Long before Steve Spurrier delivered Florida its first SEC championship in 1991, the Gators had already come painfully close to turning 1980 into something special.
That team was 6-1 and ranked No. 20 when it lined up against No. 2 Georgia on Nov.
- Florida’s only loss up to that point had come against LSU, 24-7, on Oct. 4, and under head coach Charley Pell and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, the Gators had put themselves in position to chase the SEC crown.
For most of that afternoon, Florida looked ready to keep the dream alive. The Gators led their SEC rival 21-20 with just over a minute left, and then came the play that still hangs over the program’s history: Georgia quarterback Buck Belue finding Lindsay Scott, who turned it into a 93-yard touchdown and sent the Bulldogs on their way.
Larry Munson’s call became part of college football lore:
"Florida in a stand-up five, they may or may not blitz, they won't... Buck back, third down on the eight," Munson preached.
"In trouble! Got a block behind him...
Gonna throw on the run-complete on the 25. To the 30, Lindsay Scott 35, 40, Lindsay Scott 45, 50, 45, 40-Run, Lindsay!--25, 20, 15, 10, 5, Lindsay Scott!
Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott!"
Georgia won it 26-21, Florida’s SEC hopes were wiped out, and the Bulldogs finished the season as national champions.
That moment also helped define the rivalry. ESPN labeled Scott as Florida’s archenemy, and Vince Dooley later made his feelings clear about the significance of the play.
"In 2020, former Georgia coach Vince Dooley told The Athens Banner-Herald, 'I still believe that it is the greatest play in Georgia football history.' Winning a title at Florida's expense surely had something to do with that,’ wrote Andrea Adelson.
Florida’s collapse from there only sharpened the sting. The Gators were blown out by Miami and then fell 17-13 to Florida State to close the regular season.
They finally won their first SEC title in 1984, but that championship was later vacated because of NCAA infractions committed by the coaching staff.
In Other News...
Former Gator JaKobi Jackson Is Suddenly Turning Heads At Ohio State
JaKobi Jacksons move from Florida to Ohio State already made him a name to watch this offseason, and now the former Gator is drawing even more attention in Columbus. After a breakout 2024 season in Gainesville was cut short by injury, Jackson has been getting a fresh look in practice, giving the Buckeyes another back to evaluate as camp roles start to take shape.
The more surprising part is the order of things behind him, with returning sophomore Bo Jackson still part of the picture after a freshman season that topped 1,000 rushing yards and an offseason surgery that apparently has not kept him off the field. Even so, the early practice reps have created an interesting competition in the backfield, and for Florida fans watching from afar, it is a reminder that Jacksons departure may be felt well beyond the swamp. [Read more 🡒]
Jon Sumrall Is Already Demanding What Florida Must Find Fast
Floridas first fall camp under new head coach Jon Sumrall is already taking shape with a clear message attached to it: the Gators need to grow quickly, show up with the same edge every day and prove they can handle the grind of a long preseason. The team has practiced four straight days as it works toward the 2026 opener against Florida Atlantic, and Sumrall has made it plain that effort and toughness are going to matter as much as any depth chart battle this month.
The early days of camp are always about more than reps, though, and this one comes with the added weight of a new staff trying to set standards fast. Sumralls expectations center on consistency and urgency, the sort of tone a program wants before September arrives, and the photo galleries from the reporter-open practices only add another layer of curiosity for anyone tracking how Florida looks in those first workouts. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Could Face A Brutal CFP Problem Thanks To Notre Dame
Floridas path to the College Football Playoff just got a little more complicated, and not because of anything happening in Gainesville. Under the 2026 procedures, Notre Dame would be guaranteed a place if it finishes in the top 12, while the playoff will also reserve spots for the Power Four champions and the highest-ranked Group of Six champion. That structure leaves less room for borderline at-large teams and raises the possibility that a strong Florida season could still end with the Gators on the outside looking in.
The uncomfortable part for Florida is how quickly the math can turn against a team with a good record. In the hypothetical scenario the new format creates, a 10-2 Gators team could have the rsum to feel playoff-worthy and still lose out to Notre Dame because of the way the bracket is built. For Florida, the issue is not just winning enough games, but navigating a selection process that now gives the Irish a clearer lane than many other contenders. [Read more 🡒]