1965 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1965 Florida Gators football Southeastern Conference SEC 12 7–4 4–2 Ray Graves 6th Ed Kensler 1st Gene Ellenson 2nd Florida Field Sugar Bowl L Lost 18–20 vs. Missouri The 1965 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. The season was Ray Graves's sixth year as the Florida Gators football team's head coach. The highlights of the season included an intersectional road victory over the Northwestern Wildcats of the Big Ten Conference, Southeastern Conference (SEC) wins over the LSU (14–7), Ole Miss Rebels (17–0), Georgia Bulldogs (14–10) and Tulane Green Wave (51–13), and a sound thumping of the in-state rival Florida State Seminoles (30–17). The Gators also lost close matches against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (18–13) and the Miami Hurricanes (16–13). Graves' 1965 Florida Gators finished 7–4 overall and 4–2 in the SEC, tying for third in the 11-team conference. Schedule 1965 AP September 18 w y y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 24–14 33,918 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-wildcats-lose-2414/133796135/ Chicago Tribune Wildcats lose, 24–14 September 19, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com September 25 l 8 Mississippi State Florida Field Gainesville, FL 13–18 42,612 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-miss-staters-stun-gators-sag/133686010/ The Shreveport Times Miss. Staters stun Gators; Saget stars September 26, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com October 2 w LSU 5 Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 14–7 48,210 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-gators-upset-lsu/133740663/ Pensacola News Journal Gators upset LSU October 3, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com October 9 w y 10 Ole Miss Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS 17–0 27,500–30,006 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-gators-blank-ole/133795121/ Pensacola News Journal Gators blank Ole Miss October 10, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com October 16 w y y 9 NC State Florida Field Gainesville, FL 28–6 48,010 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-9th-ranked-gators-b/133796301/ The Bradenton Herald 9th ranked Gators bop N.C. State October 17, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com October 30 l y 7 Auburn Cliff Hare Stadium Auburn, AL rivalry ABC 17–28 46,313 https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-fired-up-auburn-score/133796400/ Johnson City Press-Chronicle Fired-up Auburn scores 28–17 win over fifth-ranked Florida October 31, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com November 6 w y Georgia Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry 14–10 61,211 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-florida-shocks/133738249/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Florida shocks Georgia November 7, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com November 13 w Tulane Florida Field Gainesville, FL 51–13 39,616 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86305304/gators-bowl-over-greenies-5113/ The Tampa Tribune Gators bowl over Greenies, 51–13 November 14, 1965 October 1, 2021 Newspapers.com November 20 l y y 10 Miami (FL) Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL rivalry 13–16 67,762 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-gators-sink-1613/133796511/ Tallahassee Democrat Gators sink 16–13 November 21, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com November 27 w y Florida State Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 30–17 48,626–49,513 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-spurrier-rallies/133796648/ The Selma Times-Journal Spurrier rallies Florida Gartors for 30–17 victory November 28, 1965 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com January 1, 1966 l y y Missouri 6 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl NBC 18–20 67,421 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-mizzou-withstands-4th-period-a/133796745/ The Shreveport Times Mizzou withstands 4th period assault to post Sugar victory January 2, 1966 October 20, 2023 Newspapers.com 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20151208143532/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015-12-08 , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 110–111 (2015). Retrieved August 14, 2015.Department of Sports Publicity Meet the Gators: 1966 University of Florida Football Brochure https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gatorzone.com/documents/2016/8/19/1966_fb_media_guide.pdf floridagators.com University Athletic Association, Inc. 15 March 2018 Sugar Bowl At the end of the season, the Gators played the Missouri Tigers in the Gators' first-ever major bowl game, the Sugar Bowl, on January 1, 1966. Despite a three-touchdown second-half effort from the Gators, they lost to the Tigers 18–20 after they failed to score on three consecutive two-point conversion attempts after each of their touchdowns. Following the game, Gators quarterback Steve Spurrier was recognized as the game's Most Valuable Player—the only MVP selected from the losing team in the history of the Sugar Bowl. Roster 1965 Florida Gators y Charles Casey   11 Jr Steve Spurrier QB Ray Graves References Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Florida Gators football