1985 Florida Gators football team

Schedule

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Miami

Florida entered the game as a rare road favorite in the Orange Bowl, over a young Canes team. The Gators were giving 5.5 points in Las Vegas. The Gators played inspired football in a 35–23 win over Miami on September 7. The Canes did not lose at home again until September 24, 1994 (38–20 to Washington), an NCAA record winning streak of 58 games.

Rutgers

The second week was a surprising tie against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Auburn

The Gators were on NCAA probation when they met coach Pat Dye's sixth-ranked Auburn Tigers at Jordan−Hare Stadium. Tigers tailback Bo Jackson started the game as the leading contender to win the Heisman Trophy. But Jackson's Heisman hopes took a serious blow when he ran into a ferocious Gators defense that held him to just forty-seven yards rushing, and the Gators stuffed the Tigers 14–10 in yet another defensive struggle. On the strength of the win over the Tigers, the Gators vaulted into the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll for the first time in school history. Notwithstanding the Tigers' loss to the Gators, Jackson won the Heisman at the conclusion of the 1985 season.

Georgia

After a hard-fought 14-10 road victory over the No. 6 Auburn Tigers in November, the undefeated Gators were elevated to No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time in program history. However, the Gators were knocked from the top spot the following week by a 24–3 upset at the hands of their arch-rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs. The Gators would next sit atop the AP poll during the 1994 season.--

Roster

• Charlie Bailey (DC)
• Mike Heimerdinger (WR) | access-date=

Postseason

After the season, Sagarin Ratings (ELO-Chess), one of two NCAA recognized selectors created by Jeff Sagarin, an MIT math graduate and sports statistician, named Florida as the 1985 national champions, though Florida does not claim the title. Florida finished with a 9–1–1 overall record and an SEC record of 5–1, tying for first place in the ten-team SEC.

References

References

1. (September 8, 1985). "Bell passes Gators over Hurricanes". St. Lucie News Tribune.
2. (September 15, 1985). "Rutgers ties third-ranked Gators, 28–28". Asbury Park Press.
3. (September 29, 1985). "Gators defeat Mississippi State". The Macon Telegraph & News.
4. (October 6, 1985). "Anderson runs and passes over LSU". The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
5. (October 13, 1985). "Gators defeat Vols". The Leaf-Chronicle.
6. (October 20, 1985). "Cajuns provide Gators' entertainment in UF win". Florida Today.
7. (October 27, 1985). "Florida extends streak at Hokies' expense". Daily Press.
8. (November 3, 1985). "Gators win war". The Tampa Tribune.
9. (November 10, 1985). "Top-ranked Gators fall to Georgia". The Index-Journal.
10. (November 17, 1985). "Florida 15, Kentucky 13". Florida Today.
11. (December 1, 1985). "Gators top FSU in Consolation Bowl". The Palm Beach Post.
12. ''[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive. link. (2015-12-08 '', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.)
13. Ed Shearer, "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Yw4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TgYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6566,4819908&dq=auburn+florida&hl=en Florida 4-Point Pick Over Auburn]," ''Ocala Star-Banner'', p. 1D (October 30, 1985). Retrieved August 18, 2011.
14. Bobby Tyler, "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mD1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3ekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5621,4308993&dq=bo+jackson+heisman&hl=en SEC football notes]," ''The Gainesville Sun'', p. 1D (October 29, 1985). Retrieved August 18, 2011.
15. Kendall Weaver, "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zgIMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m1kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5280,841575&dq=auburn+florida+football&hl=en Gator victory over Auburn something of a football classic]," ''The Evening Independent'', p. 7-C (November 4, 1985). Retrieved August 17, 2011.
16. Fred Goodall, "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I0VGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9ugMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5986,1415786&dq=auburn+florida+football&hl=en Florida on NCAA Probation, Takes Poll Lead]," ''Schenectady Gazette'', p. 36 (November 6, 1985). Retrieved August 17, 2011.
17. "An argument lost, a Heisman won: Bo Jackson's mother is happy now she let him play football," ''The Atlanta Constitution'', p. D3 (December 9, 1985).
18. Heisman Trophy, Winners, [http://www.heisman.com/winners/b-jackson85.php Bo Jackson]. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
19. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-03-sp-4096-story.html Los Angeles Times] {{Bare URL inline. (December 2021)
20. (November 10, 1985). "Georgia Knocks Off No. 1 Florida". [[The Los Angeles Times]].