Florida football begin anew with Billy Napier at the helm

How will Florida football fare in 2022?

It is a regime change for the Gators but not a total rebuild. Before last year’s disaster of a season, Florida went to three straight New Year’s Six bowls winning two of them. There is still talent for Billy Napier and staff to utilize better than the 2021 season.

With that said, what is Florida’s outlook for the 2022 season?

• Week 1: Utah (L) — Tough matchup right out of the gate. Gators may still be working out some things but the game is in the Swamp. Close but Utes get the W.
• Week 2: Kentucky (W) — From 1987 through 2017, Gators had a 31-game winning streak against the Wildcats. Since then the two have split with two wins each. Gators avenge last year’s loss.
• Week 3: USF (W) — Gators won last year in Tampa and should win again in Gainesville this season.
• Week 4: at Tennessee (L) — Gators have dominated the series, winning 16 of the last 17 including the last five. However, the Vols are on the rise and look poised to best the Gators this year.
• Week 5: Eastern Washington (W) — A FCS opponent should help the Gators get back on the winning track although the Eagles won 10 games a year ago.
• Week 6: Missouri (W) — Tigers upset Gators a year ago by one point. Gators get revenge this year.
• Week 7: LSU (W) — Have to go back over a decade to find a blowout in this series. Multiple close games lately but LSU owns four out of the last five victories. Florida gets the first W since 2018 over the Tigers.
• Week 8: vs. Georgia (L) — The 100th meeting between these two rivals who have met in Jacksonville every year since 1933, with two exceptions. Bulldogs are looking to add another SEC title and are stronger everywhere than the Gators this year.
• Week 9: at Texas A&M (L) — Tough draw from the West division, especially if A&M is still hanging out in the top 10. Aggies pick up the win for the third straight time since 2017.
• Week 10: South Carolina (L) — Gamecocks upset the Gators last year which set the stage for Dan Mullen’s firing. Gamecocks may just do it again.
• Week 11: at Vanderbilt (W) — Florida has not lost in Nashville since 1988. Expect that streak to continue.
• Week 12: at Florida State (W) — Last year both teams entered 5-6 with bowl eligibility on the line and the Gators topped the Seminoles. Gators visit Tallahassee for the first time since 2018 and emerge victorious again.

Prediction: 7-5, 4-4 SEC

Not a drastic improvement for Florida but a step in the right direction. Brutal start to the schedule hosting Utah, who appears to be a top 10 team entering 2022. Drawing Texas A&M as the rotational opponent from the SEC West is another problem. It goes without saying the kind of issues Georgia presents.

This is a challenging schedule. Kentucky, Tennessee, and LSU are no cakewalks either. I have the Gators taking two of three from those teams but the results could easily be flipped. My confidence level on that loss to South Carolina is low so perhaps the Gators will pick up a win there.

The Gators cannot be expected to close the gap with Georgia overnight. However, there is enough talent on the roster to win seven or eight games, go to a bowl, and look toward a brighter future.