Alabama–Florida Football Rivalry
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The Alabama–Florida football rivalry is an American
college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
rivalry A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant ...
game between the Crimson Tide of the
University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...
and the Gators of the
University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preem ...
. Both schools were charter members of the
Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central United States, South Central and Southeastern United States. Its 16 members in ...
(SEC) in 1933. Although Alabama and Florida played 24 times between 1916 and 1991, the rivalry did not manifest until 1992, when they competed in the first SEC Championship Game, setting a precedent for years to come which would decide both SEC and national champions.


History


Early years (1921–1989)

During the early years, games between both football teams were minuscule, yet competitive. The first game played between the two programs was in 1916 at Barrs Field, a baseball park in
Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
. Alabama won 16–0. They would play their first SEC game against each other in 1948 at Denny Stadium. In a close homecoming game, Alabama and Florida were neck and neck throughout the game, but Alabama pulled through to win 34–28. During the following decades, Alabama regularly competed for SEC titles and even won some national championships, while Florida had several lackluckster seasons with a few bowl game appearances mixed in here and there. During the 1964 season for instance, No. 3
Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
(5–0) and No. 9
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
(4–0) were both undefeated by Week 6 and were at the top of the conference standings. In a close
homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States and Canada. United St ...
game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama would score a late field goal to edge them out 17–14. Florida would end the season 3rd in the conference and unranked in the AP Poll,
2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide
'', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
while Alabama would the season as consensus national champions despite losing their
bowl game In North America, a bowl game, or simply bowl, is one of a number of postseason college football games primarily played by NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. For most of its history, the FBS did not use a playoff tourname ...
against
Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
. In 1979, No. 2
Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
(5–0) would shut out a winless
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
team (0–4–1) by a score of 40–0 at Florida Field in Gainesville. Alabama would finish their season undefeated with a 12–0 record, including a win in their
bowl game In North America, a bowl game, or simply bowl, is one of a number of postseason college football games primarily played by NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. For most of its history, the FBS did not use a playoff tourname ...
against No. 6
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
, and be recognized as consensus national champions. In 1986, No. 13
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
would lose to No. 4
Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
in Gainesville. At the rematch in Birmingham during the 1987 season, an unranked Florida side would defeat No. 13 Alabama by a score of 28–17.


SEC Championship foes (1990–present)

In 1990 during the second week of the season, No. 24
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
came from behind to beat an unranked
Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
at Tuscaloosa, 17–13. It was the first college football game played between head coaches
Gene Stallings Eugene Clifton Stallings Jr. (born March 2, 1935) is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Texas A&M University (1954–1956), where he was one of the "Junction Boys", and later served as the head coach at hi ...
(Alabama) and
Steve Spurrier Stephen Orr Spurrier (born April 20, 1945) is an American former football player and coach. He played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) before coaching for 38 years, primarily in college. He is often referred to by his nicknam ...
(Florida). That game was thought by many to be one of the most important in the histories of the rivalry, the SEC, and college football in general as it would be a foresight for the decade and the years to come. The 1991 rematch was the final game played between both programs before the championship era. During the second week of the season, No. 6
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
would crush No. 16
Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
35–0 in Gainesville, heightening the intensity of the rivalry. With that win, Florida would narrowly win the SEC title over Alabama, therefore winning their first conference championship in program history, after being forced to vacate their 1984 championship. Despite this, Alabama would finish fifth in the AP Poll and win their
bowl game In North America, a bowl game, or simply bowl, is one of a number of postseason college football games primarily played by NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. For most of its history, the FBS did not use a playoff tourname ...
against
Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...
, while Florida finished seventh and lost their
bowl game In North America, a bowl game, or simply bowl, is one of a number of postseason college football games primarily played by NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. For most of its history, the FBS did not use a playoff tourname ...
to Notre Dame. Starting in 1992, the SEC would expand to 12 teams with the addition of
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
and
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
. The 12 teams were divided into 2 divisions (6 teams each), creating a football championship game between the top two teams in each division. They were the first Division I-A conference to do so. Since the start of the conference title game, both Alabama and Florida have each made it 13 times, with ten of those games being against each other. Alabama has won the championship game nine times, while Florida has won seven times. Several of those ten championship matchups decided who would compete for the national title game. In the 1992 season, Alabama and Florida would finish at the top of the Western and Eastern Divisions, respectfully. Alabama entered the first conference title game ranked No. 2 in the country with an undefeated 11–0 record and a chance to compete for the national championship, while Florida came with an 8–3 record and a No. 12 AP Poll ranking. In an extremely close match, Alabama would win 28–21 following a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, securing the first SEC title won by championship game. Following the game, Florida would win their
bowl game In North America, a bowl game, or simply bowl, is one of a number of postseason college football games primarily played by NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. For most of its history, the FBS did not use a playoff tourname ...
against No. 12 NC State and finished No. 10 in the polls. Alabama, on the other hand, won their
bowl game In North America, a bowl game, or simply bowl, is one of a number of postseason college football games primarily played by NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. For most of its history, the FBS did not use a playoff tourname ...
against No. 1 Miami (FL), earning them their first national championship since 1979. The next season in 1993, Florida and Alabama (ranked No. 9 and No. 16 respectively) would compete in the conference title game yet again; however, Florida would come out on top 28–13, winning their second SEC title in history. In 1994, Florida and Alabama would meet in the conference championship game yet again, and Florida edged a victory, 24–23. They would meet again in the 1996 showdown, the last matchup between Stallings and Spurrier. Florida, who would eventually compete and win a
national championship A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...
, defeated Alabama 45–30. Alabama and Florida wouldn't meet in 1997, but played again in Week 5 of the 1998 season. In Tuscaloosa, No. 8 Florida would defeat an unranked Alabama team 16–10. A year later in 1999, this time in Gainesville, No. 21 Alabama would beat No. 3 Florida, 40–39 in
overtime Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. The term is also used for the pay received for this time. Normal hours may be determined in several ways: *by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society) ...
. Both teams would eventually finish at the top of their divisions and compete in the SEC championship. In the rematch, Alabama would beat Florida again, but this time by a score of 34–7. The teams would not meet again until 2005, during the first season of
Urban Meyer Urban Frank Meyer III (born July 10, 1964) is an American Sports commentator, sportscaster and former college football coach. He spent most of his coaching career at the collegiate level, having served as the head coach of the Bowling Green F ...
's tenure at Florida. Alabama would beat Florida 31–3, but the NCAA would later vacate all of the wins for Alabama's 2005 season due to multiple rules violations committed during that time. Alabama and Florida would meet again in 2006 (during the Florida football program's 100th anniversary) and Florida would top Alabama 28–13. Florida would go on to win the conference championship (beating
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
) and win the
national championship A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...
after defeating
Ohio State The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one of the largest universities by enrollme ...
, winning their second ever national championship. After down years in 2007, both teams had great regular seasons in 2008 and finished at the top of their respective divisions, earning them spots in the conference title game. Heading into the
contest CONTEST is the United Kingdom's counter-terrorism strategy, first developed by Sir David Omand and the Home Office in early 2003 as the immediate response to 9/11, and a revised version was made public in 2006. Further revisions were publish ...
, Florida was ranked No. 2 while Alabama was ranked No. 1, granting the winner of the game a spot in the national championship game. The game, which featured a head-to-head battle of coaches
Nick Saban Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. ( ; born October 31, 1951) is an American sportscaster and former Professional gridiron football, professional and college football coach. He serves as an analyst for ESPN's ''College GameDay (football TV program), Colleg ...
and
Urban Meyer Urban Frank Meyer III (born July 10, 1964) is an American Sports commentator, sportscaster and former college football coach. He spent most of his coaching career at the collegiate level, having served as the head coach of the Bowling Green F ...
was competitive, but Florida, led by second year starting quarterback
Tim Tebow Timothy Richard Tebow (; born August 14, 1987) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons, primarily with the Denver Broncos. Tebow played college football for t ...
(who would win the Heisman that season), would beat Alabama 31–20 to win the championship. In 2009, both teams again had dominant regular seasons and finished at the top of their divisions with undefeated 12–0 records. At the time, Alabama was ranked No. 2 in the polls, while Florida was ranked No. 1, which would again mean the winner would secure a spot in the national championship. In the conference championship, Alabama would dominate the game and beat Florida 32–13. Alabama would go on to beat Texas 37–21 in the
national championship A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...
, winning their first national championship in 17 years. In 2010, Alabama and Florida met in a regular season showdown in Week 5 of the season. Alabama would beat Florida 31–6. They would meet again a year later in 2011. Both teams were ranked in the polls, but Alabama would defeat Florida 38–10. The teams did not meet in the 2012 or 2013 seasons, but they would schedule a showdown for Week 4 of the 2014 season, where Alabama would blowout Florida 42–21. In 2015, both teams finished at the top of their divisions and met in the 2015 SEC Championship Game. Florida were No. 18 in the rankings, while Alabama were No. 2, essentially determining whether Alabama would compete in the
College Football Playoff The College Football Playoff (CFP) is an annual single-elimination tournament, knockout invitational tournament to determine a national champion for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, D ...
. Following a dominant performance from running back Derrick Henry, Alabama would win the game 29–15. In 2016, both teams would finish at the top of their divisions again. In another back-to-back championship game showdown, No. 1 Alabama would blowout No. 15 Florida 54–16. The next match-up between both programs would be four years later in 2020, when both teams finished at the top of their respective divisions with above average records. The 2020 SEC Championship Game was the 10th conference championship game played between Alabama and Florida, and the 13th conference championship appearance for both programs. In one of the highest-scoring affairs, Alabama would beat Florida 52–46, guaranteeing them a spot in the College Football Playoff. In the following season, both teams met for the first time in the regular season since 2014, and Alabama's first trip to Gainesville since 2011. Alabama started the first quarter with a 21–3 lead, although Florida came back but fell short, 31–29, due to a missed PAT and a failed two-point conversion.


Game results


Locations

''As of November 12, 2023''


Record by game type


Coaching records

''As of November 16, 2023''


Alabama


Florida


See also

*
List of NCAA college football rivalry games This is a list of List of sports rivalries, rivalry games in college football. The list also shows any trophy awarded to the winner of the rivalry between the teams. NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alabama-Florida football rivalry College football rivalries in the United States Alabama Crimson Tide football Florida Gators football