The Florida Gators are expected to make a significant leap in the SEC standings this season, with media members at the annual SEC Media Days picking them to finish sixth in the conference. The announcement, made Friday, reflects a notable improvement in perception for the Gators, who finished 10th in the SEC with a 4-4 record last season.
This projection marks Florida’s highest preseason ranking since 2023, when they were also predicted to finish sixth. While Texas was overwhelmingly chosen as the favorite to win the SEC Championship with 96 first-place votes, followed by Georgia (44 votes), Alabama (29 votes), LSU (20 votes), and South Carolina (5 votes), the Gators still managed to garner two first-place votes themselves for the overall conference title – their first since 2021.
Head coach Billy Napier’s squad is embracing the challenge of a demanding schedule. Of the five teams ranked ahead of Florida, the Gators will face three: a road trip to LSU on September 13, a home matchup against Texas on October 4, and the annual neutral-site clash with Georgia on November 1. Additionally, Florida will play three other top-10 teams, with road games at Texas A&M (No. 8) and Ole Miss (No. 7), and a home game against Tennessee (No. 9).
“You know, how do you sum up the SEC? I think for me as a competitor, you want to play against the best, the very best,” Coach Napier stated during his media day appearance. “There’s an old saying, to be the best you gotta beat the best, and I think we get that opportunity competing in this league.”
In addition to the team’s projected finish, eight Gators were named to the preseason All-SEC teams. Leading the way with First-Team selections were center Jake Slaughter, a returning All-American, and offensive tackle Austin Barber. Defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Tyreak Sapp, kicker Trey Smack, long snapper Rocco Underwood, running back Jadan Baugh, and wide receiver Eugene Wilson III also earned All-SEC honors across the various teams. Notably absent from the list was highly-touted quarterback DJ Lagway, despite a strong close to his 2024 season.
The Gators, who finished 8-5 overall last season with a four-game winning streak to close out the year, including victories over ranked LSU and Ole Miss, will open their 2025 campaign at home against Long Island on August 30. The media’s higher expectations set the stage for a critical season in Gainesville as the program looks to build on its recent momentum.
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