Editing Emmitt Smith (section)

=== 1988 season ===
The Gators got off to a 5–0 start in [[1988 Florida Gators football team|1988]] with Smith averaging over 120 rushing yards per game. However, during the sixth contest against [[Memphis Tigers football|Memphis State]] in mid-October, he was sidelined with a sprained knee while starting quarterback Kyle Morris broke his finger, leading to an upset loss.<ref>{{cite news |title=Southeast Roundup: Florida Upset by Memphis State; LSU Beats Auburn With Late Score |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-09-sp-5466-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 9, 1988}}</ref> Smith was unable to return to action for a month, during which Florida lost four games in a row and did not score a touchdown in 14 consecutive quarters of play, including a 16–0 loss to [[1988 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] that is their most recent shutout to date.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tully |first=Jonathan |date=October 30, 2021 |title=When was the last time the Florida Gators were shut out? It's been a long time. |url=https://www.gatorsports.com/story/football/2021/10/30/when-last-time-gators-were-shut-out-its-been-while/6214521001/ |website=Gatorspots.com |publisher=The Gainesville Sun}}</ref>

Smith returned to the lineup in mid-November and Florida won two of its final three games, highlighted by a victory in the [[1988 All-American Bowl]] in which he ran 55-yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and was named the game's MVP.<ref name="bowlrecords">{{cite book | url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Bowls.pdf | title=Bowl / All-Star Game Records | publisher=NCAA | year=2011 | pages=100}}</ref> Smith rushed for 988 yards on the year (not including the bowl game) at 110 yards per game, the lowest totals of his college career.<ref name=ufmediaguide />