The 5 most important Florida wins over FSU in the Sunshine Showdown since 1990

The Florida-FSU series has had many peaks and valleys for Gator fans, but since 1990, the series has taken on a greater importance and there were many occasions where the Sunshine Showdown had championship implications. 

Here are the five most important Florida wins over FSU since 1990, ranked in order of importance:

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It's unlikely there will be a game that Gators fans have a fonder memory of than the 1997 Sugar Bowl blowout win over the Seminoles that secured the program's first national championship. Florida was the best team in the country and had blown through their schedule until a 24-21 loss to FSU at Doak Campbell Stadium to end the season.

But after dispatching Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and getting an assist from Texas when the Longhorns beat Nebraska in the Big XII title game, the Gators got a reprieve and a rematch with the Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl. After Ohio State knocked off Arizona State in the Fiesta Bowl, everything was on the table and Florida didn't let the opportunity go to waste.

Danny Wuerffel threw three touchdown passes (all to Ike Hilliard) and Terry Jackson rushed for 118 yards and two scores as Florida hoisted the trophy and beat down its rivals on the same night.

A year after the Gators won the national championship, they opened the season No. 1, but losses to LSU and Georgia took them out of contention. But knocking off the previously unbeaten Seminoles and taking them out of the national championship game was a heck of a consolation prize. 

Steve Spurrier rotated quarterbacks Doug Johnson and Noah Brindise to keep FSU's top-ranked defense off guard and Fred Taylor rushed for 162 yards and four touchdowns in one of the greatest games ever played at The Swamp.

This was Spurrier's first win of the series, and it showed that the Gators were more than an explosive offense. Florida got down and dirty with the Seminoles in a super physical contest. The Gators defense, led by Kevin Carter, battered FSU quarterback Casey Weldon and held the Seminoles to 37 rushing yards. It was also the first game where both teams were ranked in the top five.

Will Muschamp's teams didn't have a lot of success against the Seminoles, but the Gators went to Doak Campbell and handed Jimbo Fisher his only loss of the series in this back-and-forth affair. Florida overcame a bad third period and a few boneheaded errors from Jeff Driskel to rally for 24 points in the fourth quarter to knock off FSU. 

There was a little debate over the fifth spot, but in the end, the 2006 game got the nod because the Gators had to win to remain in contention for the BCS Championship. Chris Leak threw the game-winning touchdown, a 25-yard striketo Dallas Baker with 4:38 remaining. Florida would go on to beat Arkansas in the SEC title game and blow out Ohio State for the program's second national championship. 

One game that just missed the cut

Florida 20, #10 FSU 13 (November 20, 2004)

Ron Zook had already been fired, but he stuck around to watch FSU dedicate the field at Doak Campbell Stadium to Bobby Bowden and then proceeded to hand the legendary coach his first loss on the newly named "Bobby Bowden Field." 

The Gators defense showed up for their embattled coach, holding the Seminoles to 34 yards rushing and carrying Zook off the field. This win proved to be important as it gave Florida momentum heading into the Urban Meyer era and was the start of a six-game win streak against FSU. 

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