After offseason of buildup, projections for Florida Gators’ daunting 2025 slate

If it were not for the final three weeks of the regular season last November, Florida football would be dragging into the 2025 season without much optimism. Due to the SEC’s scheduling practices, UF faces the same schedule, save for a pair of non-conference switchups. That means the Gators, who faced six ranked opponents last season, are slated to meet seven teams that debuted in the preseason Associated Press Top 25. Four of UF’s opponents (Texas, Georgia, LSU and Miami) project as top 10 teams.

That is to say, concern would litter Gainesville had Florida not concluded 2024 with four straight wins, including two home victories over No. 21 LSU and No. 9 Ole Miss. But with the ascension of star quarterback DJ Lagway and a defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally over the final month of last season, Florida should expect to be in contention for a College Football Playoff berth for the first time since 2020.

Here is a breakdown of UF football’s schedule and how that could happen.

• Aug. 30 vs. LIU (7 p.m., SEC Network+): The Sharks return starting quarterback Ethan Greenwood, who led the team in rushing and passing with roughly 900 yards apiece. He is an FCS Preseason Third-Team All-American, but the key word there is “FCS.” While every Florida fan remembers the trauma of losing to then-FCS Georgia Southern in 2013, this should be a walkover. Florida 42-7

• Sept. 6 vs. USF (4:15 p.m., SEC Network): South Florida has a good coach in Alex Golesh, who guided the Bulls to consecutive bowl appearances in his first two years in Tampa. He brings back quarterback Byrum Brown, who finished 2023 with 37 total touchdowns but missed eight games last year with a leg injury. This could serve as an in-state trap for UF as it looks ahead to SEC play next week, but the Gators defense should be able to tame an innovative USF attack. Florida 34-14

• Sept. 13 at LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC): Nothing like opening SEC play in Death Valley, where Florida has not won since 2016. The Tigers arguably return the most high-level contributors of any SEC team, including quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. While Florida’s offense should hum, home-field advantage and the experience of Nussmeier and All-American linebacker Whit Weeks could be the difference for the Tigers. LSU 38-28.

• Sept. 20 at Miami (TBA): The Gators have 14 players from greater South Florida, so this will be a homecoming of sorts. But it’s also an opportunity for revenge after the Hurricanes leveled UF 41-17 to open the season last year at The Swamp. Florida also knows new Miami quarterback Carson Beck well from his Georgia days, and should notch its first victory over the familiar foe. Florida 27-23

• Oct. 4 vs. Texas (TBA): Last year, when the Gators traveled to Austin to face Texas for the first time since pre-World War II (1940), they got demolished 49-17 by a well-oiled Longhorn machine. This year, the matchup features arguably the two highest-profile collegiate quarterbacks in Lagway and Arch Manning, and should be an offensive affair. Florida does not have the firepower or experience, though, to outlast the Longhorns. Texas 39-24.

• Oct. 11 at Texas A&M (TBA): Kyle Field is as tough an environment as any, especially if this game falls at night. The Aggies also return quarterback Marcel Reed, who single-handedly threatened Florida coach Billy Napier’s job in Texas A&M’s 33-14 win last September. But the Aggies’ defense should be worse than its 35th ranking in scoring last year, and also features a pair of former Gators edge T.J. Searcy and linebacker Scooby Williams. Florida 24-21

• Oct. 18 vs. Mississippi State (TBA): The Bulldogs are the worst team in the SEC, and last year, they gave UF the jolt of life it needed in September when the Gators won in Starkville 45-28. This season, they will travel to Gainesville, and this could be an opportunity for UF’s new receivers, freshman Dallas Wilson and redshirt senior J. Michael Sturdivant, to get into rhythm before the second bye week. Florida 52-21

• Nov. 1 vs. Georgia (Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m., ABC): Florida has lost seven of the last eight contests of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Gators fans’ ears are accustomed to ringing from barking for at least a week into early November. This year should prove to be a more even contest, but Georgia still has the pedigree to pull out a rivalry win. Georgia 27-19

• Nov. 8 at Kentucky (TBA): Florida has struggled in Lexington lately, losing its last two visits. This should be the moment UF gets back to its winning ways of a decade ago, tossing around a significantly less talented SEC foe. Florida 40-17

• Nov. 15 at Ole Miss (TBA): Florida ended the Rebels’ playoff hopes last season in its 24-17 late-November win that has sponsored much of the Gators’ optimism entering this year. Lane Kiffin has proven he can reset his offense, so replacing Jaxson Dart with Austin Simmons shouldn’t be an issue. Expect the Rebels to return the favor at home. Ole Miss 33-28

• Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee (TBA): The Vols vs. Gators rivalry has leaned one direction since the century mark, but with two Tennessee wins in three years, this is a chance for Florida to reestablish its dominance. Tennessee welcomes a new quarterback, Joey Aguilar, after the Nico Iamaleava saga, and Lagway’s comfortability at home should help outlast the new signal caller. Florida 21-17

• Nov. 29 vs. Florida State (TBA): Florida State is rebuilding from its worst season since 1974, going 2-10. While the Seminoles will see marked improvement, venturing to The Swamp post-Thanksgiving should yield poor results as Florida’s offense is much more dynamic than the quarterback Thomas Castellanos-led Seminoles. Florida 36-22

• The Verdict - 8-4: Returning a bevy of defensive talent, coupled with an offense that has star-caliber skill position pieces like receiver Eugene Wilson III and running back Jadan Baugh, the Gators should make the jump from middling to wandering near the CFP border. At 8-4, they are just on the outside of the playoff looking in, sitting somewhere in the No. 13-16 ranking range.

This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 8:37 AM.