In 1947 , the Florida Legislature reorganized the state 's university system again . In order to accommodate the post-World War II surge in college enrollment , both the University of Florida and Florida State College for Women became coeducational , with the Tallahassee institution taking its present name , " Florida State University . " Florida State immediately established a football program for the 1947 season , and helped to found the non-scholarship Dixie Conference along with several other small football programs in 1948 . After three seasons , FSU became an independent program , began offering football scholarships , and scheduled their first games against major college programs in 1951 , at which point FSU 's coaches , players and students began calling for games against the Gators
independent
NCAA Division I FBS independent schools
Florida–Florida State football rivalry