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Paul Finebaum drops 'record-scratch' take on 2025 Florida football

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels•about 23 hours•

ChandlerVessels

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Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Paul Finebaum dropped a take that is sure to have more than a few Florida fans up in arms. During an appearance on Andy & Ari On3 with Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman, the SEC Network analyst claimed that it’s not unreasonable to assume the Gators go on a four-game losing streak early in the 2025 season.

In a segment discussing Florida’s schedule, Staples pointed out that it will face LSU, Miami, Texas and Texas A&M in that order beginning in Week 3. Finebaum suggested that it’s not a wild take to say the Gators could lose all of those games. Staples dropped a teaser on X for the episode of the podcast, which you can view below.

“Not even a big statement to say, ‘He should lose all four,'” Finbaum said. “…I’m just saying I don’t really think that’s a big statement to make.”

Of course, both Staples and Wasserman interjected to push back against that. Specifically pointing to games against the Hurricanes and Aggies as being winnable for Florida.

“That’s not right, Paul,” Wasserman said. “They should lose all four? You mean they should lose to A&M and Miami? I don’t know if I would go that far.”

Florida is coming off of an 8-5 finish this past season, which was its best record yet under coach Billy Napier. The Gators ended the year on a four-game winning streak, including winning the Gasparilla Bowl against Tulane and a pair of top 25 wins against LSU and Ole Miss.

Now entering Napier’s fourth year in Gainesville, he has a chance to make a statement. There were plenty of those who doubted him after he went a combined 11-12 in his first two seasons and then started out the 2024 season 1-2, in fact losing against both Texas A&M and Miami.

But it’s a new year, and the Gators have to be feeling good about themselves after the way they ended last season. Quarterback DJ Lagway returns after leading Florida during that stretch to close last season and will have Eugene Wilson III back from injury and talented transfer J. Michael Sturdivant.

But as evidenced by Finebaum, there will still be those who doubt that Florida has truly turned a corner until it can come out strong to start the season. Perhaps Napier and company can use that as even more motivation to attack this brutal early season stretch and surprise a few people.