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Gators have 5th-toughest schedule among SEC teams, per CBS Sports

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr07/30/25On3Keith
Eugene-Wilson-III-Florida-Gators
Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) gestures with Florida Gators offensive lineman Knijeah Harris (77) and Florida Gators offensive lineman Austin Barber (58) after a first down against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Like with most years, the Florida Gators will have one of the most challenging schedules in college football this season. But where does it rank in terms of difficultly among SEC teams? Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports tackled that subject this week. According to him, UF’s schedule is the fifth-hardest in the conference and here’s what he said:

Florida may have played the toughest schedule in the country in 2024, and though it eases up a bit thanks to the slide of Florida State , it’s still no cake walk. Back-to-back September road trips to LSU and Miami may define the season. Billy Napier needs to get Florida back to that nine- or 10-win mark, even against this schedule, to remain relevant. No doubt he’ll show whether he can do that by midseason. The three-game stretch with LSU, Miami and Texas (after a bye week) will likely determine whether Napier is still the coach in 2026. Trips to Texas A&M and Ole Miss are also on the docket before closing the season at home against Tennessee and Florida State.

Ahead of UF were, 1. Vanderbilt; 2. Mississippi State; 3. Arkansas; 4. Oklahoma.

Below, we’ve noted a few things that add to the challenges ahead for Napier’s program:

—LSU will be the more battle-tested of the two when the Tigers face UF at Tigers Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 13; they play at Clemson in their opener, while the Florida Gators start with Long Island University and USF.

—Yes, UF has a bye week before the Texas game. So does Texas.

—The Aggies were only predicted to finish eighth in the league during SEC Media Days, but that game is on the road for the Gators and comes at the tail end of the brutal LSU-Miami-Texas-Texas A&M stretch for UF. Not only that, but the same day the Gators play host to the Longhorns, Texas A&M has Mississippi State, which was picked dead last in the SEC, at home.

—Last season, Ole Miss beat up No. 3 Georgia pretty good in Oxford, Miss., 28-10. Another possible factor in the UF-Rebels matchup this season: While UF is at Kentucky the previous week, Ole Miss plays host to The Citadel.

—There is no mention in these rankings of the Gators’ annual clash with Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla. That no doubt will be one of Florida’s most important games of the season—and arguably the hardest to win.

The Gators, who being preseason practice Wednesday, open the season Aug. 30 at home vs. FCS Long Island University.

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