JD PicKell: Week 1 will be a very telling game for Florida vs. Utah

Florida will kick off its 2023 college football season on the road against Utah, and all eyes will be on the matchup set for primetime on Thursday night during Week 1.

The Gators bested the Utes 29-26 in thrilling fashion during 2022’s season opener. Utah has kept its big guns, while UF is changing the face of the program under center after Anthony Richardson left school in favor for the NFL Draft.

On3’s JD PicKell discussed his expectations for both teams heading into the matchup — especially when QB1 Cam Rising might miss the game for Utah while the Florida gunslinger will be making their first start for the program.

“For me, this game is for learning. This is a very big game where we’re going to observe a lot of things. About Utah — yes. But I think even more so about Florida,” PicKell said. For Utah, we have a decent feel for who they are. It feels like the majority of Kyle Whittingham-coached teams are relatively in the same make-up.

“You hope Cam Rising becomes healthy sooner rather than later, but we have a good feel for Utah. Even if they look some kind of way in Week 1 — I’m not pressing the panic button.”

If Rising can’t play, things will be looking much more favorable for the Gators. It won’t be until after this game that head coach Billy Napier will find out whether or not he made the right call at quarterback to begin the season. Still, one game isn’t enough for any coach to give up on a day one starter.

“I don’t expect Florida to be perfect. Whether it’s Jack Miller or Graham Mertz, it won’t be perfect by any stretch of the imagination — but how far off the mark are we from perfect?” PicKell asked. “It’s one thing to look sloppy during Week 1 and have a couple of things to clean up. It’s a whole other thing to go out there in Week 1 and go, ‘Oh boy.'”

This is the type of game a coach looks back on at the beginning of the year and uses it as a measuring tool to determine how far their respective team has grown throughout the season. Still, whatever happens will set the tone for both teams for the remainder of the season. Either way, whichever team comes out victories is earning a quality victory in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee.