Billy Napier wants all the smoke.
ESPN....and really anyone with a functional brain....believe the Gators have the toughest schedule in the nation. It features three playoff teams from last year (Texas, Georgia & Tennessee), a road trip to Miami, road trips to Kentucky and Texas A&M and, of course, the season finale against Florida State, which may or may not be better than whatever the Seminoles threw out on the field last year.
Despite all that, Napier is unfazed.
“Spot The Ball.” https://t.co/wEGg598VCV
— COACH BILLY NAPIER (@coach_bnapier) July 16, 2025
Got it coach!
The Gators start the season with a home opener against Long Island University. This game provides one of the few spots where Napier can play second-teamers for some extended minutes and get a good idea about what the depth behind the starters looks like. That being said, the starters will also need reps.
It's a delicate balance because Napier doesn't want to overwork a player like...DJ Lagway if he can help it, but he also wants to make sure that his QB1 looks sharp before going to the backup, Harrison Bailey,
Buckle up Gator fans, this schedule promises to be a wild ride
After the LIU walkover, things get fun. South Florida has always been competitive against their in-state big brothers. Three years ago, the Bulls almost pulled off a shocker at the Swamp, but a missed field goal kept the game from going to overtime and Florida held on 31-28.
Gameday at The Swamp again for another night game. The Florida Gators played the University of South Florida Bulls. Very tough game but the Gators found a way to win.
— Brandon Savona (@BrandonSavona) September 18, 2022
Final Score: 🐊🏈🟠🔵
#18 Florida Gators 31 🐊
USF Bulls 28 🐂 pic.twitter.com/TnDpxiXGr0
Then the fun REALLY begins. The Gators finish up their three-game homestand against LSU and then travel to Hard Rock Stadium for Miami. October's schedule begins with Texas coming to the Swamp for the first time ever, followed by a trip to Kyle Field to face the Aggies. Florida is back home to play Mississippi State before meeting Georgia in Jacksonville on November 1.
The final four games -- at Kentucky, at Ole Miss, home against Tennessee and Florida State. There's no room to breathe on this schedule and only the bye weeks on September 27 and October 25 keep this guantlet somewhat manageable.
So yeah, this schedule is about as hard as it gets in college football. But there's no reason to cry about it. Like coach Napier said....spot the ball and let's blow the whistle.