Florida’s schedule could jeopardize the nation’s longest scoring streak, which began in 1988

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida has the longest scoring streak in college football, a clean sheet streak that has lasted more than three decades.

The Gators have scored points in 448 consecutive games, 53 more than any other team in NCAA history. They will look to extend that record Saturday at the Swamp against their in-state rival and No. 19 ranked Miami.

It would be slightly surprising if the winning streak ended against the Hurricanes. After all, Florida averaged 28.4 points per game in 2023 and returns quarterback Graham Mertz, running back Montrell Johnson and standout receiver Tre Wilson.

But coach Billy Napier’s newly formed offensive line remains questionable and Miami boasts an impressive pass-rush duo in Rueben Bain and Francisco Mauigoa.

“They have a whole group of front-seven players that can cause you problems,” Napier said. “That will certainly be one of the key matchups of the game, along with several other players on offense.”

Florida has gone 35 full seasons without a clean sheet, with the last clean sheet coming on Oct. 29, 1988, against Auburn. The Tigers dominated that day in Gainesville, holding Florida to 116 yards and winning 16-0 while star running back Emmitt Smith watched from the sidelines with a knee injury.

The Gators have scored in every game since then, an impressive streak that spans Steve Spurrier’s coaching career, Tim Tebow’s playing career and several close victories along the way.

The run began with John David Francis’ 44-yard field goal against Georgia a week after the loss to Auburn. But several more exciting games followed, most of them after the end of coach Urban Meyer’s tenure:

With Jack Miller in place of NFL-bound Anthony Richardson, the Gators had nearly as many penalties (11) as first downs (13) and more punting yards (226) than total yards (219). The streak seemed to end before coach Billy Napier sent Adam Mihalek out for a 40-yard field goal with 37 seconds left. No. 14 Oregon State 30, Florida 3.

Richardson’s first career start was a debacle. He lost the ball on three consecutive second-quarter drives against Georgia, effectively giving the Bulldogs three touchdowns, and then left the game with a concussion. Backup Emory Jones’ 2-yard touchdown run with 2:49 left prevented a shutout. No. 1 Georgia 34, Florida 7.

The game is remembered for FSU’s Dalvin Cook, who ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Also notable: The Treon Harris-led Gators were trailing 13-0 with nine minutes left when CeCe Jefferson sacked FSU’s Sean Maguire, forcing a fumble. The ball bounced and rolled into the end zone, where Maguire dropped on it for a safety. No. 14 Florida State 27, No. 10 Florida 2.

Florida threw four interceptions that led to three touchdowns for the Seminoles, who won despite rushing for 95 yards and averaging 1.6 yards per play. The Gators finally got on the scoreboard with 4:16 left thanks to a fumble and a pass interference penalty. Florida State 21, Florida 7.

Meyer and Spurrier had games in their first seasons in which their offenses managed just one field goal: Meyer and Florida were blown out 31-3 at Alabama in 2005; Spurrier and the Gators lost 45-3 at Tennessee in 1990. But none of those games came anywhere close to a shutout, so the streak continued.

Michigan previously held the record, scoring 365 consecutive goals between 1984 and 2014. Florida broke that mark in 2017 against LSU. TCU is currently in second place, scoring points in 395 consecutive games.

Florida is preparing for the most challenging schedule in college football. How safe is the brand and how far can it go? It will likely depend on whether the team can return to its glory years and avoid a fourth consecutive losing season.

“I’ve said it many times and we live by it: We’re here to prove each other right,” Mertz said. “We know what we put on tape last year. Our reputation was that we were 5-7. That means nothing for this year. It’s up to us to decide how we want to write our story.”

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