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Florida Football: Ranking 2022 opponents by toughness

By Connor Muldowney

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators looks to pass against Fabien Lovett #0 of the Florida State Seminoles during the third quarter of a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators looks to pass against Fabien Lovett #0 of the Florida State Seminoles during the third quarter of a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) runs away from a tackle during a football game between the Florida Gators and the Vanderbilt Commodores at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. October 9, 2021.Flagi 100921 Gatorsvandyfb 35
Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) runs away from a tackle during a football game between the Florida Gators and the Vanderbilt Commodores at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. October 9, 2021.Flagi 100921 Gatorsvandyfb 35 /

Clark Lea went back to his former school and immediately found out just how difficult it is to turn Vanderbilt into a winner. The Commodores went just 2-10 in Lea’s first season and had the nation’s No. 128 scoring offense, No. 118 total offense, No. 119 scoring defense, and No. 118 total defense. It’s safe to say the Commodores were one of the worst teams in the nation.

There could be a case made to have Vanderbilt at No. 12 on this list behind Eastern Washington and USF, but the SEC bump is real. Vanderbilt should be slightly better this season, but don’t expect them to win more than maybe one SEC game. This probably isn’t it.

Is Eli Drinkwitz on the hot seat after going just 11-12 in his first two seasons with the Tigers? It’s fairly possible, especially since that kind of record in two years is going to make you a bottom-dweller in the toughest conference in America.

The Tigers are, however, fresh off a bowl season in which they lost to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl. I don’t see Missouri as much of a threat here against Florida in Gainesville.

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