Florida Football: 10 greatest Florida State rivalry games, Part 1

7. 1980: Florida State 17, Florida 13

Bobby Bowden revived the Florida State program after coming to Tallahassee from West Virginia in 1976. By the time 1980 rolled around, players like Rick Stockstill and Ricky Williams were turning the team into a national contender and turning heads with victories over powerful foes like Ohio State and Nebraska on the way to a 10-1 season. Only a surging Miami team was able to beat FSU by a single point at the Orange Bowl.

Florida State was set to be back in that stadium to take on Oklahoma in the titular postseason game when the time came for their annual battle with Florida.

The Gators made a remarkable turnaround in 1980 after going winless in 1979. Freshman quarterback Wayne Peace took over for ailing starter Bob Hewko and steered the team to a 4-2 record under his leadership as part of an overall 7-3 campaign. Much of the offensive improvement can be credited to the Gators’ new offensive coordinator that season, an unknown 28-year-old by the name of Mike Shanahan.

The smell of upset was ripe in Tallahassee that day. These fears were validated early on.

Florida State jumped out to a 3-0 lead on an early field goal, then after a couple of punts, Florida took the lead when Wayne Peace found Tyrone Young for a 53-yard touchdown pass. A Stockstill interception set up a 38-yard Brian Clark field goal to give the Gators a 10-3 lead. Another long drive resulted in another Clark field goal, and the visiting Gators were on top 13-3 at halftime.

Florida State was able to turn its first second half possession into an 82-yard touchdown drive capped with a 19-yard pass from Stockstill to trusted wide out Hardis Johnson to make it a 13-10 game.

The Florida State defense then came alive, allowing Florida a single first down in the third quarter and that was the result of a penalty. After gaining extremely favorable field position on the last possession of the third quarter, the Seminoles marched 55 yards on a series capped with another Stockstill-to-Johnson touchdown pass to put them back on top 17-13.

Florida was able to keep FSU from inflicting further damage, but Peace and Co. were unable to muster the game winning touchdown. Tallahassee Democrat writer Bill McGrotha called the contest “one the hairiest-one of the best of all games in the 23-year series”.

Florida State would drop a heartbreaker to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Florida would take its problems out on Maryland in the Tangerine Bowl, beating them 35-20.

Stockstill would go onto a lengthy coaching career in the college ranks, including serving as head coach at Middle Tennessee.

The 1980 game kicked off a decade that would see both teams reach increased national relevance. It’s remembered fondly by Seminole fans as a remarkable comeback.