College football season will be back in full swing this week, and most Gator fans are excited to see what Florida will look like against FAU. But with a full slate of games on tap, Gator fans are bound to want to check out some of the other action around the SEC.
With all other 15 SEC teams slated to play this week, this is a ranking of which games Florida fans will want to try to check out and which ones they can skip.
Which other games in Week One should Florida fans try to watch?
15. UL-Monroe at Mississippi State, 7:30 PM, ESPNU, Mississippi State −28.5
If you were a pure neutral and had no affiliation to Florida, this game is in a similar boat to Florida vs. FAU. But since this is at the exact same time as Jon Sumrall’s opener, combined with this being two teams you otherwise have no need to care about, this is one Gator fans can skip.
14. Austin Peay at Vanderbilt, 7 PM, SEC Network +, Vanderbilt −30.5
There could be a hint of interest in seeing what Vanderbilt looks like now that Diego Pavia is gone, but after the first quarter, this game will run in direct competition with Florida. Throw in a massive spread and the fact this game requires access to SEC Network + and this is a game you don’t need to watch.
13. North Alabama at Arkansas, 4:15 PM, SEC Network, Arkansas -40.5
The only reason one may even catch a glimpse of this game is that it is the lead-in to Florida’s opener. But considering Florida doesn’t play Arkansas this year, and this could be a blowout by halftime, there isn’t a reason to go out of your way to watch this one.
12. Furman at No. 20 Tennessee, 3:30 PM, SEC Network +, Tennessee −46.5
It is going to be strange not playing Tennessee this season. And unfortunately this game won’t make for a great hate watch considering the 46.5 point spread.
11. Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 25 Missouri, 8 PM (Thursday), SEC Network, Missouri −54.5
Of all the SEC teams this week, this game has the largest spread at 54.5. The only reason this game isn’t dead last in the watchability rankings is that it is on Thursday and Florida will play Missouri relatively early this season.
10. Tennessee State at No. 3 Georgia, 3 PM, SEC Network +, Georgia −47.5
This could essentially be a tie with the Tennessee game that will be taking place at essentially the same time. But it is Georgia and since Florida still plays the Bulldogs this would be the one to pick of the two.
9. Youngstown State at Kentucky, 1 PM, SEC Network +, Kentucky −23.5
This is the last of the FBS vs FCS matchups on this list. By default, Florida fans won’t have much reason to care about this one, but it is the closest spread of any of the SEC games involving an FCS opponent, so there could be some potential hate-watching here.
8. Missouri State at No. 8 Texas A&M, 7 PM, ESPN, Texas A&M −41.5
Florida avoids the Aggies this year, and this game will be running into the Gator game, but it could be worth watching for a quarter before switching over to Florida.
7. Kent State at South Carolina, 12:45 PM, SEC Network, South Carolina −35.5
The entire theme for the front half of South Carolina’s season is going to be whether or not Shane Beamer can save his job. History would tell you that once you are on the hot seat, seldom do you get off of it. Their schedule starts off light with Kent State, but it will ramp up in a hurry.
6. Texas State at No. 5 Texas, 3:30 PM, ESPN, Texas −30.5
The Texas game this year is going to be one of the sneaky games where Florida probably has a better chance than most want to admit. This game will be worth keeping an eye on, but it will be overshadowed by another game later in this list.
5. UTEP at No. 10 Oklahoma, 8 PM (Friday), SEC Network +, Oklahoma −41.5
Like Texas, this is one where the Gators probably have a better chance than advertised. If this game were on Saturday, it would be one Florida fans could probably skip, but since it’s on Friday it wouldn’t hurt to check it out for at least a half.
4. East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama, 12 PM, ABC, Alabama −28.5
Alabama as a 28.5-point favorite is a fascinating line because it simultaneously feels too low and too high. This is Bama, after all, and the idea that they aren’t beating G6 teams by 30 isn’t the Bama we are used to. But ECU was 9-4 last year, and they could keep things interesting if the Crimson Tide aren’t careful. Throw in a 12 PM kickoff, and this is one way Gator fans can start their Saturday.
3. Clemson at No. 11 LSU, 7:30 PM, ABC, LSU −10.5
You could make an argument that this is the most compelling game of the day for most people around the country, between the debut of Lane Kiffin’s Circus and the looming question as to whether Clemson can regain its glory. But it is at the same time as Florida, so this is one to watch but it will need to be on a second screen.
2. No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville, 7:30 PM (Sunday), ABC, Ole Miss −6.5
With a compelling time slot and the only SEC matchup that will feature two ranked teams this week, this will be must see. What we are most interested in is whether or not Ole Miss can keep the magic going now that Kiffin is gone. We aren’t convinced they will.
1. Auburn vs. Baylor, 3:30 PM, ABC, Auburn −7
This is the one game we have had circled for months as the subplots for this game for Florida fans will run deep. On one side is Auburn, whom Florida faces in Week Three. As we have stated multiple times, Florida’s game against Auburn is going to go a long way in dictating how 2026 as a whole will go. On the other side is DJ Lagway, and Florida fans will want to see whether a fresh setting is all he needs to reach his potential.
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