Fansided

Florida vs Florida State: 5 best games in rivalry history

By Nathaniel Reeves

26 Nov 1994: Quarterback Danny Wuerffel of the University of Florida fumbles the football after being hit by Corey Fuller of Florida State in Tallahassee, Florida. Mandatory Credit: ANDY LYONS/Allsport
26 Nov 1994: Quarterback Danny Wuerffel of the University of Florida fumbles the football after being hit by Corey Fuller of Florida State in Tallahassee, Florida. Mandatory Credit: ANDY LYONS/Allsport /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 13: Chris Rix
TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 13: Chris Rix /

4. The Swindle at the Swamp, 2003 

While there were no national title hopes at stake in the 2003 matchup between No. 11 Florida and No. 9 Florida State, Gators fans won’t be forgetting the game anytime soon.

Florida was confident coming in after winning five straight games against brutal competition in the SEC, but fell behind 17-6 by the end of the first half thanks to an efficient performance from quarterback Chris Rix. However, Chris Leak and the Gators would reel off an 18-7 run in the third quarter to tie things up.

The two teams went back and forth in the fourth quarter, and Florida eventually took a 34-31 lead late. With under a minute to go, Rix hit P.K. Sam on an incredible 52-yard touchdown pass to win the game for the Seminoles 38-34.

That ending would have been memorable on its own, but there was much more to the 2003 matchup. Most notably, there were a number of blown calls in the game which all seemed to go Florida State’s way.

The controversy started right away, as Seminoles return man Antonio Cromartie appeared to have fumbled before being ruled down. Florida fans claim as many as six blown fumble calls went against the Gators over the course of the game, including an obvious one by Leon Washington on the goal line late in the fourth quarter.

In addition, the Seminoles decided to stomp on the Florida logo after the game, which led to a melee. Florida would get some measure of revenge in 2004 by pulling off a major upset of the No. 8 Seminoles in Tallahassee in Ron Zook’s last game as head coach, which was the start of a six-game win streak for the Gators in the series.

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