College football rivalries come in all shapes and sizes.
Some are rooted in geography, some in conference battles and others in decades of memorable games, controversial moments and heated fan bases.
Of our Top 25 rivalries that define college football, three involve Florida teams, each with its own history, traditions and stakes that have helped make these must-see matchups.
One is an annual spectacle built around a neutral-site setting, where fans from two passionate SEC programs descend on the same city for one of the biggest weekends of the season.
Another has featured some of the most memorable (and frustrating) moments in college football history, with national championship hopes often hanging in the balance.
The last one is a Thanksgiving weekend tradition that brings together two in-state powers, where winning means far more than simply finishing the season on a high note.
There is no single formula for determining what makes one rivalry greater than another, which is why we expect these rankings to spark discussion among fans.
With that in mind, here are our Top 25 rivalries involving teams from the Sunshine State, followed by the full list.
No. 5: Florida-Georgia
Few rivalries bring the pageantry and intensity of this one. Played annually in Jacksonville (except for 2026 and 2027), the matchup has become one of the signature games on the SEC schedule, with fans from both sides turning the weekend into a massive football-and-tailgating event. The neutral-site setting along the St. Johns River only adds to the spectacle.
- First game: 1904
- Series record: Georgia leads 58-44-2
No. 7: Florida State-Miami
This has long been one of college football’s most-heated matchups, particularly when both programs are competing at the national level. The rivalry is famous for close games (including four “Wide Right” and one “Wide Left” missed field goals by FSU), huge stakes and unforgettable moments. Even when neither team is at its best, this is no ordinary game.
- First game: 1951
- Series record: Miami leads 37-33
No. 13: Florida-Florida State
The annual Thanksgiving weekend matchup is built on in-state pride. For decades, the matchup has carried significant stakes, with both programs often entering the game with national championship hopes on the line. It’s a rivalry where bragging rights matter enormously, and the game has produced plenty of memorable moments, including the Choke at Doak in 1994.
- First game: 1958
- Series record: Florida leads 39-28-2
The top 25
- 1. Michigan-Ohio State
- 2. Alabama-Auburn
- 3. Army-Navy
- 4. Oklahoma-Texas
- 5. Florida-Georgia
- 6. Notre Dame-USC
- 7. Florida State-Miami
- 8. Texas-Texas A&M
- 9. Ole Miss-Mississippi State
- 10. Pittsburgh-West Virginia
- 11. Nebraska-Oklahoma
- 12. UCLA-USC
- 13. Florida-Florida State
- 14. Auburn-Georgia
- 15. Minnesota-Wisconsin
- 16. Clemson-South Carolina
- 17. Alabama-LSU
- 18. Harvard-Yale
- 19. Michigan-Michigan State
- 20. Cal-Stanford
- 21. Kansas-Missouri
- 22. BYU-Utah
- 23. Georgia-Georgia Tech
- 24. Washington-Washington State
- 25. Oregon-Oregon State
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.