. In most parts of the country, a matchup between two teams with 15 combined losses is a "don't watch" situation. In Florida? It’s still the Sunshine Showdown, and the hatred is very real.
The 2025 game was basically a "loser leaves town" match for the coaching staffs. Billy Napier didn't even make it to the game; he was fired back in October after a 3–4 start. By the time the Noles rolled into The Swamp, the Gators were being led by interim coach Billy Gonzales.
FSU wasn't much better. Mike Norvell had his guys sitting at 5–6, needing a win against their biggest rival to even become bowl eligible. They failed. Florida, a team with literally nothing to play for but spite, dropped 40 points and kept their rivals home for the holidays.
The "What Most People Get Wrong" About This Rivalry
A lot of younger fans or people from out of state think UF vs Florida State has always been this "clash of the titans" thing. They remember the 90s. They remember Steve Spurrier and Bobby Bowden trading jabs and Heisman winners.
But that’s not how this started.
For the first few decades, the University of Florida basically treated FSU like a younger sibling they didn't want to play with. Florida was the established "men's" school; Florida State College for Women only became coed and changed its name in 1947.
When they finally started playing in 1958, the Gators dominated. They didn't even want to play in Tallahassee because the Noles' stadium was too small. It took a literal act of the Florida Legislature (and some heavy leaning from Governor LeRoy Collins) to make this a regular thing.
The Gators didn't lose a single game to FSU until 1964. They actually went on a nine-game winning streak from 1968 to 1976. Back then, it wasn't a rivalry; it was a scheduled beating.
Why the 1990s Ruined Everyone's Expectations
If you grew up in the 90s, you were spoiled. Between 1990 and 2000, every single time these two teams met, they were both ranked in the AP Top 10. That is an insane statistic.
- 1994: The "Choke at Doak." Florida led 31–3 in the fourth quarter. FSU roared back to tie it 31–31. No overtime back then. Just pure, unadulterated weirdness.
- 1996: The peak. FSU won the regular-season game in a physical bloodbath. Then, thanks to a bunch of chaos in other bowl games, they rematched in the Sugar Bowl for the National Championship. Florida won 52–20.
That decade set a bar that is almost impossible to clear. Now, when both teams are struggling—like they were in 2024 and 2025—people act like the rivalry is "dead."
It’s not. Ask any Florida fan who watched Jadan Baugh run for 12 yards to seal the 40–21 win in 2025. They didn't care that they were 4–8. They cared that FSU was 5–7 and miserable.
The State of the Programs in 2026
We are currently in a weird transition period for both schools. Florida has officially moved on, hiring Jon Sumrall in November 2025 to clean up the mess. The "Napier Era" is over, and the fan base is desperate for a return to the Fun 'n' Gun energy.
FSU is in a tougher spot. After a disastrous 2024 (2–10) and a disappointing 2025 (5–7), the pressure on Mike Norvell is through the roof. They brought in Tommy Castellanos from the portal to fix the quarterback room, and while he put up numbers (240 yards and 2 TDs in the last UF game), it wasn't enough to overcome a roster that looks thin in the trenches.
The all-time series now stands at 39–28–2 in favor of Florida. The Gators have won two in a row.
Real Talk: Why Does UF vs Florida State Still Rank?
It’s about recruiting. Plain and simple.
There are only so many five-star kids in the state of Florida. If you’re a recruit sitting in Miami or Orlando watching the Gators hang 40 on the Noles, that matters. Even when the teams are bad, the "bragging rights" are a currency that coaches use to sell the future.
Also, the game has a trophy now—the Makala Trophy—though most fans still just call it the Sunshine Showdown.
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What Really Happened in the 2025 Matchup
If you missed the 2025 game, you missed a classic "frustration" game.
Florida’s DJ Lagway was the story of the season, even if the record didn't show it. He finished with 2,264 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. In the FSU game, the Gators leaned on the run, gashing the Noles for 272 yards on the ground.
FSU actually kept it close for a minute. It was 17–14 late in the second quarter after Tommy Castellanos ran one in from four yards out. But the second half was a disaster for Tallahassee. Florida’s defense, which had been a sieve all year, suddenly looked like the 2006 squad, forcing interceptions and stalling drives.
The final score—40–21—was a statement. It was Florida saying, "We might be going down, but we’re taking you with us."
Key Stats and Facts to Remember
- Current Win Streak: Florida (2 games)
- Largest Margin of Victory: Florida 49, FSU 0 (1973)
- Last Meeting: Nov 29, 2025 (Gainesville)
- Next Meeting: Nov 28, 2026 (Tallahassee)
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking ahead to the 2026 meeting in Tallahassee, keep a few things in mind.
First, home-field advantage is real but weird. The series is technically tied at 14–14–1 for games played in Tallahassee. Florida doesn't get intimidated by Doak Campbell Stadium the way other teams do.
Second, watch the transfer portal. Both programs are leaning heavily on it to plug holes. FSU needs a replacement for Castellanos, who declared for the NFL Draft. Florida is hoping Sumrall can keep DJ Lagway in Gainesville and surround him with SEC-level talent.
Third, ignore the records. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that the "worse" team on paper often plays with more desperation in this game.
The 2026 game will be the 70th meeting. Whether they’re playing for a Natty or just playing to see who gets to make fun of the other at the Thanksgiving table, it’s going to be loud.
To prep for the next one, keep an eye on spring practice reports starting in March. That's when we'll see if Florida's new coaching staff has the "it" factor and if Norvell can stop the bleeding in Tallahassee. Check the injury reports for the defensive line on both sides; that's where the 2025 game was won and lost.