Five losses to Georgia that stung most

The Cocktail Party giveth … and the Cocktail Party taketh.

Earlier this week, we highlighted five notable Florida Gators wins over Georgia. Today, however, we’re reliving (sorry!) the ones that hurt the most. Let’s get started …

-1975 — Georgia 10-7: Many Florida fans might argue the 1976 loss to Georgia in the “Fourth-and-Dumb” game was worse than this one but the numbers tell us the 1975 Florida squad was the better of the two. And with a win in Jacksonville, the Gators ultimately would have tied Alabama to claim the school’s first SEC title. Florida came to town with a 7-1 record having lost only to Lou Holtz and N.C. State 8-7. 

Georgia was unranked and 6-2 but had just squeezed by Richmond the week before. Behind a dominant defense, Florida led 7-3 late. Desperate, Georgia coach Vince Dooley dug into his bag of tricks and called for a reverse pass, and tight end Richard Appleby hit Gene Washington for an 80-yard touchdown. The Gators later badly missed what would have been a game-tying field goals.

In back-to-back years, the Florida Gators suffered heartbreaking defeats in Jacksonville

1980 – Georgia 26-21: The previous year, Florida went 0-10-1 and lost in Jacksonville 33-10. But in 1980, second-year coach Charley Pell had the Gators on their way to an NCAA-record one-year turnaround. Meanwhile, Georgia and running back Herschel Walker had a resurgence of their own. The Dawgs entered the game unbeaten and No. 2 in the country. 

Against all odds, Florida led 21-20 in the final minute and Georgia faced 3rd down from its own 7. But under pressure, quarterback Buck Belue hit receiver Lindsay Scott on a pass over the middle. One defender slipped and nobody else could catch him. Ninety-three yards later, he scored and Georgia escaped with a 26-21 win that propelled them to the national title.

-1981 – Georgia 26-21: : The 1966 loss or the 1976 loss would make most lists but for our final crushing defeat we went with 1981. One year after the stunning Lindsay Scott setback at the Gator Bowl, Florida, 5-3 and unranked, showed up in Jacksonville ready to make amends for that loss. Georgia, the defending national champ, was No. 4 in the rankings. 

Florida at one point led by 14 points in the first half. Just as it had a year earlier, Florida was ahead 21-20 in the final quarter. And again the Gators had Georgia backed up — this time at the Bulldogs 5. But instead of falling victim to a big play, the Gators gave up a methodical, soul-crushing 95-yard, 17-play drive that ended with Walker going up and over the Florida defense into the end zone. Walker rushed for 192 yards on 47 carries. Incredibly, Florida lost to the Dawgs by the exact same score it had in 1980 — 26-21.

-1985 – Georgia 24-3: The Gators moved to No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time ever after beating Auburn the week before at Jordan-Hare Stadium. But in Jacksonville, a young Florida offensive line was overwhelmed and the Bulldogs’ rushing attack was on point. Florida’s first stint at No. 1 lasted all of one week with this humbling 24-3 loss to a No. 17 Georgia team that finished just 7-3-2.

-2012 – Georgia 17-9: Florida, under second-year coach Will Muschamp, had the No. 2 ranking entering this game and Georgia was ranked No. 12 with a 6-1 record. The Gators defense held Georgia to only 273 total yards and 14 first downs while intercepting Aaron Murray three times. But it was a day to forget on the other side of the ball. 

The Gators turned the ball over a staggering six times, including four fumbles. Meanwhile, quarterback Jeff Driskel was intercepted twice. Florida tried to rally late, but the sixth turnover came on the Gators’ final drive as tight end Jordan Reed fumbled inside the Georgia 5 with 2:05 left. Georgia handed Florida it’s only loss of the regular season, 17-9.