FSU Football: Top 10 all-time wins over Miami and Florida

[fs_video id="5403799468001" source="si"]rn FSU football has had plenty of great wins to celebrate over both hated rivals Florida and Miami, and here are the top ten victories against those rivals. rnDuring the 1951 year, as FSU football took the field for the fifth season they played football, the Seminoles traveled to Miami for the first time in program history to play the Hurricanes, then one of the two big college football programs in the Sunshine State.rnrnSeven years later, the Noles were in Gainesville for the final game of the 1958 season, facing the other big name program – the Florida Gators – for the first time ever.rnrnSix decades later, the meetings between Florida State and both rivals have been some of the best games in college football history. There have been blowout wins, nail-biting victories and games which had a major say in national championship appearances by all three teams.rnrnOf the 122 combined meetings with both rivals, FSU football has come out on top 55 times – including an amazing 13-1 record over the last seven seasons.rnrnOf those total wins dating back to a time when Florida State was an up and coming program, which ones were the best of the best? Whether it was because of what the game meant or how it turned out, here are the top 10 all time FSU football wins over their two hated foes.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Miami 1979" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfNt1O2rqvErn No. 10 – Florida State 40 Miami 23 (1979) rnAfter the first 20 or so games of this rivalry, FSU football had had plenty of success against the Hurricanes – including a seven game winning streak during that span.rnrnAt the same time, the Seminoles had never experienced the joy of winning a game in Tallahassee, losing all five of the previous games in the series played inside Doak Campbell Stadium.rnrnAll that would change during this meeting, taking place during the fourth Saturday of September. Miami jumped out to an early lead after the first quarter, but that would pretty much be all they could celebrate during this day in the Capital City.rnrnTwo Mark Lyles touchdowns in the second quarter helped the Seminoles take a 19-7 lead at the half, while Greg Ramsey would add two rushing scores in the third quarter and the route was on.rnrnThe Hurricanes scored a touchdown to open the fourth quarter, but Gary Henry’s return of a blocked punt cemented the outcome and Florida State was able to celebrate in their own locker room after defeating the Hurricanes at home for the first time – pacing the Noles to the first undefeated regular season under Bobby Bowden.rnrnIronically, it would not be the only time that the Hurricanes would suffer defeat inside Doak Campbell Stadium that season. Two weeks later, the ‘Canes were upset by Florida A&amp;M in a game moved to the bigger stadium for crowd reasons. It would be the first time Miami lost to a team from what was then called Division 1-AA, now known as the Football Championship Subdivision.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Miami 2010" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgTtGHXicnYrn No. 9 – Florida State 45 Miami 17 (2010) rnDuring what has been commonly referred to as the “lost decade” of FSU football by some fans, one of the things that irked people was losing both rivalry games in the same season.rnrnFour times in the previous nine seasons before the arrival of Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles suffered defeat to both Miami and Florida in the same year.rnrn[recentposts align="right" thiscategory="no" /]rnrnFisher got the message rather quickly as he took the Seminoles into South Florida on his 45 th birthday.rnrnAfter the Hurricanes missed their opening field goal chance, the first half became the Jermaine Thomas show as the Jacksonville native scored three touchdown – one on a pass from Christian Ponder and the other two using his own legs – as Florida State took a 24-7 lead into the locker room at the half.rnrn Lonnie Pryor got things started in the third quarter with a touchdown run, but Miami scored 10 unanswered points to cut the deficit to 10 points and start to make things worrisome for the fans in Garnet and Gold who invaded what was then called Sun Life Stadium.rnrnIn the fourth, FSU put it away with a pass from Ponder to Rodney Smith and a 90 yard touchdown run by Chris Thompson – just one play after he had a 50 yard run taken away due to a holding penalty.rnrnThe victory would be the third biggest win over Miami in FSU football history and started the seven game win streak that continues today – the longest ever for the Seminoles over their South Florida rivals and one that could be broken with a win this September.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Florida 2003" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkob_kkV4LQrn No. 8 – Florida State 38 Florida 34 (2003) rnEntering this regular season finale, there was plenty on the line for both teams. The Seminoles, who had already won the ACC title and were likely heading to the Orange Bowl at this point, were looking to win their 10 th game this season and their fifth in the last six over the men from Gainesville. Florida, meanwhile, was still holding out hope of making the SEC title game with a win over FSU football and some help.rnrn[related-category /]rnrnThe game was marred by several calls that the home fans of the Gators thought went against them. While some were wrong, the ACC officiating crew got most correct when replay was used.rnrnThe first half belonged to the Seminoles, as Chris Rix connected for two touchdown passes, one to Dominic Robinson and the other to Matt Henshaw, and Florida State went into the locker room with a 17-6 lead.rnrnThat lead would evaporate in the third quarter, as the Gators scored 18 unanswered points that included a 77-yard fumble return to give Florida the lead. The Seminoles would tie the game at 24 when Pat Watkins returned a fumble for the score, which lead to three different lead changes and a Gators three point lead with less than a minute to go.rnrnIt was at that point that Rix connected with P.K. Sam on a 52-yard pass for the game winning score.rnrnBoth teams met after the game for a customary fight and the home fans went home fuming in anger – which made FSU football fans very happy. It’s a game that would change the rivalry, as it would be the Seminoles’ last win until the 2010 season and UF officials changed the contract from the visiting team bringing their conference’s officials to the home team’s crew.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Miami 1989" slider="true" /]rn rnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Miga1LaLRg8rn No. 7 – Florida State 24 Miami 10 (1989) rnAfter FSU football took a hold of this series and won 10 of 14 games, the Hurricanes had taken control back and won seven of nine games to start the decade of the 1980’s – including an embarrassing 31-0 victory the season before this matchup when the Seminoles entered the game as the number one team in the country inside the Orange Bowl against the defending national champs.rnrnAfter starting off the season with two losses, the Seminoles had rebounded heading into this game and, facing maybe the toughest defense of the season, relied on the run game.rnrn Dexter Carter and Edgar Bennett each scored a rushing touchdown and the defense of Florida State held Miami to just 10 first half points during a season in which they were averaging almost 42 points a game heading in to this matchup.rnrnThe second half would belong to the Seminoles as the defense played maybe their best game of the entire year, holding the Hurricanes scoreless while finishing the game with four interceptions off quarterback Gino Torretta , who was starting in place of the injured Craig Erickson .rnrn Amp Lee would add another rushing touchdown while Richie Andrews added a field goal in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring and give FSU football their first win since 1984.rnrn[morestories url="https://chopchat.com/2017/06/16/top-fsu-football-wins-jimbo-fisher-no-1/" title="Must Read" teaser="Top FSU Football Wins Under Jimbo Fisher" /]rnrnIt would be the only blemish on the season for the Hurricanes, who would go on to win their third national title. As much as that’s cool and everything for them, every time a Miami fan looks at the results of that season, they have to realize that on an October night in Tallahassee, the Seminoles reminded them who the state champions were.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Florida 1964" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG3PgrWHO4Mrn No. 6 – Florida State 16 Florida 7 (1964) rnFor the longest time after Florida State became a co-educational school in 1947, their Gainesville rivals wanted nothing to do with the Seminoles on the football field. It nearly took a legislative act to make them to play, which finally happened for the first time in 1958.rnrnThe Gators went 5-0-1 in the first six meetings, although none of them were blowouts by any stretch. Nonetheless, the Gators were pretty cocky for the first game in the series to be played in Tallahassee.rnrnAll week, Florida had practiced with uniforms that said “Never, FSU, Never” – well, that message didn’t get to Tallahassee as the Seminoles got on the board first. After a scoreless first quarter, FSU football struck when Fred Biletnikoff – playing in the final game of his career at home – hauled in a 55-yard touchdown pass from Steve Tensi and the Seminoles went into the locker room with the lead.rnrn[mobile_app align="right" app_name="fansided" /]rnrnFlorida State would add a field goal by Les Murdock in the third quarter and another one to start the fourth before the Gators got on the board with a six-yard run.rnrnMurdock would add another field goal to end the scoring, while the defense would be the star of the show in coming up with two interceptions and forcing five fumbles against a Gators offense being led by Steve Spurrier – the first of many losses he would have while being a part of a Florida team in Gainesville.rnrnIn addition to being the first year FSU football beat both Miami and Florida in the same year, the Seminoles would finish the season with their best record as a “big time” program, going 9-1-1 that included three wins over SEC teams and a Gator Bowl win over Oklahoma.rnrnOf course, the biggest win came in a game that they were “never” supposed to be victorious in, according to some.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Miami 2014" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3G9B6sOAJ8rn No. 5 – Florida State 30 Miami 26 (2014) rnIn the middle of the recent win streak over the Hurricanes, the Seminoles were riding a win streak of their own that started with the 2012 ACC Championship Game and had reached 25 straight when FSU football head to South Florida for their yearly meeting with the ‘Canes.rnrnMuch like other games during the 2014 season, the Noles found themselves having to put together another comeback to keep the streak alive.rnrnFor the first 30 minutes of action, things couldn’t get much worse for the Seminoles. It started when freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya hit Phillip Dorsett for the first touchdown of the game, followed not long after by a score on the ground from Duke Johnson .rnrnFlorida State trailed by 16 before a true freshman from Miami got them on the board as Dalvin Cook ran one in from 44 yards out. Miami would add another touchdown pass and the Seminoles were treading water as they trailed 23-10 at the half.rnrnAs was the story for most of 2014, FSU football turned things on in the second half – starting with a tipped pass from Jameis Winston , who had another 300 yard game, that fell into the arms of Karlos Williams , who took it in for a score.rnrnThe Seminoles would get two more field goals from Roberto Aguayo in the fourth quarter and trail by three when Cook rumbled in for the 26-yard touchdown and the lead. It was the defense’s turn to step up when Jalen Ramsey intercepted a Kaaya pass with less than a minute to go.rnrnThere are some who would argue that the Seminoles have been on borrowed time of late against Miami – having to come back in the second half each of the last three seasons.rnrnIt doesn’t matter how it happens, though, because the Seminoles on this November day were again able to celebrate on the home field (well, rented) of their hated rival and remind them that FSU football runs all parts of the state.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Florida 2000" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxEwNdvFqUUrn No. 4 – Florida State 30 Florida 7 (2000) rnWhen the Seminoles and Gators met on a cold November night in Tallahassee, there was much more than state bragging rights on the line.rnrnWith FSU football ranked No. 3 and Florida No. 4 in the BCS standings on the time (a system that relied on strength of schedule as a component) the winner of the game was likely going to jump another in-state rival Miami, and be in a position to play for the national title.rnrn[teamnews align="right" vertical="ncaaf" topic="florida state seminoles football" /]rnrnQuarterback Chris Weinke , who had been suffering from the flu and was still a game time decision for this showdown, played like a man possessed in his final home game with the Seminoles.rnrnWeinke started the scoring when he hit Atrews Bell on the team’s opening drive – and responded after Florida tied the game by leading them down the field and finding Snoop Minnis to retake the lead, a lead the Seminoles would not relinquish for the remainder of the night.rnrnFlorida State would extend their lead in the third quarter when William McCray plowed in from one yard out, and cement the outcome when Weinke and Minnis connected for a 51-yard touchdown that sent the then record crowd inside Doak Campbell Stadium into a frenzy that night.rnrnThe Seminoles’ defense would do their part by coming up with three interceptions – including two from Tay Cody – while holding the Gators to just 37 yards on the ground to seal a third straight victory over the orange and blue.rnrnThe blowout win was enough to send FSU football to their third straight national title game, while the Gators ended up getting blown out in the Sugar Bowl by the Hurricanes. It was also an end of an era for the best part of this series, as it was the final game of a 13 game streak where each team was ranked in the top 10 at kickoff. That has happened just once since, during the 2012 season.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Florida 1999" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qhi-CuhUAgrn No. 3 – Florida State 30 Florida 23 (1999) rnEntering the final game of the regular season, the Seminoles were in the same spot they had started the season – undefeated and ranked as the top team in the country. It wasn’t easy, especially when superstar wide receiver Peter Warrick was suspended several games – and wasn’t going to be any easier when they traveled to Gainesville for a battle with the third ranked Gators.rnrnDespite both teams being among the tops nationally in offense, the first half was pretty quiet according to standards. Warrick got things started with a touchdown run from four yards out. Both teams would exchange field goals twice in the half and Florida State held on to a seven-point lead heading into the locker room.rnrnWhile Chris Weinke and the offense was held to near season lows for a half, the Florida passing attack of alternating quarterbacks Doug Johnson and Jesse Palmer was held in check for much of the first half as well.rnrnIn the second half, the Gators took the lead after a field goal and interception return for a score – and the Seminoles started to seem a little worried that their national title hopes could be dashed. Less than three minutes later, FSU football tied the game with a field goal and took the lead when Jeff Chaney punched it in.rnrnWeinke found Snoop Minnis in the fourth quarter for a score – set up by a long catch from Warrick – and the Seminoles survived a late touchdown and Hail Mary attempt from their rivals to leave the way they entered….undefeated.rnrn[relatedstory url="https://chopchat.com/2017/06/16/top-fsu-football-wins-jimbo-fisher-no-1/" teaser="Top FSU Football Wins Under Jimbo Fisher" /]rnrnThe victory was the second time the Seminoles had defeated their hated foes when Florida State was ranked number one – and both times, it led to a national title. The Seminoles would go on to defeat Virginia Tech, led by a pretty good quarterback named Michael Vick , to bring home the school’s second crown – as well as the first undefeated season for head coach Bobby Bowden along with being the first team to go wire to wire as the top ranked team.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Miami 1993" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HIqMfZ0UUMrn No. 2 – Florida State 28 Miami 10 (1993) rnTo this day, there are some fans of FSU football that cannot watch a field goal being kicked by the Seminoles. That stems from years of missed kicks from names like Gerry Thomas, Dan Mowrey and others – with the first two coming in back to back years against the rival Hurricanes that likely cost the Noles a shot at a national crown. Entering the game, Miami had played in the last two national title games – but FSU was the top ranked team and wouldn’t let this come down to a kick.rnrnFor the Seminoles, you could not have scripted a better way to start things off when Sean Jackson ran 69 yards on just the third offensive play for Florida State and the Noles had the lead.rnrnAfter Miami tied it up with their own rushing touchdown, the Seminoles against went with the big play as Charlie Ward found Matt Frier for the 72 yard strike and FSU football didn’t look back the rest of the game. Ward added a two-yard run right before the half and the Seminoles had their biggest lead in the series in quite some time.rnrnBoth teams would go scoreless in the third quarter, with Miami kicking a field goal early in the fourth and be driving for something late in the quarter when Devin Bush, a Miami native, stepped in front of a Frank Costa pass and went 40 yards for a touchdown.rnrnThe Seminoles held the Miami offense to just 320 yards on the day and their lowest point total since the two teams played during the 1989 season.rnrnThe tables had turned and, even with a loss in November to Notre Dame, it was the Seminoles playing for a national title this season. Ironically, that game would take place in the home of the Hurricanes, the iconic Orange Bowl stadium, as the Seminoles squeaked by the Nebraska Cornhuskers to bring home the first national championship in program history.rnrn[apply_now site_url="http://www.chopchat.com" /]rnrnIt would also be a memorable season as it was the first time FSU had beaten both Miami and Florida in the same year since 1979.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Florida 1996" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKmaWKm2FbErn No. 1 – Florida State 24 Florida 21 (1996) rnIn the 122 meetings that the Seminoles have had with the Gators and Miami Hurricanes, only twice has the game taken place where FSU football and their foe were the top two teams nationally.rnrnOnce was the 1991 meeting between Florida State and Miami – and the other was on a hot Tallahassee afternoon days after Thanksgiving that will be remembered as one of the best college football games in Sunshine State history.rnrnThe first quarter couldn’t have gone any better for the Seminoles, taking the lead with an early field goal. Florida State would get a short field following a blocked punt, punching it in for a quick Pooh Bear Williams score before the defense would get the ball right back and go two plays for another score. Just like that, it was 17-0 and the rout was on.rnrnThe Gators had another ideas, as Danny Wuerffel found Jacquez Green twice in the second quarter to cut the Florida deficit down to just three points.rnrnBoth defenses showed up in the third quarter, and when Florida missed a field goal chance to start the fourth, the Seminoles took advantage with a long, time-consuming drive. Warrick Dunn , who had 185 yards on the day in his home finale, got FSU football down to the one-yard line with another long run.rnrnWilliams would punch it in to put the game away. The Gators would get a touchdown pass from Wuerffel to Reidel Anthony , but it wasn’t enough and the Noles would watch as fans stormed the field in celebration.rnrnWhile the FSU offense, aside from Dunn (who some field still did not get the right treatment by being able to score a touchdown in his final home game with the Seminoles), didn’t have a banner day – quarterback Thad Busby threw for just 134 yards – the defense played lights out and came up with six sacks and three interceptions.rnrn[nextpost teaser="5 Seminoles Who Need To Step Up in 2017" url="https://chopchat.com/2017/06/07/fsu-football-5-players-need-step-2017/" /]rnrnWhile the rematch in the Sugar Bowl for a national title wouldn’t turn out the way Seminoles fans wanted, this game remains the best rivalry win for Florida State in their history.

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Top 10 FSU Football Wins All-Time Over Florida and Miami

FSU football has had plenty of great wins to celebrate over both hated rivals Florida and Miami, and here are the top ten victories against those rivals.

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