Breaking down UF’s game-by-game schedule for the 2022 college football season
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College football 2022 season preview
The Mario Cristobal era has officially begun at the University of Miami after the Hurricanes threw a boatload of cash at the former Oregon coach in the hopes the former UM standout will be able to help Miami return to its glory days.
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Sept. 3 vs. Utah (7 p.m., ESPN): The Utes, defending Pac-12 champions, take on the Gators for the first time since 1977. Utah is No. 7 in the preseason AP Top 25 after a 10-4 record in 2021. Billy Napier makes his debut as Florida’s coach after four seasons at Louisiana. Utah 35-21
Sept. 10 vs. Kentucky (7 p.m., ESPN): Last year, the Wildcats beat the Gators in Lexington for the first time since 1986. While UF holds a 53-19 all-time record over UK, Kentucky is ranked 20th entering the season. UF 31-28
Sept. 17 vs. South Florida (7:30 p.m., SEC Network): In last year’s match-up, also in Gainesville, the Gators jumped to a 35-3 lead at the half and cruised to a 42-20 victory. Before that game, the teams had met only once, an easy UF win in 2010. UF 45-14
Sept. 24 at Tennessee: The Gators contained quarterback Hendon Hooker last year in an early-season victory in Gainesville, although he had 221 passing yards with two TDs. He finished the season with 31 touchdown passes and only three interceptions, putting himself on some Heisman watch lists this season. UF 24-20
Oct. 1 vs. Eastern Washington (noon, ESPN+): Eastern Washington an FCS school, might briefly give the Gators a run for their money. Luckily, “scared money don’t make money.” UF 55-21
Oct. 8 vs. Missouri: The story line here is obvious: The Gators lost at Missouri last year, 24-23 in overtime. This year, the game is in The Swamp and it’s the homecoming game for Florida. UF 27-12
Oct. 15 vs. LSU: While LSU was a 15-0 powerhouse as recently as 2019, they fell into mediocrity the last two seasons (11-11 combined), leading to the departure of Ed Orgeron and the arrival of Chip Kelly, who ended his long run at Notre Dame on a high note with a 11-1 season. Florida is 3-7 in the past 10 match-ups against LSU and lost 49-42 last season in Baton Rouge. UF 26-21
Oct. 29 vs. Georgia at Jacksonville (3:30 p.m., CBS): The reigning national champions will be the ultimate test of the Gators’ potential. Coach Kirby Smart still has depth on defense despite losing five standouts to the NFL draft. Georgia 21-14
Nov. 5 at Texas A&M: UF is 1-2 against the Aggies since they joined the SEC a decade ago, the most recent meeting a 41-38 loss in College Station in 2020. A&M lost four SEC games last season but enters this season ranked sixth by AP. The quarterback is expected to be Haynes King, who started the first two games last season before he suffered a broken leg.Texas A&M 42-27
Nov. 12 vs. South Carolina: This swing game favors the Orange and Blue — Florida is 16-2 against the Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators lost 40-17 at South Carolina last season. South Carolina’s new quarterback is Oklahoma transfer Spencer Rattler. UF 32-18
Nov. 19 at Vanderbilt: Florida has won eight games in a row against Vanderbilt — which was 0-8 in the SEC last season — and will almost certainly pick up No. 9 in Nashville. UF 48-10
Nov. 25 at Florida State (7:30 p.m., ABC): It’s a prime-time game the night after Thanksgiving. In years past, this was a match-up of powerhouses. Now it’s a great regional rivalry. Last year, Florida won 24-21 in Gainesville. Dual-threat quarterback Jordan Travis returns to start for the Seminoles. Florida 28-17
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 1:45 PM.
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