Florida Gators projected to open 2025 as a top-15 preseason team
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The college football season comes to an end on Monday with the national championship game. At least one publication views the Gators a potential CFB Playoff contender in 2025.
Florida closed out 2024 with a four-game winning streak and bowl victory — both for the first time in five years. UF finished the season with eight wins, its most since 2020 — the program’s last winning season.
This week Athlon Sports released its Way-Too-Early Top 25 and Florida is ranked No. 14. Here’s what writer Steven Lassan said of the Gators, head coach Billy Napier and quarterback DJ Lagway:
“The Gators seemed poised for a second straight losing season, and coach Billy Napier was all but fired after a 3-3 start. Instead, the Gators rallied behind Napier down the stretch, defeating LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl to finish the ’24 campaign 8-5. A big reason for the late-season surge was ultra-talented quarterback DJ Lagway’s insertion into the lineup after starter Graham Mertz was lost for the year due to injury. Also, Florida’s defense showed drastic improvement. After surrendering 27.3 points a contest in the team’s first four matchups, the Gators did not allow more than 17 points in each of their final four games. The schedule is tough for Napier’s squad once again in ’25. But with one of the nation’s top quarterbacks under center along with a roster that doesn’t lose many significant contributors, contending for a spot in the playoff is within reach.”
The Gators are one of 10 SEC teams in Athlon’s Way-Too-Early Top 25, along with Texas (2), Georgia (3), LSU (9), Alabama (10), Tennessee (11), South Carolina (12), Ole Miss (19), Texas A&M (20) and Missouri (25).
Florida plays six of those teams in conference play along with Miami, which is ranked No. 8 and the fourth preseason top-10 team on UF’s schedule.
Looking ahead to next season
The Gators open the 2025 season in The Swamp on Aug. 30 against Long Island University. UF’s other non-conference opponents will be South Florida (Sept. 6), Miami (Sept. 20) and FSU (Nov. 29).
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Florida is hosting Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas next year for its three SEC home games. The Gators also will be the home team against Georgia in Jacksonville.
Florida’s road games will be trips to Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. The Gators will have open dates on Sept. 27 before Texas and Oct. 25 before Georgia.
Florida Gators 2025 football schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | Long Island University | Gainesville, Florida |
| Sept. 6 | USF | Gainesville, Florida |
| Sept. 13 | LSU | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Sept. 20 | Miami | Miami, Florida |
| Sept. 27 | Bye | |
| Oct. 4 | Texas | Gainesville, Florida |
| Oct. 11 | at Texas A&M | College Station, Texas |
| Oct. 18 | Mississippi State | Gainesville, Florida |
| Oct. 25 | Bye | |
| Nov. 1 | Georgia | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Nov. 8 | at Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Nov. 15 | at Ole Miss | Oxford, Mississippi |
| Nov. 22 | Tennessee | Gainesville, Florida |
| Nov. 29 | Florida State | Gainesville, Florida |
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