You know those games where you just look at the screen and whisper "What on earth am I watching?"
That is the Florida Gators vs LSU football experience in a nutshell. It isn't just about the standings or the recruiting trail. Honestly, it's about the pure, unadulterated chaos that happens when you put two teams from the swamp into a stadium together.
I’ve watched this rivalry for decades, and it never fails to deliver something that feels like a fever dream. One year a guy throws a shoe. The next year, there’s a fake field goal that defies physics. It’s basically the SEC’s version of a horror movie where you know something bad is going to happen to someone, you just don't know who or when.
The Record Books and the "Vacated" Asterisk
If you look at the official record, the Florida Gators lead the series 34–32–3.
But wait. There's a catch.
Back in 2023, the NCAA stepped in and vacated three of LSU’s wins due to rules violations. If you ask a fan in Baton Rouge, they’ll tell you those wins still happened. They saw them. They cheered for them. The scoreboard didn’t lie even if the paperwork did.
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Florida’s most dominant stretch came under Steve Spurrier, when the Gators ripped off nine straight wins from 1988 to 1996. One of those was the 1993 massacre where Florida won 58–3. LSU fans still don't like talking about that one. But the Tigers have clawed back, especially in the 21st century.
Why 2025 Felt Like a Defensive Time Machine
Most people expected fireworks when the 2025 matchup rolled around. Instead, we got a 20–10 slugfest on September 13th that felt more like 1974.
LSU entered the game ranked No. 3 in the country. Florida, led by young gunslinger DJ Lagway, was trying to find its identity under Billy Napier. The Gators actually struck first with a 45-yard field goal from Trey Smack, but the momentum shifted when Garrett Nussmeier started finding his rhythm.
The real backbreaker? Dashawn Spears.
The LSU safety jumped a route in the third quarter and took an interception 58 yards back to the house. That single play basically sucked the air out of Florida’s sails. Lagway showed flashes—throwing for 287 yards—but the Tigers' defense was just too suffocating. It was one of those games where the stats look better for the loser than the actual scoreboard does.
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Recent Results at a Glance
- 2025: LSU 20, Florida 10 (Baton Rouge)
- 2024: Florida 27, LSU 16 (Gainesville)
- 2023: LSU 52, Florida 35 (Baton Rouge)
- 2022: LSU 45, Florida 35 (Gainesville)
The Hall of Fame of Weirdness
If you're new to Florida Gators vs LSU football, you have to understand that "normal" doesn't exist here.
Take 2020. The "Shoe Toss." Florida was ranked No. 6 and cruising toward a potential playoff spot. Then Marco Wilson decided to throw an LSU player's shoe downfield after a third-down stop. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty kept the drive alive, LSU kicked a 57-yard field goal in the fog, and Florida’s season imploded.
Then there’s the 2010 game. Les Miles—the "Mad Hatter" himself—called a fake field goal where the kicker, Josh Jasper, took a lateral on a bounce. It shouldn't have worked. It looked like a disaster in slow motion. But Jasper caught it and ran for the first down, setting up a winning touchdown.
And don't forget 2016. A literal hurricane (Matthew) delayed the game. The schools argued for weeks about where and when to play. When they finally met in Baton Rouge, the Gators stuffed LSU on the goal line as time expired to win 16–10. The tension in that stadium was thick enough to cut with a knife.
The Strategy: Death Valley vs The Swamp
There is a psychological element to this game that people underestimate.
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Playing at Tiger Stadium at night is a nightmare for a visiting quarterback. The noise level actually vibrates the grass. Conversely, LSU players often talk about how the humidity in Gainesville feels different—like you're breathing through a wet towel.
The 2025 game proved that coaching stability is currently leaning in LSU’s favor. Brian Kelly has built a roster that can win ugly. Even when the offense isn't clicking, they have the defensive depth to sit on a lead. Florida is in a more transitional phase. They have the talent—Aidan Mizell and Jadan Baugh are legitimate stars—but they haven't quite figured out how to close out games against top-5 opponents.
What’s Next for This Rivalry?
With the SEC expanding and the "permanent rival" format shifting, fans were worried this game might disappear.
Thankfully, it's not going anywhere soon. The next big showdown is slated for 2027, and the stakes will likely be even higher with the expanded 12-team playoff. Every loss in this series feels like a double-blow because these two teams often recruit the same players in the Florida panhandle and southern Louisiana.
If you're looking to get the most out of the next chapter of Florida Gators vs LSU football, here is how you should prep:
- Watch the turnovers: Historically, the team that wins the turnover battle wins this game about 80% of the time.
- Ignore the spread: This is one of the most "upset-heavy" rivalries in the SEC. Never bet the house on a favorite here.
- Monitor the injury report: Because both teams play such a physical style of ball, the depth chart in November usually looks very different than it did in September.
Check the official SEC schedule for the 2027 kickoff times as they get closer, but let's be real: if it’s a night game in either city, expect things to get weird.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal this spring. Both programs are heavily scouting defensive line talent to combat the high-octane offenses that have defined their recent meetings. Watching how Florida's DJ Lagway develops over the next 12 months will be the single biggest factor in whether the Gators can reclaim the lead in this historic series.