It's no secret that the Florida Gators are a part of some of college football’s most famous rivalries. In 2025, Scott Dochterman of The Athletic ranked the top 100 rivalries in the sport’s history, and UF appeared in five entries.
However, in the 2026 season, Florida only faces off against two of those five “rivals” listed by Dochterman, as the Gators notably don’t play SEC rivals Tennessee and Louisiana State or in-state foe Miami. It marks the first time since 1989 that UF won't play Tennessee and the first time since 1971 that the Gators won't face LSU. Those traditions ended as a result of the new Southeastern Conference schedule structure, which expanded in-conference slates from eight to nine games.
As a part of those changes, each school received three “protected rivals” for the next four seasons, starting this Fall. UF’s three protected opponents are Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina, and when the schedule shook out, neither the Volunteers nor Tigers were part of the Gators' slate.
Those changes also introduced a mandatory game against an annual power conference opponent. For Florida, that meant FSU would remain a fixture on its schedule, eliminating the realistic possibility for another matchup against Miami in the near future.
With three of Florida’s most historic rivals off the table for the upcoming season, UF faces a list of teams it has a varied past against. Here’s a definitive ranking of how much you should despise the Gators’ opponents this season.
No. 1 - Georgia Bulldogs
It was between Georgia and Florida State for the top spot on the hate list, but one factor put the Bulldogs over the top: The only time UF and UGA haven’t met since 1915 was all the way back in 1943, when the game was cancelled due to World War II.
There aren’t many things Florida and Georgia agree on. That starts with the name of the annual game, which is either known as the Florida-Georgia game or the Georgia-Florida game based on which side you pull for. The matchup is such a spectacle that it’s earned the nickname “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”
The Gators and Bulldogs also differ on the number of times the two sides have faced off. Georgia believes the game has been played 104 times beginning in 1904, while Florida points to 103 contests that began in 1915. The overall record of the rivalry also differs, as UGA claims it leads the series 58-44-2 while UF says it is 57-44-2.
This season, however, marks a major landmark in the rivalry between the two sides. Since 1933, the game has been held in Jacksonville outside of 1994 (Gainesville) and 1995 (Athens, Georgia). That changes this year, as Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium undergoes major construction. With that, this season’s game will take place in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium Oct. 31 before it heads to Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium next year.
Not only are the Gators at a location disadvantage for the first time in the series in over 30 years, but UF enters the Halloween-afternoon matchup on a five-game skid in the series. Most recently, the then-No. 5 Bulldogs bested the Gators 24-20 on Nov. 1 of last year.
No. 2 - Florida State Seminoles
It’s not as longstanding a rivalry as the one above, but that doesn’t diminish the hatred between in-state rivals Florida and Florida State. UF and FSU have played every year since 1958, outside of the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign.
In 69 matchups between the Gators and Seminoles, Florida leads the series 39-28-2. Some notable matchups between the sides include the infamous 1994 matchup known as “The Choke at Doak” that ended in a 31-31 tie after UF blew a 28-point lead in the fourth quarter, as well as the 1997 Sugar Bowl game that clinched the Gators’ first National Championship crown when Florida defeated the ‘Noles 52-20.
Florida has been victorious in the last two matchups, including its 40-21 win in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Nov. 29 last year. In that game, UF running back Jadan Baugh ran for 266 yards and two touchdowns, while Florida’s victory knocked Florida State out of contention for a bowl game.
This year’s “Sunshine Showdown” for the Florida Cup takes place Nov. 27, the Friday after Thanksgiving, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.
No. 3 - Auburn Tigers
A historic rivalry that finally returns after almost seven years, Florida kicks off its SEC conference slate Sept. 19 with a trip to Auburn, Alabama, to face the Tigers.
As two of the founding members of the conference, UF and Auburn faced off every year from 1945 until 2002. The Gators and Tigers have faced off four times since, with Auburn winning three of the four games. However, UF won the most recent meeting Oct. 5, 2019, when the then-No. 10 Gators beat No. 7 Auburn 24-13 in The Swamp.
Auburn leads the series overall with a 43-39-2 record across 84 rivalry matchups. Some iconic games in the series include UF’s 30-27 win in 1966, where quarterback Steve Spurrier kicked a game-winning 40-yard field goal en route to a Heisman Trophy win, as well as the Tigers knocking off the then-No. 1 Gators in both 1994 and 2001.
No. 4 - Kentucky Wildcats
One of the most underrated rivalries in college football is between Florida and Kentucky. While it started as one of the most lopsided annual contests in the sport, it has become a close contest in the past decade.
From 1987 to 2017, Florida defeated Kentucky in all 31 of its matchups, marking the SEC’s longest win streak. That all changed in 2018, however, when Kentucky stunned then-No. 25 Florida 27-16 in The Swamp.
Including that game, the Wildcats have won five of their last eight contests against the Gators, with Kentucky routing Florida 38-7 in Lexington, Kentucky, Nov. 8 of last year. Overall, UF leads the series 54-22. This year, the game once again returns to Lexington’s Kroger Field Nov. 14.
No. 5 - Mississippi Rebels
Florida and Mississippi have faced off 27 times in their football history. The record in the series? Dead-even at 13-13-1. The two teams have faced each other in both of the last two seasons, splitting home victories.
In 2024, UF knocked Ole Miss out of College Football Playoff contention with a 24-17 upset victory sealed by an interception by Florida safety Bryce Thornton. Then, last season, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy ran all over the Gators with 224 yards and 3 touchdowns in a come-from-behind 34-24 victory in Oxford, Mississippi.
This season’s game is UF’s SEC home opener Sept. 26, which is also Florida’s official Family Weekend. Surprisingly, the Gators are only 5-6-1 at home against the Rebels, adding another wrinkle of intrigue to the contest.
No. 6 - South Carolina Gamecocks
While Florida’s rivalry with South Carolina is not as storied as many of those listed above, it has still featured some extremely exciting contests. From 1992 until 2023, the sides faced off annually as SEC East rivals, and overall, they have played 44 times. UF leads the series 31-10-3, but the Gamecocks have won three of the past 10 matchups.
Most recently, UF completed a 41-39 comeback victory over the Gamecocks in Columbia, South Carolina, Oct. 14, 2023. In that game, then-UF quarterback Graham Mertz connected with wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for the game-winning touchdown with just 47 seconds left on the clock.
This year, the faceoff between the Gators and Gamecocks heads back to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Oct. 10 for UF’s Homecoming game. Overall, UF has won 17 of the 19 games played against SC in The Swamp.
No. 7 - Vanderbilt Commodores
Another historical rivalry with a lopsided overall record, Florida and Vanderbilt have faced off 57 times. UF holds a dominant 44-11-2 record across those contests, including nine wins in the past 10 games between the schools.
Like South Carolina, Vanderbilt played Florida annually from 1992 until 2023 as SEC East rivals. In that 2023 contest, the Gators crushed the Commodores 38-14 in The Swamp Oct. 7.
This year’s game will serve as the final SEC contest for the Gators on Nov. 21 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. UF is 24-2-1 against Vanderbilt at home and hasn't lost to the Commodores in The Swamp since 2013.
No. 8 - Missouri Tigers
When Missouri joined the SEC ahead of the 2012 season, it joined the SEC East and found itself on an annual collision course with the Gators. In 12 contests since then, the record between the two sides is split at six wins each, but Missouri leads the overall series 7-6 thanks to a win in the 1966 Sugar Bowl.
The last time these two faced off was in 2023, when the then-No. 9 Tigers kicked a walk-off field goal to defeat the Gators 33-31 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. The past three contests between the teams have been decided by a touchdown or less.
Florida travels to Columbia to face the Tigers Oct. 3. Missouri has a 4-2 record against the Gators at Memorial Stadium.
No. 9 - Texas Longhorns
One of Florida’s newest rivalries has been sparked with Texas since the Longhorns joined the SEC ahead of the 2024 season. After Texas routed Florida 49-17 in Austin, Texas in 2024, the Gators responded with a 29-21 upset victory over the then-No. 9 Longhorns Oct. 4 of last year.
In that game, Florida wide receiver Dallas Wilson made his collegiate debut and recorded UF freshman records for receiving yards (111) and receiving touchdowns (2) in a single game. That loss would ultimately hurt the Longhorns, as they narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff.
Overall, Texas leads the series 3-1-1 with victories in 1939 and 1940. This year’s game between the two sides is Oct. 17 at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
No. 10 - Oklahoma Sooners
Florida and Oklahoma will face off in an SEC football game for the first time Nov. 7 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Despite no history in the SEC, the sides have seen a pair of crucial meetings, with both teams recording one win.
First, the Gators notably defeated the Sooners Jan. 8, 2009, in Miami to capture the program’s third and most recent national championship. In that game, then-Florida QB Tim Tebow threw two touchdowns and ran for 109 yards en route to a 24-14 victory.
Oklahoma got some measure of revenge more recently with a 55-20 trouncing of the Gators in the 2020 Cotton Bowl. That capped off the Sooners’ season with a 9-2 record and left UF with an 8-4 mark. UF has failed to reach that .667 winning percentage in the five seasons since.
No. 11 - Florida Atlantic Owls
To open its 2026 season, Florida faces in-state foe Florida Atlantic for the fifth time in program history. The Gators hold a 4-0 record against the Owls, with each contest having taken place at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Most recently, UF vanquished FAU 35-14 Sept. 4, 2021. In the contest, then-UF QB Anthony Richardson ran for 160 yards. This year’s bout between the sides takes place Sept. 5.
No. 12 - Campbell Fighting Camels
Florida’s second opponent of the season is one it has never faced before: the Campbell Fighting Camels. A member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Campbell holds a 61-126 record since the 2008 revival of its football program.
Florida holds a 26-1 record against FCS or lower-division opponents, with its only loss infamously coming in 2013 at the hands of Georgia Southern, 26-20. Last season, UF beat Long Island 44-0 in The Swamp.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max Bernstein is a fourth-year sports and media journalism major and sports management minor, and is the Summer 2026 Digital Managing Editor at The Alligator. Now in his eighth semester with The Alligator, Max previously served in roles including Sports Editor, Assistant Sports Editor and Football Reporter. He has also made appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. In the rare moments Max isn't working, he's usually with his girlfriend Reese, watching sports with his fraternity brothers or missing his family and his two cats.
