Auburn vs. UF rivalry

Was reading a couple threads earlier, and didn't realize how many times these 2 teams played.

Auburn and UF have played 83 times, with Auburn holding a 43-38-2 advantage.

From 1945-2002, Auburn and UF played 48 straight times, including the 2000 SECCG in which UF defeated Auburn 28-6 (my 2nd ever UF game that I attended).

Prior to 2002, UF had permanent West opponents annually vs. LSU and Auburn.

Unfortunately, the SEC changed the cross-divisional format, and UF kept LSU, while Auburn would rotate onto the schedule every 4 or 5 years.

Some key games:

1966: UF 30, Auburn 27

Spurrier kicked a 40 yard FG to give the Gators a 30-27 lead, and finished the game 27/40 for 259 yards, and 2 TD's (1 rushing). Spurrier would go on to win the Heisman.

1986: UF 18, Auburn 17

quote:

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For most of the game, coach Pat Dye's fifth-ranked 1986 Auburn Tigers dominated coach Galen Hall's unranked Florida Gators at Florida Field. The Tigers defense was stifling, and forced Gators substitute quarterback Rodney Brewer to commit four turnovers in the first two quarters. Hall replaced Brewer with starting quarterback Kerwin Bell, who had missed two games with a knee injury. Tigers tailback Brent Fullwood gained 166 yards on the ground, including a second-quarter touchdown, to give Auburn a 17–0 lead early in the fourth quarter. Bell then led the Gators on two scoring drives, with Gators placekicker Robert McGinty—a transfer from Auburn—booting a 51-yard field goal to close the Tigers' advantage to 17-10 with 1:45 to play. With thirty-six seconds remaining in the game, Bell directed one final 79-yard drive in ten plays that was capped by a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ricky Nattiel, who was playing with a separated shoulder. The limping Bell then surprised the Tigers defense by running in the two-point conversion and completing the comeback, with the Gators winning 18–17.

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LINK

1993: Auburn 38, UF 35
1994: Auburn 36, UF 33

Both times, UF came into the Auburn game highly ranked and with NC aspirations, but Terry Bowden's teams pulled off 2 straight upsets that were very high scoring, with a ton of offense. Both losses likely cost UF a shot at a NC both years.

2002: UF 30, Auburn 23 OT

In the last annual meeting between the 2 teams, both entered the game having endured tough defeats earlier in the season. Auburn lost @ USCw in a close game, and was pummeled by Arkansas the week before. UF got destroyed by the last great Miami team, got upset @ Ole Miss led by Eli Manning, and got destroyed by defending SEC Champion LSU in Gainesville.

UF led by Rex Grossman jumped out to a 23-7 lead, but Auburn despite losing star RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams fought back, led by backup RB Ronnie Brown, who scored 3 TD's on the night. The Tigers would tie the game 23-23, and have a chance to win on a FG at the end of regulation, but the kick was blocked by Bobby McCray.

UF would score on the first possession in OT, a 25 yard TD from Grossman to Taylor Jacobs, and the Gator defense sealed the victory after Clint Mitchell tackled Auburn QB Jason Campbell ending the game.

2006: Auburn 27, Florida 17

Florida rolls into Jordan-Hare Stadium undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the nation but leaves with the only loss of their National Championship season. Florida keeps Auburn's offense out of the end zone all night, but four John Vaughn field goals and Tre Smith's blocked punt return for a TD pace the Tigers to the upset—not to mention a questionable fumble by Chris Leak and a fluke touchdown as time expires.



2007: Auburn 20, Florida 17

The Auburn Tigers shut down the high-powered Gators in the first half, holding them scoreless before the break. Wes Byrum kicks the game-winning field goal (twice) and knocks off the defending champs, despite the furious comeback led by Tim Tebow and some timeout shenanigans by Urban Meyer.

Conclusion:

I miss the rivalry, despite the fact that Auburn won the last 3 games in 06, 07, and 11.

That 06 game was one of the best football games I've ever seen, despite the loss, and the controversial call on the Chris Leak fumble.

But I wouldn't mind the SEC expanding the schedule to 9 conference games, and adding 2 permanent cross-divisional opponents, with a rotating opponent.

UF vs. Auburn is an underrated rivalry for sure