Steve Spurrier predicts Florida Gators 2024 football season
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators won a lot of football games with Steve Spurrier at the helm — 122 to be exact. The Head Ball Coach turned the Florida football program into a national power and a national brand. The Gators have won two National Championships since Spurrier left, but it’s been 15 years since the Gators competed at that level and were real title contenders.
Spurrier retired from coaching in 2015, stepping down at South Carolina after six games. He came back to the University of Florida as an ambassador in 2016. In the eight years since Spurrier has been back at Florida, the football team has posted a record of 59-41. Spurrier only lost 27 ball games during his 12 years leading the Gators.
Despite the the stuggles over the last decade, Spurrier expressed his confidence in Billy Napier and the Gators.
“Well, we’ve not had a winning season in two years, so that’s not a good start. He feels like, everybody feels like we’ve got a little bit better team this year. We’ve picked up some guys. Of course we’ve lost some guys, but again, if we can get off to a really good start,” Spurrier told Zac and Jay of WDAE radio in Tampa Bay.
“We open up with Miami, I think at 3:30 on August 31st there. If we get off to a good start, build some confidence, Graham (Mertz) is ready to go and (DJ) Lagway — the backup kid — he’s a talented player. We’re in good shape at quarterback, hopefully our defense will be much improved. We can get off to a good start, have a winning season and win a bowl game, that’s what I’m predicting. (A) winning season and win a bowl game and start heading in the right direction.”
Watch Steve Spurrier’s interview with Zac and Jay of WDAE
Florida Gators complete 2024 schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Kickoff time / TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | Miami | Gainesville, Florida | 3:30 / ABC |
| Sep. 7 | Samford | Gainesville, Florida | TBD |
| Sep. 14 | Texas A&M | Gainesville, Florida | 3:30 / ABC |
| Sep. 21 | Mississippi State | Starkville, Mississippi | TBD |
| Sep. 28 | OPEN DATE | ||
| Oct. 7 | UCF | Gainesville, Florida | TBD |
| Oct. 12 | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tennessee | TBD |
| Oct. 19 | Kentucky | Gainesville, Florida | TBD |
| Oct. 26 | OPEN DATE | ||
| Nov. 2 | Georgia | Jacksonville, Florida | 3:30 / ABC |
| Nov. 9 | Texas | Austin, Texas | TBD |
| Nov. 16 | LSU | Gainesville, Florida | TBD |
| Nov. 23 | Ole Miss | Gainesville, Florida | TBD |
| Nov. 30 | Florida State | Tallahassee, Florida | TBD |
