When SEC football rivalries are talked about, most people mention the Iron Bowl, Florida-Georgia, or Alabama-Tennessee.
Well, after Georgia, Auburn is actually Florida's second-longest rivalry. The Tigers lead the series all-time with a 42–38–2 edge over Florida.
For many Gator fans, the Tigers are a forgotten rival, or not even a rival at all. Tennessee, Florida State, and even Miami are considered to be bigger rivals.
Before the SEC expanded in 1992 and split into Eastern and Western divisions, Auburn had an annual rivalry with the boys from Gainesville. Auburn stopped playing Florida every year in 2002, when the SEC scheduling geniuses decided that two rotating opponents on the schedule would be better than years of tradition.
Auburn and Florida now only play four times every 10 years unless they meet in the SEC Championship game. They have only met in Atlanta once, with the Gators winning 28-6.
The series has not been without its defining moments. There have been blowouts, last-second heroics, and devastating heartbreaks.
Here are just some of the moments that make the Florida-Auburn rivalry what it is.
1966: Florida 30, Auburn 27
Steve Spurrier clinches both the game and the Heisman Trophy by kicking a 40-yard game-winning field goal.
1973: Florida 12, Auburn 8
Florida gets its first win in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
1976: Florida 24, Auburn 19
Wes Chandler weaves his way through at least eight tacklers on his way to a 52-yard touchdown before being bitten on the shoulder pad by Auburn's War Eagle IV.
1985: Florida 14, Auburn 10
The Gators hold Auburn great Bo Jackson to 48 yards, and the win over Auburn sends Florida to its first No. 1 ranking in school history.
1986: Florida 18, Auburn 17
Kerwin Bell comes off the bench and combines with Ricky Nattiel to send the Tigers home with a loss in arguably the greatest comeback in Gators history.
1989: Auburn 10, Florida 7
The Auburn Tigers send Emmitt Smith and the Gators home with another loss. Emmitt Smith would not beat Auburn in his career as a Gator.
1990: Florida 48, Auburn 7
Auburn comes into the Swamp unbeaten and ranked No. 4 before leaving with the worst defeat in Pat Dye's career. It was the largest winning margin ever for the Gators over Auburn.
1993: Auburn 38, Florida 35
The best team money could buy upsets the Gators on a rainy day in Auburn on a late-game field goal, despite giving up 560 yards of total offense to the high-powered Gator offense.
1994: Auburn 36, Florida 33
The threat of the bench for Terry Dean isn't enough motivation as he lives down to expectations, throwing four interceptions and paving the way for Danny Wuerffel to come in and take over at QB.
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3 months ago
i remember watching the 94 game, it was my freshman year at LSU and my parents came up for their first visit after school started. i remember us eating lunch and watching the game and i didn't want to leave the restaurant till i saw the end.
ever since the sec got rid of the two locks from the other division scheduling system, there have been some good matchups that have been sacrificed. UF vs AU being one of them.
no offense, but i'd much rather you play AU every year than us. in fact, take that as a compliment.
3 months ago
They rivalry could be reestablished if the SEC goes to 14
West.....................East
Miss State.............Florida
Ole Miss................Auburn
Arkansas..............Alabama
LSU......................Georgia
Oklahoma.............Tennessee
Texas AM..............Vanderbilt
Texas...................Kentucky
The conference would be even with regards to tradition and rivalries. I say let the 'Cocks go back to the ACC where they more natural rivalries cause besides UGA they have none and no tradition in the SEC. The SEC is already the dominant conference in the South but if you add Texas and the Media markets that go with it the conference would be sick.
from 3 months ago
I like the idea, but those teams would never leave the Big 12. i would say keep SC. and pick up 2 teams and that would take care of the extra crap game most teams play. If I could drop a team from the SEC it would be VANDY.
I had to realisticly pic two teams that would leave their conference for the SEC, I say Georgia Tech (who was orginally in the SEC) and NC state.
But I would love to have Mizzou in the Conference.
Conference would look like this
West East
Auburn................Florida
Alabama..............Georgia
Arkansas.............Tennessee
Mizzou.................NC State
Miss St.................Georgia Tech
Ole Miss...............South Carolina
LSU......................Kentucky
If you dont drop vandy
West East
Auburn................Florida
Alabama..............Georgia
Arkansas.............Tennessee
Georga Tech........NC State
Miss St................Vandy
Ole Miss..............South Carolina
LSU.....................Kentucky
or
West East
Auburn................Florida
Alabama..............Georgia
Arkansas.............Tennessee
Vandy.................NC State
Miss St................Georgia Tech
Ole Miss..............South Carolina
LSU.....................Kentucky
from 3 months ago
I don't know that those teams wouldn't leave. The smaller schools in the Big 12 are constantly fighting over revenue and how it's doled out, and If the Big 12 pays each team roughly $10 Million per year but the SEC creates a network along with sweeter deals with CBS & ESPN and can offer $20 Million per year...I think they'd consider it.
I like the idea of dropping Vandy but they have long standing rivalries with UT, UK, Alabama, Ole Miss, & UGA so I doubt 1. That they would ever leave the SEC voluntarily. 2. The SEC would ever kick them out (the other teams in the East need a bye week...lol).
As for Georgia Tech...they should have never left the SEC (btw I think they still have more SEC victories than Vandy...lol) but since the SEC already dominates Atlanta I don't see them getting an invite unless the SEC wants to screw the ACC.
The main reason I think if the SEC expands it will be West is because...Texas is friggin huge and they put out a boatload of talent they put out every year that would open wider to the SEC and...Texas is friggin huge!
3 months ago
Very true. I wish the rivaly was still going on. but sadly it had to come to an end. I remember when I was little, my dad and I always went to the UF game. I remember the last time we played before the east and west was established.
The fans on both sides would be screaming curse words and cheering so loud the statium would shake. So loud that I would have to cover my ears to keep the drums from exploding. Wow. The memories are so thick and real, you have you shake your head back into the present. Every time Auburn plays Florida, you know your in for a treat.
3 months ago
Florida/Auburn has been a good rivalry. This is one of about three games in the season that I will pull for Florida (Auburn, Tennessee, and Miami). Anyway, unless they meet in the SEC CG, you guys will have some time off to think about the last two years and the heartbreak. I'll be pulling for you to know the Tigers off when that time comes again.
3 months ago
I'm glad that Auburn is off the table this year. They've given Florida fits in the past few years. I remember the 06 game like it was yesterday. I still think it was an incomplete pass, but then they probably would have called grounded so...
3 months ago
I remember the 2001 game. It was a windy night, and it looked like the ball was going wide right by 5 yards but then the wind brought it back inside.
It was also the year that Rex Grossman, up to that point, seemed like he was completing 95% of his passes. He looked unstoppable. However, he talked trash the year before after UF beat AU so badly twice. He said something like "even our scout team can stop us sometimes." I guess football karma got to him a year later.
3 months ago
Auburn should have 4 straight wins over Florida if Damon Duval hits a chip shot FG in 2002 to win the game.
I have a Florida friend who hates Auburn because of those 1993 and 1994 games. Florida had national championship hopes dashed with those two losses.
3 months ago
Good stuff
3 months ago
"The best team money could buy upsets the Gators on a rainy day in Auburn on a late-game field goal, despite giving up 560 yards of total offense to the high-powered Gator offense."
Sometimes one of your players needs a new car. Who are we to judge their need?
Good article. I was taken aback by the lack of concern in Gainesville before the Auburn game last year. That is probably due to Auburn losing to USF and Miss State the two weeks prior... Jokes on you Florida.
3 months ago
Growing up on Pensacola FL, the Florida game was the second most important game on the schedule for me every year. I hated that the SEC split cost Auburn TWO of it's most important, long standing rivals: Florida & Tennessee.
That '86 game is still one of the most disappointing losses I have ever suffered through.
Funny, how your "gator" memories of these games is so different than my "Tiger" memories of the games!!!
See you in Atlanta!!
War Eagle!!
3 months ago
There's no quarantee either one of these teams will make it to Atlanta.
Hunker Down Hairy Dawgs!! Sic 'em.
3 months ago
Everybody take a look at Clayton's pic and eat your heart out. Just another GORGEOUS Auburn coed!! (Certainly better than any hairy dawg!!)
from 3 months ago
I am pretty sure that is just a girl in a white shirt with the Auburn logo photoshopped on her shirt.
But your are right, there are many attractive girls in Auburn.
3 months ago
Well Clayton, why don't you clear this up for us? Is that picture really you? (Sure hope so!)
3 months ago
I can answer that question; she's my wife, how did you get that picture of her?
Dang she's at it again!
War Eagle!
3 months ago
Michael, that was a good look back at the Florida-Auburn series. The best games between the two, in my opinion, certainly include 1966 (Spurrier) and 1994 (Nix-Sanders), both of which you listed.
One game I'd add to the list of best in the series is 1981. That was Pat Dye's first year as Auburn's head coach, and the Tigers pulled out a surprising 14-12 win.
Old-time Auburn fans have a special appreciation for Florida because of the Gators' willingness to come to Auburn to play. In the early days of the SEC and on through the 1950s, Auburn traveled for many of its "home" games - to Atlanta for Georgia Tech, to Columbus for Georgia, to Mobile for Tulane, and to Birmingham for Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Miami, Maryland. But Florida, Ole Miss, and Miss State would come to The Village.
The Gators, as a matter of fact, were the visitors at Auburn in 1939 when Auburn's stadium was dedicated.
Ebenezer
about 1 month ago
Why in the wide wide world of sports would Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma ever be considered to go to the SEC???? No sir the Big 12 is where it's at! From an SEC perspective you people really wouldn't want these three teams in you conference anyway. There would be a serious power shift to the western part of the conference.
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