Expectations are high for Florida football ahead of the 2025 campaign as the Gators find themselves ranked among the top 25 for the first time since the Dan Mullen era.
While it took a little time for Billy Napier to rebuild the program, the Orange and Blue finally notched a winning season during the third year of his tenure in 2024, finishing at 8-5 overall, and are looking for more next fall. But it will not be easy, especially once again facing an über-competetive Southeastern Conference schedule as well as some challenging non-conference opponents.
So the big question with a few months still to go before the season opener is, “How many games will Florida win in 2025?” The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman tackled the topic by comparing BetMGM’s projected win totals with his personal expectations.
Here is what he thinks about the Gators.
The Athletic projects Florida football’s 2025 performance
“Florida’s schedule gives me some pause; it features eight teams that will be ranked at some point in 2025, including the two most talented teams in the SEC — Texas and Georgia,” Feldman begins. “The Gators visit a Miami team that blasted them in The Swamp last year, too. But if I were a Gators fan, I’d be optimistic.”
Of course, preseason hope springs optimism eternally, but he believes this group has something special underneath the skin.
“This seems like a very resilient bunch. As rough as things got last year, Billy Napier never lost that team. The players played hard for him. They lost in overtime at Tennessee and were competitive against Georgia despite having to play a third-string QB. When true freshman DJ Lagway got back in the lineup, they beat LSU, Ole Miss (primed to make the College Football Playoff at the time), drilled FSU on the road and then beat Tulane in their bowl game,” Feldman continues.
“There is plenty of talent beyond Lagway. Defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp is one of the best in college football; rival coaches have immense respect for him. Caleb Banks, their big defensive tackle (seven sacks) is another headache for rivals. They also have a seasoned offensive line anchored by center Jake Slaughter.”
The Athletic’s win prediction for Florida football
“Against a stacked schedule, expect some inconsistency — but this group is good enough to win eight or nine games,” Feldman declares.
FLORIDA: 6.5 (over)
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