Florida Football Filling In Future Schedules

The Florida football program is also thinking longterm when it added Furman University to the 2028 home schedule, it announced on Monday.

The Gators and Paladins have played nine times dating back to the 1922 season, with the last meeting coming in 2011. Florida holds a record of 7-2 against Furman, having won the last seven contests.

Florida starts the 2025 season against Long Island University on Aug. 30 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

2024 Season

The Gators finished their 2024 season with 8-5 overall record following a four-game winning streak. They had two upsets — LSU and Ole Miss. Florida lost to Miami, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Georgia and Texas. What does this mean this their 2025 season? That they have a lot to prove.

Coach Billy Napier topped the list with a lot to prove after the way the Gators 2024 season ended, according to On3, Ari Wasserman:

https://twitter.com/On3sports/status/1904326111703756816

Tough Schedule

The Gators will have a tough schedule to get through this season starting with USF Sept. 6, followed by LSU, Miami and Texas.

Florida hasn’t played USF since 2022. USF finished their 2024 season with a 7-6 record. The game could teeter either way, but it will be interesting to see.

The Gators have proven last season they can beat LSU, but can they do it in Baton Rouge? They haven’t beat LSU in Baton Rouge since 2016.

Miami and Texas took the game last year. DJ Lagway experienced a hamstring injury before the Texas game last season. Florida could have taken that game had the injury not occurred.

Miami lost their quarterback, Cam Ward, plus two of its wide receivers. If Florida can show up like it did to defeat LSU, it may be in a great position to take that game this year.

With a healthy team, Florida could have a fair chance this year at a great record. Taking the first four games could be detrimental to the team’s ability to succeed next season.

UF ticket info can be found here.

As a player, Napier was a four-year letterwinner and two-time All-Southern Conference selection as the starting quarterback at Furman. The Paladins won two conference championships and in 2001, Napier’s junior year, advanced to the Division I-AA national championship game, losing to Montana.

dancing in march#gogators pic.twitter.com/Zjsny3FpUb

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) March 20, 2025