Gators to face 8 teams in AP preseason Top 25
Many have called the Florida Gators’ 2024 schedule the toughest in college football. And, they might be right. When the AP preseason Top 25 was released Monday, eight of Florida’s opponents were on it. Meanwhile, the Gators missed the cut — and in fact didn’t receive a single vote.
Here’s a quick look at Florida’s ranked opponents:
-No. 1 Georgia: The Gators and Bulldogs face off Nov. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia has won three straight in the series and six of seven.
-No. 4 Texas: Florida travels to Austin, Texas, on Nov. 9. The Gators play Georgia the week prior while Texas will enter the game off an open week.
-No. 6 Ole Miss: The Gators play host to the Rebels on Nov. 23 after having played Georgia, Texas and LSU in succession the previous three Saturdays. Ole Miss will be coming off a bye week when it heads to Gainesville.
-No. 10 Florida State: Florida travels to FSU on Nov. 30. The Gators face Ole Miss the previous week. That same day FSU plays host to Charleston Southern. The ‘Noles have an open date the week prior –the same day Florida plays LSU.
-No. 13 LSU: The Tigers play at The Swamp on Nov. 16, one week after they play host to Alabama. LSU has won five straight over the Gators — their longest-ever winning streak vs. Florida.
-No. 15 Tennessee: Florida travels to Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 12. The Gators have won six of the last seven in this series.
-No. 19 Miami: Florida plays host to Miami on Aug. 31 in the season opener for both programs. The ‘Canes lead the all-time series 29–27. The last time Florida wasn’t ranked in a game against Miami: 1983. The Gators won that year, 28-3.
-No. 20 Texas A&M: The Gators play host to the Aggies on Sept. 14. The all-time series is tied at 3-3.
Note: Kentucky, another Florida opponent in 2024, received three votes.
Florida, which went 5-7 last year, returns several key players from that squad, notably quarterback Graham Mertz, running back Montrell Johnson, receiver Eugene Wilson and linebacker Shemar James.
