.png)
_edited_edited.png)
The Florida Gators walk into 2024 with not only the toughest schedule in the Southeastern Conference, but also the toughest schedule in all of college football. Of the Gators' 12 opponents, 11 are in the FBS and nine of them are currently ranked.
With the season being an instance of "win-now or be fired" for Gators' coach Billy Napier, this schedule has put him in a difficult situation, and things aren't looking good for the Gators or Napier.
Week 1: Miami Hurricanes
The Gators open up the season with a home game against in-state rival the Miami Hurricanes. The teams last met in 2019 when they opened up the season in Week 0 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Both squads looked rusty, but it was the Gators that pulled off the 24-20 win.
Five years later, the two teams face off in the Swamp for the first time since 2008. Miami owns the all-time series against the Gators, leading 29-27. The Gators could bring the series closer as the teams are expected to play a home-and-home series with Florida playing in Miami Gardens in 2025. The stadium will be packed for the Gators' home opener. We like Florida's chances anytime in a sold-out Swamp. Gators, 27-17. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Samford Bulldogs
After a challenging start to the season, the Gators will remain at home for their "cupcake" game of the year. The only issue is that this game won't be so easy. Florida played the Samford Bulldogs once before in 2021, when the Gators won a matchup where the final score looked more like that of a basketball game, 70-51. With this being the second matchup and both teams looking very different, the score should be a bit more normal. The Gators win, but not drastically, 38-14.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: Texas A&M Aggies
The Texas A&M Aggies come to Gainesville, Fla., in Week 3. Last time these two schools faced off, the Gators won in College Station, Texas, 41-24. That was in 2022 with Anthony Richardson as the Gators quarterback. The last time the two met in Gainesville, the Aggies won by just two, with the Gators missing a late field goal to give Texas A&M the win. However, the two squads could not be more far apart this year. The Gators will be struggling to get more than five wins (last year's win total) while the Aggies will start the year ranked and will be fighting for a place in the expanded playoff. While the game will be in the Swamp, we give it to the Aggies, 31-10.
Record: 2-1
Week 4: at Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Gators' first road trip of the season will be against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In a series that has been dominated by Florida 34-19-2, this matchup will be very interesting. Both teams aren't in the best of states, but what separates the two is Napier's ability to recruit from high school and in the Transfer Portal. For this reason, we have the Gators walking away with the win, 35-24, despite the fact that it is in Starkville, Miss. The Gators have a decent amount of youthful talent should get them through this matchup.
Record: 3-1
Week 5: Bye
The Gators hypothetically enter their first bye week with a 3-1 record. So what is all this noise about a difficult schedule? Everything changes in the second half of the season.
Week 6: UCF Knights
In Week 6, the Gators will host another in-state rival in UCF. The two schools last played each other in 2021 in the Gasparilla Bowl. The Knights were victorious for the first time over the Gators, winning in Tampa, Fla. There is a possibility of some of the Gators still being on the team in 2024, so the Gators are likely looking forward to this game and will be looking for revenge. We pick the Gators to win in the Swamp, 24-21.
This will be the fourth meeting between the Knights and the Gators, the third in Gainesville. It will be part of a three-part series. The first game will come this season, the second will have to wait until 2030 in UCF's Bounce House and the final bout will be in 2033, back in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Record: 4-1
Week 7: at Tennessee Volunteers
The Gators follow that up by going back on the road to Knoxville, Tenn. Usually the Gators play the Tennessee Volunteers in September as the game is often referred to as "Third Saturday in September" rivalry by fans of both teams. However, due to the SEC's scheduling realignment, this game was moved to October. After a decent season that ended up leaving a few questions (including a loss to Florida in the Swamp), the Volunteers will likely come back stronger as they host the Gators. Florida leads the series 32-21, only suffering two losses to Tennessee since 2004. While the Gators' home streak against the Volunteers is intact for another year, "Rocky Top" will win this one, 31-28.
Record: 4-2
Week 8: Kentucky Wildcats
Another annual Gator rival that, prior to the realignment, was a September regular. Unlike the Volunteers, the Wildcats broke the curse and has started their own streak against the Gators. Despite the Wildcats winning the last three games, the Gators lead the series, 53-21. That is due mainly to the fact that from 1987-2017, the Gators won every game. Not only is Kentucky still trying to make up for 30 years of poor performances on their part, but also they have gotten significantly better under head coach Mark Stoops.
While this game will be played in the Swamp, we take the Wildcats for a win, 35-21.
Record: 4-3
Week 9: Bye
After a tough October, the Gators are hypothetically still 4-3. It isn't bad, but given what November brings, they would have wished they stole a win or two prior to the final month.
Week 10: Georgia Bulldogs
The "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," "Florida-Georgia Game" or the "Georgia-Florida Game," however you may see it, is one of the best rivalries in all of college football, despite its obvious one-sideness in recent years. This game is neutral every year and takes place in the Jacksonville Jaguars' Everbank Stadium. The Gators have only won the game once in the last seven years. They also lead the series 55-44-2. It also hasn't helped Gators fans to see Georgia win back-to-back titles in the last three years. With the way that the Bulldogs were kept out of the playoff last season, they take all of their pent-up anger on the Gators. Georgia, 56-7.
Record: 4-4
Week 11: at Texas Longhorns
With the arrival of the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners from the Big 12 Conference, the SEC has changed up the way things operate in the conference, including the schedules. Because of this, the Gators will be lucky enough to head to Austin, Texas, and face off with Longhorns in one of the more difficult college atmospheres. On top of that, Texas has a very good football team. Led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, this team made the College Football Playoff last season. For Texas, that is the goal again.
The all-time series is 2-0-1 in favor of the Longhorns. The last time the two teams faced was in 1940 where Texas won 26-0. The last time the Gators scored any points was in the first meeting where it ended in a tie, 7-7. With the game taking place in Austin, we expect this to not only be a win for Texas, but a blowout, 49-10, for the SEC rookies.
Record: 4-5
Week 12: LSU Tigers
One thing that seems to be staying the same this year is the Florida-LSU rivalry. The Gators and Tigers have faced off every year since 1971, but with the demolition of the SEC divisions, this rivalry might not happen every year anymore. In recent years, the Tigers have been very successful, winning every game since 2019. However, the games haven't been walks in the park. The largest margin of victory was last year's game in which the Gators lost by 17 points.
With the Tigers losing Jayden Daniels to the draft, it is possible that this game could be a bit closer. It will also be in the Swamp, an added element for the Gators. With the all-time series at 34-33-3 in favor in of LSU, the Gators have the opportunity to not only steal a win at home, but also tie the series. While that would be a treat for the Florida faithful, we have the Gators losing to the Tigers in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 37-34.
Record: 4-6
Week 13: Ole Miss Rebels
The Gators' penultimate regular season game will be Senior Night for Florida seniors, including quarterback Graham Mertz. Unfortunately for the Gators, the Rebels will likely be competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. The all-time series between the two teams is a tie at 12-12-1 with the Gators winning the last two games by double-digits. Ole Miss will head to Gainesville with Heisman Trophy-hopeful Jaxson Dart as their quarterback. On their defense is new transfer and former Gator Princely Umanmielen who will enjoy returning to Gainesville and wrecking havoc on the Florida offense. Florida's morale might not be very high at this point in the season so we give this one to Ole Miss, 38-17.
Record: 4-7
Week 14: at Florida State Seminoles
Perhaps one of the best rivalries in all of college football, and easily the best rivalry in the state of Florida is Florida State versus Florida. It is almost always an instant classic. Regardless of how good (or bad) either team is, this game has been very close historically. In 2023, the Gators were one mistake away from being in the game the entire time as they lost 24-15. However, the Seminoles had some less than convincing wins in the last half of their 2023 season. This season, the Noles will have a new quarterback with DJ Uiagalelei transferring from Oregon State.
Historically, the Gators lead the all-time series with the Noles 37-28-2. However, the Noles have won the last two games in the series. After the near perfect season last year, we pick Florida State to win again, 31-24. While the Noles likely won't go perfect again, they could enjoy a lot of success in their Atlantic Coast Conference schedule.
Record: 4-8
Florida Gators Overview
According to our prediction, the Gators will go 4-8. That would be one game worse than 2023 (5-7) and it might spell the end of Napier's tenure at the University of Florida. It would be the worst record Florida has had since 2017, where former head coach Jim McElwain was fired for going 4-8 as well. If the Gators do go 4-8, despite the incredibly difficult schedule, does Napier suffer the same fate?
.png)
.png)
Comments