Thoughts on Florida's 2024 schedule...

[Gator Fever]

Miami: Miami has some real talent but underperformed last season. Being in the ACC they could be a playoff contender if they were to win this opening game. TheIr QB pickup in the portal looks like a pretty good one. You would think the Swamp would pull this game out but Miami probably has a chance late in the game.
Florida likely wins

Samford: Nothing needs to be said here but hopefully it isn't another 2021 special game. Florida wins

Texas A&M: Kind of in the same boat we are but they have a first year coach and its in the Swamp so we should have a slight advantage. Florida likely wins

@Miss State: Florida has the clear advantage and Miss State has a 1st year coach but we know about the crazy games we get sometimes in that state. Florida likely wins

UCF: At first you would think this should be a very easy win at home but UCF is strong where Florida has been weak on defense - in their run game. Does Jefferson revert back to playing like he did a few years ago after the Arkansas train wreck last season? If so maybe UCF doesn't get beaten real bad. Florida wins

@TN: Is TN's new QB what their fans think he is? If so TN will be in no danger of losing this game as our mastery over them is only in the Swamp now. TN wins

KY: A huge game for Napier after losing to them 2 times already. Some real talent on defense and an unknown on offense right now. They do play the run well which helps against a Napier led team. Florida likely wins.

Georgia: I would give Florida almost no chance in this game if it wasn't a big rivalry game but there is a real small chance Florida wins I guess. Georgia wins

@TX: Unlike the Georgia game Florida I think has almost zero chance to win this game. TX Wins

LSU: Florida has the Swamp advantage but I think LSU has enough overall talent to win this game. LSU likely wins.

Ole Miss: I think Ole Miss might have too much on offense combined with some nice additions on defense for the Gators to win this game in the Swamp. Ole Miss likely wins

@FSU: A close call. While FSU lost a lot they did plug a lot of holes with the portal. I lean to FSU winning at home but their new QB didn't look that good when he was in the ACC previously. FSU likely wins but close to a tossup.


That would put Florida at 6-6 with another 2nd half collapse. If Florida was to lose to either Miami, UCF or Kentucky its hard to see Napier recovering from that with how this schedule sets up. Ole Miss might end up being the game that determines if Napier is canned or not with the 4 games that proceed the Ole Miss game.

 

[sadgator]

lol…there is a 0.0 percent chance that Florida goes 5-0 to open the season…

You seriously need to reevaluate your assessments…no offense…

 

[TEBOW TIME]

If you lose Napier than Lagway is gone also. Can we afford to lose Lagway? I think Lagway's ability and talent can cover up some of Billy's faults. He better use Mertz-Lagway like the Leak-Tebow experiment Urban used and that seemed to work out pretty well. I'm gonna be positive and hope for a 7-5 year or maybe get a few breaks and be 8-4.

 

[ocalaman]

With that schedule we'll be lucky to go 5-7, IMO.

 

[Mrs. Sadgator]

8 and 4 with some lucky bounces. 9 and 3 if Napier puts it all together. Go Gators

 

[Gator Fever]

lol…there is a 0.0 percent chance that Florida goes 5-0 to open the season…

You seriously need to reevaluate your assessments…no offense…

Well since 2 of those first 5 games are close calls being 4-1 is probably more likely. If we do start 4-1 I think going 7-5 or better is almost 100% out the door and If we start 3-2 Napier better start packing his bags.

 

[Gator Fever]

If you lose Napier than Lagway is gone also. Can we afford to lose Lagway? I think Lagway's ability and talent can cover up some of Billy's faults. He better use Mertz-Lagway like the Leak-Tebow experiment Urban used and that seemed to work out pretty well. I'm gonna be positive and hope for a 7-5 year or maybe get a few breaks and be 8-4.

If we are in a bad place Napier needs to throw him in there to develop him as he has the physical size already. I think he has it upstairs pretty good for a young QB and just needs the reps. Don't have his first start against GA or TX though.

 

[Mrs. Sadgator]

lol…there is a 0.0 percent chance that Florida goes 5-0 to open the season…

You seriously need to reevaluate your assessments…no offense…

No worries folks, I will get SAD in a better mood before the season starts. He's just grumpy right now

 

[sadgator]

8 and 4 with some lucky bounces. 9 and 3 if Napier puts it all together. Go Gators

sadgator’s warned you about getting into Daddy’s liquor cabinet…

 

[ocalaman]

sadgator’s warned you about getting into Daddy’s liquor cabinet…

This is getting weird with the Mrs. Sad & Sadgator exchanges combined with the Socks Lord's off the wall input!

 

[Mrs. Sadgator]

sadgator’s warned you about getting into Daddy’s liquor cabinet…

It's the only thing that gets mommy in the mood. Maybe leave it unlocked a few more times

 

[Gator Fever]

🤣 Some people out there said we can't consider our schedule the hardest because we only play 3 of our 12 games outside the state of Florida this year - that most teams would love a situation like that.

 

[Mrs. Sadgator]

🤣 Some people out there said we can't consider our schedule the hardest because we only play 3 of our 12 games outside the state of Florida this year - that most teams would love a situation like that.

Our week 8 and on is one of the most brutal stretches in cfb history

 

[Gator Fever]

Our week 8 and on is one of the most brutal stretches in cfb history

You probably could even argue from week 6 on with TN being a road game - if they end up having a real good season like some people think they will.

The SEC as usual did us no favors in our SEC games. They helped 4 of our SEC opponents out with either bye weeks where we do not have one prior to the game or gave the team a cake walk game the week before us while we don't get one the week before. I think they only helped us with the bye before the UCF game.

 

[Gator Fever]

We are the only team listed that could be considered for the playoff with 8 wins. I think if the losses were all not bad ones. My guess is in reality we would need at least one big win also over someone that finished at least 9-3 to be considered at all. I do think 9-3 likely gets a tough schedule SEC and Big 10 team in most years though.

 

[ocalaman]

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We are the only team listed that could be considered for the playoff with 8 wins. I think if the losses were all not bad ones. My guess is in reality we would need at least one big win also over someone that finished at least 9-3 to be considered at all. I do think 9-3 likely gets a tough schedule SEC and Big 10 team in most years though.

This time of year all fans of all schools are optimistic about the upcoming season. That's great. I've just not seen anything over the last 2+ years, including transfers, incoming freshmen and returning players that has me convinced we'll have even a winning record let alone winning 8 or 9 games. Would love to be proven wrong, but I just don't see it.

 

[steven orr]

I do think no matter what happens 2024 Napier is the head coach. Lagway and the talent incoming would be out the door if Florida makes a change and a new coach starts at year zero and we are looking at 2030 for any results. With the transfer portal and the state of college sports I think you are better off w a steady ship and a long term commitment. We need to accept 2024 as a beyond tough schedule and we need to let Napier continue to build. 2025 and 2026 we don’t see major improvement? That’s a different story.

 

[Gator Fever]

I do think no matter what happens 2024 Napier is the head coach. Lagway and the talent incoming would be out the door if Florida makes a change and a new coach starts at year zero and we are looking at 2030 for any results. With the transfer portal and the state of college sports I think you are better off w a steady ship and a long term commitment. We need to accept 2024 as a beyond tough schedule and we need to let Napier continue to build. 2025 and 2026 we don’t see major improvement? That’s a different story.

I doubt it myself and looking at high school recruiting apparently the bigger money is in a wait and see approach if he is going to make it with how bad it's going now. I hope Napier makes it and we don't lose Lagway but the only way I think that can happen is if Lagway takes over later if we were to go go 6-6. 5-7 and Napier has to go I think no matter if Lagway has taken over. Napier needs to show he isn't lost at a big program and year 3 is plenty of time especially with the portal now. Hard to see Napier making it if he allows Miami to win game one in the Swamp or even if he allows KY to come there and win again. If something like that happens the noise will be very loud.

It is crazy we are going into year 3 wondering if we can get above .500 or not. Never thought I would see that at UF.

 

[GatorNation79]

Schedule is brutal but we expect to win in Gainesville so who cares...back in the Spurrier/Meyer days we would expect to be in the playoffs and beat all of these guys. In the end we have to see a better team or CBN will be out. 7 might save his job...I can't see 6 doing it. The standard has to be better.

 

[steven orr]

I understand the standard and the expectations. Napier goes 6-6 or 5-7 and he is fired. New coach comes in to a roster decimated by transfers and we expect him to go 8-4 or 9-3 in 2027 and he doesn’t so he is fired. Repeat the cycle and now we are hoping in 2030 we go 8-4 9-3.

 

[Gator Fever]

I understand the standard and the expectations. Napier goes 6-6 or 5-7 and he is fired. New coach comes in to a roster decimated by transfers and we expect him to go 8-4 or 9-3 in 2027 and he doesn’t so he is fired. Repeat the cycle and now we are hoping in 2030 we go 8-4 9-3.

In the age of the portal it can be done easily by a good coach imo though I admit 8-4 is the new 9-3 with the new bloodbath SEC. No coach I can think of in modern history has done big things eventually that didn't at least go 9-3 in one of their first 3 full seasons and that was without this portal situation.