Florida Gators vs. Utah Utes: How to watch, TV channel, streaming, game time
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It’s the eve of the Billy Napier era. In one day Napier will lead the Florida Gators out of the tunnel to take on No. 7 Utah.
This is just the third time in program history that Florida is opening the season in The Swamp against a ranked opponent. The Gators won both of their previous season openers against ranked opponents in The Swamp (No. 7 Houston – Sept. 20, 1969 and No. 15 Miami Sept. 4, 1982).
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The Gators also own the longest-active home-opener win streak in the FBS with 32-straight wins (last loss, 1989: 24-19 vs. Ole Miss), losing just one season opener (2017 – No. 11 Michigan 33, No. 17 Florida 17 – Arlington, Tex.) since 1990.
The Utes will be a tough test for Napier and the Gators.
How to watch the Gators vs Utah
When: Sat., Sept. 3
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern
TV: ESPN
Stream: Watch ESPN
On The Call:
Play-by-Play: Bob Wischusen
Analyst: Dan Orlovsky
Reporter: Kris Budden
Betting the game
Moneyline: Utah -115, Florida +115
Spread: Utah -3 (Utah is favored to win by 3 points)
Over/Under: 50.5
Storylines
Florida’s first depth chart for the season opener.
Napier urges fans to show up early and create a hostile environment for Utah.
Anthony Richardson looking to keep himself healthy and available by avoiding unecessary contact.
Two big injury updates for the Gators this Saturday.
An unlikely player has earned a starting job.
Five Utah Utes players to keep an eye on.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham compares Anthony Richardson to Cam Newton.
Deeper than the depth chart, Napier says there are rotational players that will make an impact.
Watch: Season breakdown
Game Notes
- This is the second-ever meeting between Florida and Utah and the first since UF’s 38-29 home victory on Nov. 19, 1977
- Billy Napier is looking to become the first UF HC to beat a ranked team in his first game as head coach.
- Napier and Whittingham have crossed paths once before. Napier was the offensive coordinator at Arizona State in 2017, when ASU defeated Utah on the road, 30-10.
- Since 1978, UF has never been an underdog in a home opener.
- The last time Florida was an underdog in a season opener in The Swamp was on Sept. 20, 1969 vs. No. 7 Houston. An unranked Florida team won that contest in convincing fashion, 59-34, and went on to finish 9-1-1 with a Gator Bowl victory over SEC Champion Tennessee.
- Florida boasts a 350-111-13 (.752) all-time record at The Swamp, holding the second-highest home winning percentage in the nation since 1990 with a 169-32 (.841) record.
