SEC Network analysts on Florida Gators: ‘This team is not far away’

UF coach Billy Napier and a trio of Florida Gators made their way to Dallas on Wednesday for SEC Media Days. Before Napier and the players addressed reporters, the SEC Network crew discussed the team and their schedule for 2024.

SEC Network anchor Dari Nowkhah asked college football analysts Roman Harper and Greg McElroy what the Gators’ realistic expectations should be.

“Well, if you want to talk about just the schedule alone, they gotta come out and win four out of the first five. It’s like mandatory you win four out of your first five just with the way the schedule sets up. Because after October 5th, it is tough sledding,” Harper said. “They gotta win four out of their first five between Miami to UCF after October 5th, where the wins at? I mean, Kentucky at home, yes, maybe, alright. Georgia, I don’t know, at Texas. LSU at home, you got a chance. Ole Miss at home, you got a chance. And Florida State, maybe they’re not as good as they were last year, but is Florida truly better than some of those teams as far as the roster construction is concerned? I can’t sit up here and confidently say, ‘Yes, they are.’”

Florida faces the hardest schedule in the FBS, according to ESPN analytics, and is projected to win 5.9 games this year. While McElroy acknowledges the difficult of UF’s slate, he thinks the roster is being underrated.

He expects the Gators to exceed expectations and potentially upset a playoff-caliber team.

“I’m not one to give out consolation prizes or moral victories to a program like Florida. But if you look at last year’s performances, especially the performance against Missouri late, against Arkansas, that was just a really disappointing performance frankly. This team is not as far away as people want to point to,” McElroy said. “Now I acknowledge very much the schedule is a monster, no doubt about it. But I gotta be honest, I think if you had Georgia playing that schedule, how would you feel about it? Probably not that bad. So, I think the perception right now of Florida is being altered by how hard the schedule is. This is still Florida. Like, that to me is what’s mind blowing. We’re treating the Florida Gators, who by the way, as far as talent acquisition over the last five years (is) in the top 10-12, depending on what publication you wanna use. Your blue-chip ratio, if you will, is still pretty good. And they went young the last couple of years in an effort to build up to where they’re at.

“I do think replacing Ricky Pearsall will be challenging, but I think Eugene Wilson is uniquely set up to step right into that role. They’re still gonna run the football, they’ve made some nice additions through the portal on defense, they have some young players that they’re really excited about on that side of the ball as well. I think Florida is the team that is being most disrespected in the entire league coming into 2024. I’m not saying they’re gonna win the league. I think Vegas has it at what, 4.5 wins? I like the chances of them getting closer to seven than I do with four. I think they’re going to be better than people realize.

“We look at them like … you don’t think they can beat Miami at home? I think they can do those things? We’re just treating Florida as if it’s just your run-of-the-mill school. This is one of the most talent rich states in the country with a pretty good roster. I still think this team is much closer to where they need to be, granted not championship contender status yet. You’d love to be there in Year 3. That’s just not a realistic possibility with what Billy inherited. I think they’re going to be just fine this year. They’re gonna cause a lot of problems. I would not be surprised either if they knock off a team with legitimate playoff expectations.”