Steve Spurrier gives early outlook to Florida's 2025 season: 'We hope and believe we hit that turning point'

Entering an important 2025 season, there is some hope for Billy Napier at Florida. Last year ended on a nice four-game winning streak, getting the Gators to 8-5 overall. Now, the expectation is to better the record and possibly compete inside the SEC.

At least, that’s what Steve Spurrier is hoping for. He believes Florida hit a “turning point” late in the 2024 campaign with a couple of those wins. Momentum will need to carry over into this fall with another brutal schedule heading the Gators’ way.

“We hope and believe we hit that turning point last year when LSU came in, and Ole Miss, and we got those two big wins here at home,” Spurrier said via Another Dooley Noted Podcast. “Of course, won the last couple games. We’re on a streak right now and hopefully, can continue.”

On3’s Ari Wasserman ranked Florida quite high in his post-spring top 25, coming in at No. 11. Only four SEC teams were ahead of the Gators, possibly putting them in the College Football Playoff conversation.

Speaking of, On3’s Andy Staples does have Florida in his projected 12-team CFP field. Napier would take his team up to the Pacific Northwest to face off against Oregon, and Staples has Dan Lanning‘s squad advancing into the quarterfinals. However, if you were to ask UF fans right now in a Playoff appearance would do, many would say yes.

All this to say, people from the outside see an avenue for Florida to be back in the national spotlight this season. Nothing new for the program, in general. Just ask Spurrier, who says there can be some positives to having preseason hype from the media.

“Hopefully, they would say that,” Spurrier said. “We thought we were pretty good and there’s nothing wrong with thinking you’re good.”

Florida will begin the year with two nonconference games many will expect them to have no trouble with, LIU and USF. Both will take place in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, giving Napier’s squad a chance to ease into what will become one of college football’s most difficult schedules on paper.

Ten power conference games will follow. An eight-game SEC schedule, which is considered tough in its own right, plus two massive in-state rivalries against Florida State and Miami. Bringing last year’s four-game winning streak into this season would present Florida with an opportunity to stack a ton of massive wins together.