Florida Football Preview: It’s 9-3, but the right 9-3 that will be the most important thing for the Gators.

Florida faces seven ranked teams with nation’s toughest schedule. Should the Gators knock a few off, could the playoff be a reality?

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst, Host-The Lowdown with Loren

Meadows

Florida receiver Aiden Mizzell (Chris Spears photo)

With the season on the horizon many have weighed in on where the Gators will land in the win column this year. Most outlets place the Gators prospective win totals at 7-7.5 games but, just as last year showed, the Gators are poised to eclipse the projections of oddsmakers once again. 

While many may look at Florida’s 2025 opponents and think there is no way the Gators can navigate what my 16-year old nephew dubbed as “The Avengers,” many had the Gators as dead men walking after they returned from Austin last season as low as ever. The Gators righted the ship to play some of their best ball under Billy Napier. So the question is not IF the Gators will eclipse last season’s win total , but IF nine wins and the right nine will be good enough to get the Gators to a meaningful December game for the first time since 2020. 

First let’s look at the basics. How do we get to nine REGULAR SEASON wins in 2025. How will the team navigate the road of the SEC to hit that magic number and possibly slide into the side door of the College Football Playoff.

Game 1 Long Island-The Gators should have very little issue with the artists formerly known as CW Post.

WIN (1-0)

Game 2 USF-The Gators could face a tougher challenge than expected and will look to show they can handle mobile quarterbacks with the Bulls’ Byrum Brown.

WIN (2-0)

Game 3 LSU-Florida has not won at night in Baton Rouge over since 2009 and unfortunately that streak continues as the Gators will play hard but come up short.

LOSS (2-1)

Game 4 Miami-The Gators will make the trip to the 305 and take down the Canes in what should be a pseudo-home game and the biggest in-state game of the year. 

WIN (3-1)

Game 5 Texas-Gameday should be in the house for a showdown between two of the nation’s top QB’s. Lagway and company play well but the Longhorns prevail.

LOSS (3-2)

Game 6 Texas A&M-All of Willis will be in the house to cheer on their favorite son in his homecoming as Lagway outduels Reed and gets the win in College Station.

WIN (4-2)

Game 7 Mississippi State-Homecoming is grand once again as the Gators continue their winning ways as they head into the second bye week.

WIN (5-2)

Game 8 Georgia-Last year had the makings of a classic prior to Lagway leaving the game. This year’s game lives up to the hype but the Gators fall in a close one.

LOSS (5-3)

Game 9 Kentucky-A November season trip to Lexington has trap written all over it. But unlike years before, the running game travels under Napier and the Gators lean on the ground effects crew to get it done.

WIN (6-3)

Game 10 Ole Miss-The Gators unfortunately missed the hospitality of The Grove the last time they traveled to Oxford. This time the party continues into the night as the Gators get another ranked win on the road.

WIN (7-3)

Game 11 Tennessee-Last year’s overtime win was a big part of the Tennessee’s playoff resume’. The Gators do the same but this time in regulation.

WIN (8-3)

Game 12 FSU-The Seminoles will be improved but Thanksgiving weekend is long way away. Who knows where they will be. The Gators roster and plan is more fluid right now.

WIN (9-3)

So there you have it, nine regular season wins, that barring someone running the table should make the Gators one of 12 teams in search of the national title. It will be interesting if the committee agrees. Florida has its best roster in five years and should compete with every team on its schedule. If consistency can be the focus, this could be the season that puts the Gators back on the map permanently.