1987 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1987 Florida Gators football Southeastern Conference SEC 6–6 3–3 Galen Hall 4th Zaven Yaralian 2nd Florida Field Aloha Bowl L Lost 16–20 vs. UCLA The 1987 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season was the fourth for Galen Hall as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Hall's 1987 Florida Gators posted a 6–6 overall record and a Southeastern Conference (SEC) record of 3–3, placing sixth among ten SEC teams. The season was the debut of freshman running back Emmitt Smith. Smith went on to break the 1,000-yard barrier in the seventh game of his freshman season, the fastest any running back had ever broken that barrier to begin his college career, and was named SEC and national freshman of the year. This was the last year until 2017 that Florida opened the season away from Gainesville. Schedule 1987 AP September 5 l y y 20 Miami (FL) 10 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL rivalry TBS 4–31 77,224 Goodall Fred September 6, 1987 Miami crushes Gators https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-lucie-news-tribune-miami-crushes-gat/135011552/ November 11, 2023 St. Lucie News Tribune Newspapers.com September 12 w y Tulsa Florida Field Gainesville, FL 52–0 72,173 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-gators-slam-helpless-hurrica/135011656/ Tulsa World Gators slam helpless Hurricane, 52–0 September 13, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com September 19 w y Alabama 11 Legion Field Birmingham, AL rivalry TBS 23–14 75,808 Smith Charlie September 20, 1987 Smith, Gators give Alabama the runaround https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71565961/smith-gators-give-alabama-the-runaround/ November 11, 2023 The Tampa Tribune Newspapers.com September 26 w Mississippi State Florida Field Gainesville, FL 38–3 74,421 https://www.newspapers.com/article/enterprise-journal-florida-freshman-smit/135011828/ Enterprise-Journal Florida freshman Smith runs over MSU, 38–3 September 27, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com October 3 l y 19 LSU 7 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA rivalry ESPN 10–13 79,313 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk-tigers-dodge-another-bulle/135005934/ Alexandria Daily Town Talk Tigers dodge another bullet, eke past Gators October 4, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com October 10 w y 18 Cal State Fullerton Florida Field Gainesville, FL 65–0 72,336 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-definition-of-des/135011973/ Pensacola News-Journal Definition of destroy: Florida 65, Fullerton 0 October 11, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com October 17 w y y 14 Temple Florida Field Gainesville, FL 34–3 74,286 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-smith-sets-mar/135012077/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Smith sets mark as Florida routs Temple, 34–3 October 18, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com October 31 l y 10 Auburn 6 Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL rivalry ESPN 6–29 85,187 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-auburn-crushes-gators/135004615/ The Tampa Tribune Auburn crushes Gators 29–6 November 1, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com November 7 l y 17 Georgia 10 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry TBS 10–23 81,975 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-stuart-news-georgia-sacks-floridas/135010442/ The Stuart News Georgia sacks Florida's bowl hopes November 8, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com November 14 w Kentucky rivalry Florida Field Gainesville, FL TBS 27–14 73,021 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-lauderdale-news-bowl-game-simple-f/135012258/ Fort Lauderdale News Bowl, game simple for Gators November 15, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com November 28 l y Florida State 3 Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry CBS 14–28 74,613 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-no-3-florida-state-en/135012382/ The Baltimore Sun No. 3 Florida State ends Florida's 6-year hex, 28–14 November 29, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com December 25 l y y UCLA 10 Aloha Bowl Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI ABC 16–20 24,839 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-ucla-bowls-over/135012503/ The Honolulu Advertiser UCLA bowls over Florida, 20–16 December 26, 1987 November 11, 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. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015. Personnel 1987 Florida Gators y 12 Sr Kerwin Bell QB y Chris Bromley OL Kelvin Calhoun TE Tracy Daniels OL Jimmy Davis OL Ed Frazier WR Octavius Gould RB Kirk Kirkpatrick TE Pepe Lescano QB Tony Lomack WR James Massey RB Willie McGrady RB Mark McGriff TE Fr Ernie Mills WR y Walter Odom TE Darryl Perry RB Herbert Perry QB P Clifton Reynolds TE Stacey Simmons WR y Stacey Simmons (American football) Bob Sims OL Cedric Smith RB 22 Fr Emmitt Smith RB y Willie Snead WR Richard Starowesky OL Curtis White RB Anthony Williams RB David Williams OL Wayne Williams RB Darrell Woulard WR Charlie Wright OL Henry Brown DL Clifford Charlton LB Richard Fain DB Tony Jones DB Todd Gatlin LB Jason Lamberth LB Pat Moorer LB Rick Mulberry DB Mark Murray LB Glenn Neely DL Jim Nicoletto LB Gerry Odom LB Louis Oliver DB Fr Huey Richardson LB Jeff Roth DL Kerry Watkins DB Rhondy Weston DL Jarvis Williams DB Andy Elton K Jamie McAndrew P Sr Robert McGinty K Galen Hall Zaven Yaralian (DC) Mike Heimerdinger (WR) Rankings November 2025 1987 NCAA Division I-A football rankings 15 15 AP 20 т NR NR NR 19 18 14 11 10 17 NR RV RV NR NR NR Coaches 20 NR NR 15 18 19 14 11 11 18 NR NR NR NR NR NR References Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Florida Gators football