Gators-Seminoles rivalry game canceled with SEC announcement

Gators and Seminoles fans, it looks like the big rivalry football game isn’t happening this year because of the pandemic. Both universities look forward to the football game every year.

The SEC — the Gators’ conference — announced it will only play within conference to keep players safe.

The Gators hold the lead in the series over the Seminoles, 36 to 26, with two ties. And that record is staying that way for at least one more year.

Fans we spoke to Thursday get pumped up for these big rivalry games. Many are just happy we are one step closer to having football back on Saturdays.

“People have been out of work or stuck at home with the kids,” MacKenson Thimote said. “So something to take their mind off, you know, all the madness.”

The SEC announced the return of football. The Gators will be back in Ben Hill Griffin stadium this fall, but the season now kicks off three weeks later Sept. 26.

“It’s not killing me, but I do miss it,” Alex Jordan said. “I mean, I definitely want to see some football.”

The schedule is also cut down to 10 games. Teams in the SEC will now only play in-conference games. That means some of the huge rivalry games, like the game against FSU, are now out.

“That’s the biggest game of the year, so it would be a big loss,” Cheryl Baxter said.

“Rivalry games, they’re more exciting than the regular games. You know what I mean?” Kaimie Ojeda said.

The revised schedules for SEC teams will be announced at a later time. But fans are just thankful it’s coming back.

“It’s all exciting, man,” Ojeda said. “Everybody looks forward to those games.”

The one thing we consistently heard from fans is that they hope fans are allowed at the stadiums. They say that adds to much of the atmosphere at the games, and it wouldn’t be the same without them. The SEC has not announced a plan for fans.