Florida State University Athletics
The Sod Cemetery
Florida State’s sod cemetery holds chunks of the field from 114 great Seminole wins away from home. Read stories on each sod cemetery game.
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Spanning more than seven decades, “sod games” and the Florida State University Sod Cemetery have been a rich part of the Seminoles college football history, commemorating many of the greatest victories.
1962
In 1962, as the Seminoles completed their Thursday practice in preparation to face Georgia at Sanford Stadium, Dean Coyle Moore – a long-time professor and member of FSU’s athletic board – issued a challenge: “Bring back some sod from between the hedges at Georgia.”
OCT. 20 – FSU 18, GEORGIA 0
On Saturday, October 20, the Seminoles scored an 18-0 victory over the favored Bulldogs. Team captain Gene McDowell pulled a small piece of grass from the field, which was presented to Moore at the next football practice. Moore and FSU coach Bill Peterson had the sod buried on the practice field as a symbol of victory. A monument was placed to commemorate the triumph and the tradition of the sod game was born.
ON THE ROAD: UNDERDOG, UF, ACC TITLE, BOWLS
Before leaving for all road games in which Florida State is the underdog, all road games at the University of Florida and all ACC championship and postseason games, Seminole captains gather their teammates to explain the significance of the tradition. Victorious captains return with a piece of the opponent’s turf to be buried in the Sod Cemetery inside the gates of the practice field.
Away from home and against the odds, Florida State sod games represent the most difficult battles on the football field. The Sod Cemetery stands as a tribute to those triumphs, to be enjoyed by the Seminole faithful.
THE GAMES
| Sod No. | Date | Opponent | Score | Site | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10/20/1962 | Georgia | 18-0 | Sanford Stadium - Athens, Ga. | |
| 2 | 11/10/1962 | Georgia Tech | 14-14 | Grant Field - Atlanta, Ga. | |
| 3 | 11/24/1962 | Auburn | 14-14 | Cliff Hare Stadium - Auburn, Ala. | |
| 4 | 9/20/1963 | Miami | 24-0 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 5 | 9/19/1964 | Miami | 14-0 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 6 | 9/26/1964 | TCU | 10-0 | Amon G. Carter Stadium - Ft. Worth, Texas | |
| 7 | 10/17/1964 | Georgia | 17-14 | Sanford Stadium - Athens, Ga. | |
| 8 | 1/2/1965 | Oklahoma | 36-19 | Gator Bowl Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | Gator Bowl |
| 9 | 9/24/1966 | Miami | 23-20 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 10 | 10/15/1966 | Texas Tech | 42-33 | Jones Stadium - Lubbock, Texas | |
| 11 | 11/5/1966 | South Carolina | 32-10 | Carolina Stadium - Columbia, S.C. | |
| 12 | 9/23/1967 | #2 Alabama | 37-37 | Legion Field - Birmingham, Ala. | |
| 13 | 10/7/1967 | Texas A&M | 19-18 | Kyle Field - College Station, Texas | |
| 14 | 11/4/1967 | Memphis State | 26-7 | Memorial Stadium - Memphis, Tenn. | |
| 15 | 11/25/1967 | Florida | 21-16 | Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 16 | 12/30/1967 | #10 Penn State | 17-17 | Gator Bowl Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | Gator Bowl |
| 17 | 10/26/1968 | South Carolina | 35-28 | Carolina Stadium - Columbia, S.C. | |
| 18 | 11/16/1968 | NC State | 48-7 | Carter Stadium - Raleigh, N.C. | |
| 19 | 11/29/1968 | #10 Houston | 40-20 | Gator Bowl Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | |
| 20 | 9/26/1969 | Miami | 16-14 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 21 | 11/8/1969 | Virginia Tech | 10-10 | Lane Stadium - Blacksburg, Va. | |
| 22 | 10/24/1970 | South Carolina | 21-13 | Carolina Stadium - Columbia, S.C. | |
| 23 | 10/30/1970 | Miami | 27-3 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 24 | 11/8/1974 | Miami | 21-14 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 25 | 11/1/1975 | Clemson | 43-7 | Memorial Stadium - Clemson, S.C. | |
| 26 | 11/22/1975 | Houston | 33-22 | Astrodome - Houston, Texas | |
| 27 | 10/9/1976 | #13 Boston College | 28-9 | Alumni Stadium - Chestnut Hill, Mass. | |
| 28 | 11/13/1976 | North Texas State | 21-20 | Fouts Field - Denton, Texas | |
| 29 | 10/1/1977 | Oklahoma State | 25-17 | Lewis Field - Stillwater, Okla. | |
| 30 | 12/3/1977 | Florida | 37-9 | Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 31 | 12/23/1977 | Texas Tech | 40-17 | Tangerine Bowl Stadium - Orlando, Fla. | Tangerine Bowl |
| 32 | 9/9/1978 | Syracuse | 28-0 | Archbold Stadium - Syracuse, N.Y. | |
| 33 | 9/15/1979 | Arizona State | 31-3 | Tampa Stadium - Tampa, Fla. | |
| 34 | 10/27/1979 | LSU | 24-19 | Tiger Stadium - Baton Rouge, La. | |
| 35 | 11/23/1979 | Florida | 27-16 | Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 36 | 9/6/1980 | LSU | 16-0 | Tiger Stadium - Baton Rouge, La. | |
| 37 | 10/4/1980 | #3 Nebraska | 18-14 | Memorial Stadium - Lincoln, Neb. | |
| 38 | 10/3/1981 | #7 Ohio State | 36-27 | Ohio Stadium - Columbus, Ohio | |
| 39 | 10/10/1981 | Notre Dame | 19-13 | Notre Dame Stadium - South Bend, Ind. | |
| 40 | 10/2/1982 | Ohio State | 34-17 | Ohio Stadium - Columbus, Ohio | |
| 41 | 10/30/1982 | #16 Miami | 24-7 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 42 | 12/30/1982 | #10 West Virginia | 31-12 | Gator Bowl Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | Gator Bowl |
| 43 | 9/10/1983 | #13 LSU | 40-35 | Tiger Stadium - Baton Rouge, La. | |
| 44 | 10/29/1983 | Arizona State | 29-26 | Sun Devil Stadium - Tempe, Ariz. | |
| 45 | 12/30/1983 | North Carolina | 28-3 | Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - Atlanta, Ga. | Peach Bowl |
| 46 | 9/22/1984 | #4 Miami | 38-3 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 47 | 11/3/1984 | Arizona State | 52-44 | Sun Devil Stadium - Tempe, Ariz. | |
| 48 | 12/22/1984 | Georgia | 17-17 | Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando, Fla. | Citrus Bowl |
| 49 | 9/7/1985 | #10 Nebraska | 17-13 | Memorial Stadium - Lincoln, Neb. | |
| 50 | 12/30/1985 | #19 Oklahoma State | 34-23 | Gator Bowl Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | Gator Bowl |
| 51 | 12/31/1986 | Indiana | 27-13 | Legion Field - Birmingham, Ala. | All-American Bowl |
| 52 | 9/26/1987 | Michigan State | 31-3 | Spartan Stadium - East Lansing, Mich. | |
| 53 | 11/7/1987 | #6 Auburn | 34-6 | Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala. | |
| 54 | 11/28/1987 | Florida | 28-14 | Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 55 | 1/1/1988 | #5 Nebraska | 31-28 | Sun Devil Stadium - Tempe, Ariz. | Fiesta Bowl |
| 56 | 9/17/1988 | #3 Clemson | 24-21 | Memorial Stadium - Clemson, S.C. | |
| 57 | 1/2/1989 | #7 Auburn | 13-7 | Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, La. | Sugar Bowl |
| 58 | 12/2/1989 | Florida | 24-17 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 59 | 1/1/1990 | #6 Nebraska | 41-17 | Sun Devil Stadium - Tempe, Ariz. | Fiesta Bowl |
| 60 | 12/28/1990 | #7 Penn State | 24-17 | Joe Robbie Stadium - Miami Gardens, Fla. | Blockbuster Bowl |
| 61 | 9/28/1991 | #3 Michigan | 51-31 | Michigan Stadium - Ann Arbor, Mich. | |
| 62 | 1/1/1992 | #9 Texas A&M | 10-2 | Cotton Bowl Stadium - Dallas, Texas | Cotton Bowl |
| 63 | 9/12/1992 | #15 Clemson | 24-20 | Memorial Stadium - Clemson, S.C. | |
| 64 | 10/17/1992 | #16 Georgia Tech | 29-24 | Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field - Atlanta, Ga. | |
| 65 | 1/1/1993 | #11 Nebraska | 27-14 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | Orange Bowl |
| 66 | 11/27/1993 | #7 Florida | 33-21 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 67 | 1/1/1994 | #2 Nebraska | 18-16 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | Orange Bowl - National Championship |
| 68 | 11/12/1994 | Notre Dame | 23-16 | Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando, Fla. | Texaco Star Classic |
| 69 | 1/2/1995 | #4 Florida | 23-17 | Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, La. | Sugar Bowl |
| 70 | 1/1/1996 | #6 Notre Dame | 31-26 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | Orange Bowl |
| 71 | 11/8/1997 | #5 North Carolina | 20-3 | Kenan Memorial Stadium - Chapel Hill, N.C. | |
| 72 | 1/1/1998 | #9 Ohio State | 31-14 | Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, La. | Sugar Bowl |
| 73 | 11/20/1999 | #3 Florida | 30-23 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 74 | 1/4/2000 | #2 Virginia Tech | 46-29 | Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, La. | Sugar Bowl - National Championship |
| 75 | 1/1/2002 | #15 Virginia Tech | 30-17 | Alltel Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | Gator Bowl |
| 76 | 11/29/2003 | #11 Florida | 38-34 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 77 | 1/1/2005 | West Virginia | 30-18 | Alltel Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | Gator Bowl |
| 78 | 9/17/2005 | #17 Boston College | 28-17 | Alumni Stadium - Chestnut Hill, Mass. | |
| 79 | 12/3/2005 | #5 Virginia Tech | 27-22 | Alltel Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | ACC Championship |
| 80 | 9/4/2006 | #12 Miami | 13-10 | Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla. | |
| 81 | 12/27/2006 | UCLA | 44-27 | AT&T Park - San Francisco, Calif. | Emerald Bowl |
| 82 | 9/29/2007 | #22 Alabama | 21-14 | Municipal Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | |
| 83 | 11/3/2007 | #2 Boston College | 27-17 | Alumni Stadium - Chestnut Hill, Mass. | |
| 84 | 10/4/2008 | Miami | 41-39 | Dolphin Stadium - Miami Gardens, Fla. | |
| 85 | 11/22/2008 | #22 Maryland | 37-3 | Byrd Stadium - College Park, Md. | |
| 86 | 12/27/2008 | Wisconsin | 42-13 | Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando, Fla. | Champs Sports Bowl |
| 87 | 9/19/2009 | #7 BYU | 54-28 | LaVell Edwards Stadium - Provo, Utah | |
| 88 | 10/22/2009 | North Carolina | 30-27 | Kenan Memorial Stadium - Chapel Hill, N.C. | |
| 89 | 11/14/2009 | Wake Forest | 41-28 | BB&T Field - Winston-Salem, N.C. | |
| 90 | 1/1/2010 | #18 West Virginia | 33-21 | Jacksonville Municipal Stadium - Jacksonville, Fla. | Gator Bowl |
| 91 | 10/9/2010 | #13 Miami | 45-17 | Sun Life Stadium - Miami Gardens, Fla. | |
| 92 | 12/31/2010 | #19 South Carolina | 26-17 | Georgia Dome - Atlanta, Ga. | Chick-fil-A Bowl |
| 93 | 11/26/2011 | Florida | 21-7 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 94 | 12/29/2011 | Notre Dame | 18-14 | Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando, Fla. | Champs Sports Bowl |
| 95 | 12/1/2012 | Georgia Tech | 21-15 | Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, N.C. | ACC Championship |
| 96 | 1/1/2013 | #16 Northern Illinois | 31-10 | Sun Life Stadium - Miami Gardens, Fla. | Orange Bowl |
| 97 | 10/19/2013 | #3 Clemson | 51-14 | Memorial Stadium - Clemson, S.C. | |
| 98 | 11/30/2013 | Florida | 37-7 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 99 | 12/7/2013 | #20 Duke | 45-7 | Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, N.C. | ACC Championship |
| 100 | 1/6/2014 | #2 Auburn | 34-31 | Rose Bowl Stadium - Pasadena, Calif. | BCS National Championship |
| 101 | 12/6/2014 | #12 Georgia Tech | 37-35 | Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, N.C. | ACC Championship |
| 102 | 11/28/2015 | #10 Florida | 27-2 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 103 | 10/8/2016 | #10 Miami | 20-19 | Hard Rock Stadium - Miami Gardens, Fla. | |
| 104 | 12/30/2016 | #6 Michigan | 33-32 | Hard Rock Stadium - Miami Gardens, Fla. | Orange Bowl |
| 105 | 11/5/2017 | Florida | 38-22 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 106 | 12/27/2017 | Southern Mississippi | 42-13 | Independence Bowl - Shreveport, La. | Independence Bowl |
| 107 | 11/9/2019 | Boston College | 38-31 | Alumni Stadium - Chestnut Hill, Mass. | |
| 108 | 10/9/2021 | North Carolina | 35-25 | Kenan Stadium - Chapel Hill, N.C. | |
| 109 | 11/20/2021 | Boston College | 26-23 | Alumni Stadium - Chestnut Hill, Mass. | |
| 110 | 12/29/2022 | Oklahoma | 35-32 | Camping World Stadium - Orlando, Fla. | Cheez-It Bowl |
| 111 | 9/3/2023 | #5 LSU | 45-24 | Camping World Stadium - Orlando, Fla. | |
| 112 | 9/23/2023 | Clemson | 31-24 | Memorial Stadium - Clemson, S.C. | |
| 113 | 11/25/2023 | Florida | 24-15 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field - Gainesville, Fla. | |
| 114 | 12/2/2023 | #14 Louisville | 16-6 | Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, N.C. | ACC Championship |