The Florida Gators program feels uncertain right now. It was just 2020 when Kyle Trask and Dan Mullen led the Gators to the SEC Championship game. But fast forward two and a half years and the Gators football program has a lot of question marks around it. Billy Napier's first season was not great after a week 1 win against Utah in The Swamp. They finished with a 6-7 record and three losses to close out the campaign against Vanderbilt, Florida State, and Oregon State. The Gators are also breaking in a new quarterback this season now that Anthony Richardson is with the Colts. Graham Mertz transferred in from Wisconsin and is competing with Jack Miller for the starting job. Neither looked great in the spring game, but it's a spring game. Gators fans can easily justify the lethargic offensive performances with a great defense.
Moving the Florida football program forward seems like a tall task for Billy Napier. 2024 features road games against Utah, Kentucky, and LSU plus Tennessee at home and Georgia in Jacksonville. Another .500 season seems inevitable for Florida in 2023. But looking ahead at the Florida Gators 2024 schedule and it is loaded. The SEC released their 2024 schedule with Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference. The Gators dodge the Sooners in 2024 but they do have a trip to Austin (date TBD). One silver lining for the Gators is they only leave the state 3 times... so there's that. The Gators have a nice start to the 2024 class with 5-star quarterback DJ Langway headlining the 8 players already committed. Here's the Florida Gators 2023 schedule and it is loaded!
8/31 vs Miami Hurricanes
I understand the Gators not wanting to play Miami every year. They have their SEC schedule plus Florida State locked in. But I love it when these schools play on the gridiron. Kudos to both programs for making the game happen.
9/7 vs Samford
This is the only non-power 5 program the Gators will face in 2024. They really need to win this game.
10/5 vs UCF
This is game 1 of 2 games against UCF at The Swamp with the other being in 2033. The Gators will travel to Orlando in 2030 in the 2 for 1 agreement. UCF fans are feeling themselves as they head into the BIG12 this year. Bringing rights are on the line for this one.
10/26 vs UGA (in Jacksonville)
There was some worry that the SEC would have to do away with some of the traditional rivalries with Texas and OU coming into the conference. I don't think this game was every in jeopardy of being nixed.
11/30 at Florida State
One of the best rivalries in college football. Florida State should serve as a blueprint for the Gators under Napier. Like the Noles trusted Mike Norvell to turn it around, the Gators need to give Napier time to do the same. It is really cool that the Gators will play the hurricanes, Knights, and Noles in the same season. Sweep them and give the team state championship rings.
Date TBD vs Kentucky
This was an automatic win for the Gators for the longest time. But in recent years Mark Stoops has turned the UK football program into a solid SEC program. Good thing the Gators will get the Cats at home.
Date TBD vs LSU
I really thought this game could be on the chopping block. And if the SEC goes to a pod system or just a rotating schedule, this could be a game that is no longer an annual feature. But that's not the case for 2024. Brian Kelly is a damn good coach and looks to have the LSU program knocking on the door as a elite program in the country.
Date TBD vs Ole Miss
This is the type of game we hope to see more of in the SEC moving forward. Ole Miss has only visited Gainesville once since the infamous "I Promise" speech Tim Tebow delivered in 2008 and the teams have only played twice since then.
Date TBD vs Texas A&M
The Gators get A&M... again. This will mark the 3rd time in 5 season the Aggies and Gators will square off with each team taking 1 game. A&M had a down year last year and if they replicate that in 2023 then the program could move on from Jimbo. But there is a ton of talent on A&M's roster and could turn it around quickly.
Date TBD at Mississippi State
The Gators and Mississippi State have only played once since 2011, and that was a 2019 win for the Gators 13-6. This is just 1 of 3 true road games in the conference and 1 of 3 games outside of the state of Florida.
Date TBD at Tennessee
This was another rivalry game that was never really in doubt of being axed. The history and tradition of these two programs almost forces them to play annually. This game is always at the beginning of the season. Maybe the date changes based on the new schedule and this game could be a late season matchup.
Date TBD at Texas
These teams have not faced off since America entered World War II. The Longhorns bet the Gators in 1939 and 1940 be a combined 38-0. Their other matchup came in 1924 (100 years earlier that their latest matchup) and was a 7-7 tie. The contrasting orange's on the field will be a thing of beauty.
