The 2004 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida as a member of the Eastern Division in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Ron Zook in his third and final season as head coach, the Gators compiled an overall record of 7âÂÂ5 with mark of 4âÂÂ4 in conference play, tying for third place in the SEC's Eastern Division. Florida was invited to the Peach Bowl, where the Gators lost to the Miami Hurricanes. The team played home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.
Zook was fired after Florida's loss to Mississippi State on October 2004, but coaching the team through the remainder of the regular season before leaving to home the head football coach at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Florida's defensive coordinator, Charlie Strong, was appointed interim head coach for the team's bowl game.
The match with MTSU was intended to be the season opener for the Gators, but was canceled and rescheduled because of Hurricane Frances. This left the Gators without a regular-season bye week.
Following this loss, head coach Ron Zook was fired, but allowed to coach the remainder of the season.
Ron Zook's last game as head coach of the Florida Gators and spoiled the dedication of the field for Bobby Bowden.
Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was interim head coach for the bowl game.