Florida Gators to host Billy Napier's alma mater in 2028
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators football team will host Furman University at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sept. 2, 2028, it was announced on Monday. UF coach Billy Napier played for the Paladins.
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.
Napier completed 64.8 percent of his career passes, setting a school record. As the team captain during a record-setting senior season, Napier amassed 2,475 passing yards, also a Furman record, and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the nation’s most outstanding FCS offensive player.
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, winning the last seven contests.
Florida Gators 2025 football schedule
The Gators open the 2025 season in The Swamp on Aug. 30 against Long Island University, a member of the Northeast Conference (NEC). UF’s other non-conference opponents will be South Florida (Sept. 6), Miami (Sept. 20) and FSU (Nov. 29).
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Florida is hosting Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas next year for its three SEC home games. The Gators also will be the home team against Georgia in Jacksonville.
Florida’s road games for the 2025 SEC schedule will be trips to Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. The Gators will have open dates on Sept. 27 before Texas and Oct. 25 before Georgia.
Here’s a look at their full schedule for next season.
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | Long Island University | Gainesville, Florida |
| Sept. 6 | USF | Gainesville, Florida |
| Sept. 13 | LSU | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Sept. 20 | Miami | Miami, Florida |
| Sept. 27 | Bye | |
| Oct. 4 | Texas | Gainesville, Florida |
| Oct. 11 | at Texas A&M | College Station, Texas |
| Oct. 18 | Mississippi State | Gainesville, Florida |
| Oct. 25 | Bye | |
| Nov. 1 | Georgia | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Nov. 8 | at Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Nov. 15 | at Ole Miss | Oxford, Mississippi |
| Nov. 22 | Tennessee | Gainesville, Florida |
| Nov. 29 | Florida State | Gainesville, Florida |
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