Gators turn their attention to rivalry game with Florida State

The Gators have won six consecutive games in the series, their longest streak since winning six in a row over the Seminoles from 1981-86. In three of the last four meetings, Florida was ranked in the top five and the Seminoles not ranked at all. Since FSU last defeated Florida in 2003, the Gators have won more national championships (two) than the once-dominant Seminoles have won ACC titles (one).

But here’s perhaps the most difficult fact of all to comprehend: the Florida-FSU rivalry hasn’t been close since Urban Meyer took over the Gators in 2005. Meyer is not only 5-0 vs. FSU, but the Gators have won by an average of 24.8 points.

In Bobby Bowden’s final five games against Florida, the only time the Seminoles lost by less than 27 points was in 2006, a 21-14 Florida win on the way to Meyer’s first national title.

The Gators will try to make it seven in a row over FSU on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium as the rivalry takes on a different look. For the first time since 1975, Bowden won’t be on the Seminoles’ sideline when the schools meet. And for the first time since Meyer joined the rivalry, the Gators aren’t favored to win.