Florida’s annual FCS tune-up is back on the schedule this weekend, with Campbell heading to Gainesville. Since the NCAA shifted from the I-AA label to FCS in 2006, Florida has lost to an FCS opponent just once, and the Gators’ track record in these matchups is packed with blowouts, odd twists and a few games nobody in Gainesville has forgotten.
The most recent one came in 2025, when Florida routed LIU 55-0. The Gators were dominant by the numbers, but the game still offered a hint that the offensive line could be an issue. It also happened to be the highest-scoring outing for The Man in the Black Polo.
Before that, Florida handled Samford 45-7 in 2024, a game that turned into a showcase for DJ Lagway. With Graham Mertz out after the previous week, Lagway made the start and threw for 456 yards and three touchdowns. The deep balls stood out to Florida fans, and the quarterback situation turned messy before Mertz was eventually ruled out for the season.
The 2023 meeting with McNeese was more straightforward. Florida won 49-7 behind 193 passing yards from Graham Mertz and 119 rushing yards from Montrell Johnson. McNeese managed only six first downs and 75 total yards.
One year earlier, the Gators beat Eastern Washington 52-17 on a Sunday because of Hurricane Ian. Anthony Richardson completed eight passes for 240 yards, and Jalen Kitna added 152 passing yards.
Then came one of the strangest games in Florida history. In 2021, the Gators survived Samford 70-52 after trailing 42-35 at halftime. It was the first game after Todd Grantham was fired as defensive coordinator, and he apparently cast a hex on the way out the door.
Florida did not play an FCS opponent in 2020 because of the SEC-only schedule, though Eastern Washington had originally been on the slate.
The Gators opened 2019 with a 45-0 win over UT Martin, a game that started slowly before Florida pulled away. Felipe Franks threw for 270 yards, while Kyle Trask was 4 of 5 for 40 yards and a touchdown in what looked a lot like a preview of the Kentucky week that followed. CJ Henderson and Kadarius Toney were both injured in the game.
Florida also beat Towson 38-0 in 2019 in what was described as a classic Dan Mullen vs. an FCS team kind of game. That was the second FCS matchup the Gators played that year, and it was a routine one.
Dan Mullen’s Florida debut in 2018 produced a 53-6 win over Charleston Southern. Feleipe Franks threw five touchdown passes, and Florida was up 38-0 at halftime.
Later that season, the Gators beat Idaho 63-10 in a game that had been scheduled for 2014 when the Vandals were still an FBS team. Valdez Showers had returned the opening kickoff 64 yards in that canceled 2014 game, and by 2018 Idaho had dropped to the FCS level.
The actual meeting was mostly forgettable.
Florida had no FCS opponent in 2017 after Hurricane Irma canceled the planned Northern Colorado game. The same thing happened in 2016, when the scheduled Presbyterian game was wiped out because of the LSU reshuffling caused by Hurricane Matthew. In 2015, Florida simply did not have an FCS opponent on the schedule, though it did open against 3-9 New Mexico State.
Will Muschamp’s final home game in 2014 ended with a 52-3 win over Eastern Kentucky. Treon Harris went 4 of 12 passing but still finished with 162 yards and two touchdowns, and Jeff Driskel threw three touchdown passes.
The loss everyone remembers came in 2013, when Georgia Southern beat Florida 26-20. Georgia Southern did not complete a single pass, which makes the result even harder to explain.
In 2012, Florida beat Jacksonville State 23-0 in a slow-moving game that had Jacoby Brissett as the only quarterback used by the Gators.
The 2011 matchup with Furman was anything but calm. Florida fell behind 22-7 after the first quarter before rallying for a 54-32 win. John Brantly settled in and threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns.
Florida beat Appalachian State 48-10 in 2010. App State was still an FCS team then and went on to reach the FCS quarterfinals that season. Deonte Thompson topped 100 receiving yards for the Gators.
The 2009 opener against Charleston Southern was a beatdown, with Florida rolling 62-3. Tim Tebow barely had to break a sweat.
In 2008, Florida hammered Citadel 70-19 while still chasing style points in the middle of its push to recover from the Ole Miss loss. The Gators scored 49 points in the first half and finished with 705 total yards.
Tim Tebow’s first start in 2007 produced a 49-3 win over Western Kentucky, with Tebow throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns. That game also marked the college debut of Cam Newton, who then stole laptops and was invited to leave Gainesville.
And in 2006, Florida opened with a 62-0 win over Western Carolina while still trying to climb into the top two of the BCS. The Gators allowed just 59 yards of offense.
In Other News...
Florida Is Chasing A Jacksonville Star Who Could Reopen A Crucial Pipeline
Recruiting the states best prospects has always mattered in Gainesville, and Jon Sumrall is making sure Florida stays in the conversation with Jacksonville edge rusher Asher Ghioto. The 2028 standout is already regarded as the top edge rusher in the country by Rivals, On3 and the 247Sports Composite, which makes him the kind of in-state target that can help shape how the Gators are viewed on the trail for years to come. Ghioto has been on campus in Gainesville multiple times, giving Florida a head start in a race that also includes Miami, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Notre Dame.
For Florida, the appeal goes beyond one highly ranked defender. Landing Ghioto would be another sign that the Gators can again turn Jacksonville into a reliable pipeline, something every program in the SEC would love to control. Recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong said Florida is currently in the best position to land him, which puts the Gators in a promising spot, even as the competition around him remains crowded and the process still has a long way to go. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Turned One Visit Into A Bigger Recruiting Opportunity
Maxwell Hillers trip to Gainesville last weekend was supposed to be about taking in the scene as one of Floridas five-star offensive line commitments, but it also gave the Gators a little extra runway with his family. Hiller brought his younger brother, Colton, along for the visit, and the two watched Florida while Maxwell spent time with offensive line coach Phil Trautwein talking football in a way that sounded more like prep work than a recruiting pitch.
That matters because Colton is a prospect of his own, with Florida and Duke both in the mix for his basketball recruitment. Maxwell came away impressed with the Gators recent offensive play and said he feels good about the program, while Coltons positive experience around the game gives Florida another chance to stay on his radar as the family connection keeps the door open. [Read more 🡒]
Kanye Clark Just Gave Gators Fans A Real Feel For This Defense
Kanye Clarks first game in a Florida uniform offered a quick snapshot of what the Gators believe they can become on defense. The UCLA transfer came away from the season-opening win over Florida Atlantic impressed by how the unit handled a fast-moving offense, and he pointed back to the offseason work in conditioning as a big reason Florida was able to keep its legs under it when the pace picked up. He also made sure to single out DJ Coleman, whose leadership and timely plays helped steady the front when the game started to speed up.
Now comes another test, and Clark already has his attention on Campbells tempo and passing game. For Florida, that means the early-season measuring stick is less about the final score and more about whether the defense can keep showing the same energy, communication and durability it flashed in Week 1. Clarks perspective matters because he is still new to the room, and when a newcomer is already talking this confidently about the standard, it says something about the tone being set around that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]