2026 FSU Schedule Preview: Florida Gators

Florida State will once again close the regular season against archrival Florida, a game that has produced both the emotional high point and one of the lowest moments of Mike Norvell's tenure in Tallahassee. The 45-38 win over the Gators on Black Friday in 2022 snapped a three game losing streak in the series and felt like a throwback to the rivalry's Bowden vs. Spurrier glory years. Last year's 40-21 loss in Gainesville landed much differently. Florida looked like a program that had already checked out, was playing under an interim head coach, and still managed to push FSU around.

A 4-8 Florida team coached by an interim walked Florida State off the field in Gainesville, 40-21, with Jadan Baugh rushing for 266 yards. That was the Gators at their absolute lowest. Billy Napier had been fired, the program was in shambles, and Florida had nothing meaningful left to play for beyond spite. They still hung 40 on a Seminole team that needed the game to reach a bowl.