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Florida vs Florida State 1997 Sugar Bowl game rewind

By Benjamin Henderson

2 Jan 1997: Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier celebrates after the Nokia Sugar Bowl against the Floirda State Seminoles at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Florida won the game, 52-20. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
2 Jan 1997: Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier celebrates after the Nokia Sugar Bowl against the Floirda State Seminoles at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Florida won the game, 52-20. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport /
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Florida faced off against Florida State on January 2,1997 in the Sugar Bowl. The game was a rematch of their annual November matchup, which Florida State won.

Florida had been ranked number one prior to the first matchup. Florida dropped in the rankings to fourth, but good fortune from other teams also losing helped make the 1997 Sugar Bowl the de facto national title game.

The following is a look back at that fateful night in New Orleans that brought Florida its first national title in Football and firmly put Gainesville on the map as a college football powerhouse.

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