Florida football returns to the field in just over a week and the Gator Nation could not be more excited about the upcoming 2025 campaign. After a successful finish last fall, the faithful fans are hoping for an even better run this time around.<\/p>\n
However, Billy Napier and Co. face another brutal schedule that is arguably the toughest among FBS schools while playing in the \u00fcber-competetive Southeastern Confernece. The overall consensus on Florida’s outlook has been a mixed bag, with some projecting a possible College Football Playoff appearance while others think the Gators will finish outside the top 25.<\/p>\n
CBS Sports recently assembled its college football staff to offer their SEC expert picks<\/a> for the upcoming season, breaking down the contenders and pretenders while also providing bold predictions for the season ahead. Unfortunately for Florida, they landed in the “most overrated team” category.<\/p>\n What CBS Sports says about Florida football’s outlook<\/p>\n “I’m a believer in Billy Napier and DJ Lagway, but I can’t get past that brutal schedule again”, John Talty begins \u2014 with an assist from Chip Patterson.<\/p>\n “Napier did a terrific job managing a treacherous situation with so much outside noise calling for his job and still guiding the Gators to an 8-5 record. That has cranked up the offseason hype machine and landed the Gators a preseason top 15 position, but it’s hard to see Florida really improving much off last year’s 8-5 record,” they continue.<\/p>\n “Florida plays four top 10 teams (Texas<\/a>, Georgia<\/a>, LSU<\/a> and Miami) plus No. 19 Texas A&M<\/a>, No. 21 Ole Miss<\/a> and No. 24 Tennessee<\/a>. If Napier can get to nine or more wins with that schedule, he deserves a raise and extension.”<\/p>\n For what it is worth, the group also has the top-ranked Longhorns in that same category, along with the Rebels, Vols and South Carolina Gamecocks.<\/p>\n CBS Sports’ bold prediction for Florida football<\/p>\n “Florida starts the season in the top 15 and yet ends the year unranked after another grueling schedule deflates the Gators’ hype balloon. Florida will be a better team than it was in 2024 and I’m a believer in DJ Lagway but the Gators’ have a brutal four-game stretch all against top 20 teams \u2014 LSU, Miami, Texas and Texas A&M \u2014 and still play Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida State<\/a>,” Talty notes.<\/p>\n “Napier was a miracle worker getting last year’s team to 8-5 and if he can somehow improve on that with this year’s slate, make him Coach of the Year.”<\/p>\n Florida football’s season opener<\/p>\n The Orange and Blue open up the 2025 campaign at home inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, against the Long Island Sharks. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.<\/p>\n Follow us\u00a0@GatorsWire<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky<\/a>, and like our page on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators<\/a> news, notes and opinions.<\/p>\n