For the first time under head coach Billy Napier, the Florida Gators begin the season ranked among the AP Top 25 teams. Florida is ranked No. 15 in the AP preseason poll released Monday.
“Good to be ranked in the preseason,” Napier said Monday. “Those are projections, and we're going to have to go perform to earn those.”
Florida finished the previous season 8-5 and returns with several key players like quarterback DJ Lagway, First-Team All-American fifth-year center Jake Slaughter, running back Jadan Baugh and edge rusher Tyreak Sapp. The Gators also made strides in the transfer portal adding wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant and signing prolific incoming freshmen receivers Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson.
Napier and his players have touted the talent of the current roster and made it clear the Gators have playoff aspirations.
“You don't play this game just to not make the playoffs every year,” offensive lineman Dameion George Jr. said Wednesday. “Everybody just wants to reach their goals and hold up a big trophy at the end.”
Florida will play seven teams listed on the preseason poll.
The Gators play their first ranked opponent and face No. 9 Louisiana State Sept. 13. The following week, UF will travel to Miami and face the No. 10 Hurricanes on Sept. 20.
After a bye week, Florida will host No. 1 Texas on Oct. 4 then play a road contest against the No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies on Oct. 11.
The Gators will kick off November against No. 5 Georgia and play back-to-back contests against No. 21 Ole Miss and No. 24 Tennessee on Nov. 15 and Nov. 22, respectively.
Contact Luke Adragna at ladragna@alligator.org. Follow him on X @lukeadrag.
Luke Adragna is working his fifth semester at The Alligator and returns as the Summer 2025 assistant sports editor. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his cat Pete and researching niche professional athletes (shoutout Jacquizz Rodgers).
