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Florida football: FBS teams the Gators have played but never beaten

By Will Thomas

September 3, 2011; Gainesville FL, USA; A Florida Gators helmet on the field prior to the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
September 3, 2011; Gainesville FL, USA; A Florida Gators helmet on the field prior to the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker reacts from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 35-16. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

Florida football has never beaten: Michigan State Spartans (0-1)

The Gators’ history against the Spartans, while it’s also just one game, is a little more eventful than their past with Pittsburgh.

Florida went up against Sparty in January of 1999 in the Citrus Bowl and lost the game 37-34.

That Gator team had tons of NFL talent like Lito Sheppard, Marquand Manuel, Doug Johnson, and Darrell Jackson.

Given that this was over 20 years ago, I’m not sure how popular the “it’s a bowl game, we didn’t care” mantra was, so I can’t imagine that’s a valid point now.

Would Florida football beat them today?

This one, like Pitt, is kind of a toss-up. Michigan State had a pretty rough year last season, and I like to think that the Gators are set up for success better than Sparty is as we head into this fall.

It’s also clear that Mel Tucker isn’t going to be that program’s saving grace, and they haven’t been as good as they were with Kenneth Walker III ever since he left.

So for this one, I’m going to say yes. We’ll assume a neutral site for our purposes, so the Gators wouldn’t benefit from MSU overheating.

But I still think the Gators would best Sparty on the field if they played today, especially with the Gators’ defense improving from last season (we hope).

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