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Florida Football: 5 most gut-wrenching Gator losses of past decade

By Briley Hughes

GAINESVILLE, FL - AUGUST 30: Head coach Will Muschamp of the Florida Gators looks on prior to the game against the Idaho Vandals on August 30, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida. The game was terminated for weather and unsafe playing conditions. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - AUGUST 30: Head coach Will Muschamp of the Florida Gators looks on prior to the game against the Idaho Vandals on August 30, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida. The game was terminated for weather and unsafe playing conditions. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Jerick McKinnon #1 of the Georgia Southern Eagles runs the ball downfield during their game against the Florida Gators on November 23, 2013 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Georgia Southern defeated Florida 26-20. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Jerick McKinnon #1 of the Georgia Southern Eagles runs the ball downfield during their game against the Florida Gators on November 23, 2013 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Georgia Southern defeated Florida 26-20. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

1. Georgia Southern provides embarrassment (2013)

It’s difficult to overstate how embarrassing the defeat to the FCS opponent Georgia Southern was for the Gators.

The loss capped a year that didn’t see the Gators in a bowl for the first time in a decade, it marked the first time the Gators had lost to a sub-FBS opponent in their history and it planted the seeds for Will Muschamp to be fired.

After the Gators opened a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, the Georgia Southern Eagles would record 20 unanswered points and eventually hold off the Gators for their first all-time victory over an SEC team.

To make matters worse, the loss happened in front of Gator fans in The Swamp. In years past, Ben Hill Griffin stadium pounded fear into the hearts and minds of opponents, but this loss contributed to the weakening of home field advantage from which current teams are still recovering.

Though the defense wasn’t great, the offense let the Gators down in what had become a pattern in Gainesville. In what is a low-point in a downward swing in offensive production over the decade, the Gators could only produce an average of 18.8 points per game in 2013 – good for 114th best in the country.

5 most gut-wrenching losses in Nick Saban era. dark. Next

A year later, Muschamp was on his way out to make room for Jim McElwain.

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