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Florida has the third-hardest 2023 schedule, according to ESPN

On3 imageby:Donavon Keiser•05/22/23•

KeiserDonavon

Florida Gators at spring practice
Photo courtesy of UAA Communication

In year two of the Billy Napier tenure, the Florida Gators have their work cut out for them. According to ESPN’s SOS rating, the Gators will face the third-hardest schedule during the 2023 season.

After going 6-7 in year one, Florida brought in Wisconsin transfer quarterback Graham Mertz to replace No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson. The Gators addressed other needs in the transfer portal on the offensive line and on defense and brought in young high-school talent across the board, especially at wide receiver and along the defensive line.

Now, Florida looks to take another step in the right direction as the Gators face a gauntlet of challengers during the fall.

To kick off the 2023 season, the Gators travel to Salt Lake City, taking on the Utah Utes who finished 10-4 last season on Thursday, August 31. The Gators won last season, thanks to a game-saving interception on the goal line by now-departed linebacker Amari Burney.

After the SEC-Pac-12 matchup in week one, Florida travels home for three straight home games against McNeese St., Tennessee and Charlotte. Week five has Florida traveling to Lexington to take on the Wildcats as SEC East play continues. Florida welcomes the Vanderbilt Commodores to town on October 7 for Homecoming and heads to Columbia to take on South Carolina a week later.

Florida then has a bye before its matchup with the two-time defending champion Georgia Bulldogs. Arkansas travels to Gainesville after the WLOCP. LSU and Florida matchup late this year, facing off in Baton Rogue on November 11. Florida finishes off the year traveling to Columbia, Missouri and then hosts in-state rival Florida State on November 25.

The full top 25 list of hardest schedules

  1. Ole Miss Rebels
  2. Minnesota Golden Gophers
  3. Florida Gators
  4. Maryland Terrapins
  5. Auburn Tigers
  6. Arkansas Razorbacks
  7. Michigan State Spartans
  8. Tennessee Volunteers
  9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
  10. Indiana Hoosiers
  11. South Carolina Gamecocks
  12. Texas Longhorns
  13. Kentucky Wildcats
  14. Penn State Nittany Lions
  15. LSU Tigers
  16. Texas A&M Aggies
  17. Purdue Boilermakers
  18. Alabama Crimson Tide
  19. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
  20. Missouri Tigers
  21. Michigan Wolverines
  22. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
  23. Ohio State Buckeyes
  24. Mississippi State Bulldogs
  25. Wisconsin Badgers

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