Florida Gators Football Schedule 2024 & Gators History
June 6, 2024
The University of Florida Gators have been scuffling the last few seasons, but make no mistake, the program has a rich history and a very passionate fan base. The Gators have won , , , and developed a laundry list of . (Scroll down for the Florida Gators Football Schedule 2024 & Gators History).
Under third-year coach Billy Napier, Florida is hoping to return to national prominence鈥 but it鈥檚 been a slow climb. The Gators have three consecutive losing seasons, which is downright unfathomable considering how dominant the Gators once were in the 1990s and 2000s.
It wasn鈥檛 that long ago, however, when the Gators were a perennial top-10 powerhouse. In 2019, the , won the , and finished the season ranked #6 in the country. This year, Florida has a solid roster but a tough schedule. Can they return to the top of The Swamp? See below for the Florida Gators football schedule 2024 鈥 and Go Gators!
Florida Gators Football Schedule 2024
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (EST) | TV | Tickets | All-Time Record |
| 31-Aug | Miami | Gainesville, Fla. | 3:30 PM (EST) | ABC | Miami leads 29-27 | |
| 7-Sep | Samford | Gainesville, Fla. | 7:00 PM (EST) | SEC | Florida leads 1-0 | |
| 14-Sep | Texas A&M | Gainesville, Fla. | 3:30 PM (EST) | ABC | Series tied 3-3 | |
| 21-Sep | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | TBD | TBD | Florida leads 34-19-2 | |
| 28-Sep | Bye | |||||
| 5-Oct | UCF | Gainesville, Fla. | TBD | TBD | Florida leads 2-1 | |
| 12-Oct | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | TBD | TBD | Florida leads 32-21 | |
| 19-Oct | Kentucky | Gainesville, Fla. | TBD | TBD | Florida leads 53-21 | |
| 26-Oct | Bye | |||||
| 2-Nov | Georgia | Jacksonville, Fla. | TBD | TBD | Georgia leads 55-44-2 | |
| 9-Nov | Texas | Austin, Texas | TBD | TBD | Texas leads 2-0-1 | |
| 16-Nov | LSU | Gainesville, Fla. | TBD | TBD | LSU leads 34-33-3 | |
| 23-Nov | Ole Miss | Gainesville, Fla. | TBD | TBD | Series tied 12-12-1 | |
| 30-Nov | Florida State | Tallahassee, Fla. | TBD | TBD | Florida leads 37-28-2 | |
| 7-Dec | SEC Championship | Atlanta, GA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | TBD | TBD |
In addition to an always-competitive SEC slate, Florida鈥檚 non-conference schedule includes in-state matchups against Miami, UCF, and Florida State. Florida needs to perform well in its first seven games in order to give them a chance to secure a bowl bid.
Florida Gators Football 鈥 2024 Game-by-Game Quick Preview
- Miami (Aug. 31)
- What a way to start the season! This in-state rivalry will be one of the marquee Week 1 matchups, as the Hurricanes travel to Gainesville for the first time since 2008. Miami went and lost to Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl. Like the Gators, they鈥檝e been scuffling as of late and hope to turn things around in 2024. This should be a closely contested matchup.
- Samford (Sept. 7)
- Although this is the easiest game on the schedule, Samford hung 52 points on the Gators back in 2021 (the ). Regardless, this should be a nice warmup game before SEC play begins against the Aggies next week.
- Texas A&M (Sept. 14)
- The SEC schedule opens with a home game against an Aggies team that – a mark so disappointing A&M decided to head coach Jimbo Fisher. Now under first-year coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M looks to recapture SEC prominence. In , however, Florida is going to be a tough team to beat.
UF Football Schedule 2024 & Gators History (Continued)
- Mississippi State (Sept. 21)
- Florida finally hits the road a month into the season, when they travel to Starkville, Mississippi to face the Bulldogs. Mississippi State is firmly in rebuild mode behind first-year head coach , and this is a must-win game for the Gators if they hope to clinch a bowl bid.
- UCF (Oct. 5)
- Another in-state matchup, as the Golden Knights travel to Gainesville for the first time since 2006. There鈥檚 not a long history between these two teams, although UCF did win their last matchup in the . Playing out of the Big 12, UCF . This is another very winnable game for the Gators.
- Tennessee (Oct. 12)
- Dating back to 2005, Florida has gone , however, hopes are high in Rocky Top these days! Tennessee quarterback is a dual threat who accounted for 178 yards and four touchdowns in . The Gators will have their work cut out for them, especially in Knoxville.
- Kentucky (Oct. 19)
- The Wildcats have won the last three matchups against the Gators and look to extend their winning streak. However, if Florida wants to have a shot at a bowl bid, this is an important game to win. The Wildcats return and landed quarterback in the transfer portal from UGA. Vandagriff is an X factor that could make Kentucky a sleeper team this season.
Florida Gators Football Schedule 2024 & Gators History (Continued)
- Georgia (Nov. 2)
- The annual Florida-Georgia rivalry has been played in Jacksonville, Florida since 1933. The Gators surely appreciate the neutral site (anything鈥檚 better than playing in Athens!), but the Bulldogs will once again be a top team in college football. UGA failed to make the College Football Playoffs last season despite being the top-ranked team for nearly the entire year. Behind coach Kirby Smart, including quarterback Carson Beck, and there aren鈥檛 a lot of visible weaknesses on their roster.
- Texas (Nov. 9)
- Texas is a newcomer to the SEC this year, but they bring a rich tradition and a powerhouse team. Behind star quarterback , the Longhorns aim to return to the College Football Playoffs, where a season ago. This one is going to be tough for the Gators, especially having to travel to Austin.
- LSU (Nov. 16)
- LSU went 10-3 last season and is returning . Third-year head coach , however, will have to find a replacement for , who was drafted as the by the Washington Commanders. Nonetheless, LSU has a plethora of talent and will most likely turn to Louisiana-born QB to lead the team this season. The Gators will be playing at home, which should help keep things close.
Florida Gators Football Schedule 2024 & Gators History (Continued)
- Ole Miss (Nov. 23)
- This will be a challenging home game against a very talented Ole Miss team that finished 11-2 last year and beat . The Rebels are an offensive-minded team, led by returning quarterback , wide receiver Tre Harris, and a very experienced offensive line. Many preseason polls have Ole Miss as a top-5 team coming into 2024. Expect squad to be a handful.
- Florida State (Nov. 30)
- The final regular season game of the 鈥24 campaign will be a doozy – like always! This in-state rivalry is one the best in the nation and although the Gators hold the all-time series lead, since 2010, the Seminoles have dominated this series, going 9-4. Playing in Tallahassee, the Gators can expect a Florida State team playing with a chip on its shoulder after, despite going undefeated. This year, FSU will be attempting to between rebuilding and competing.
Gator Football Coaches
Football at UF began in the very first year of the University鈥檚 existence –. Since then, there have been . The Gators have two coaches, however, who stand above the rest.
Steve Spurrier (1990-2001, 122-27-1 .817 winning percentage)
Spurrier revolutionized Florida football with his innovative “Fun and Gun” offense. He led the Gators to their first national championship in 1996 () and six SEC titles.
The achievements during Spurrier鈥檚 tenure at Florida are remarkable. He has – by far – the most wins in program history (the next closest is 70 by ). He won and became the only coach to win at least at one school. In his 12 seasons at Florida, his teams never finished lower than No. 13 in the final rankings.
In addition, he was an excellent quarterback at Florida and won the school鈥檚 f. Matter of fact, he鈥檚 only the fourth person ever to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as both a .
You could easily say Spurrier is the Gator鈥檚 GOAT, but there is one more name on that list鈥
Gators Football Schedule 2024 & Gators History (Continued)
Urban Meyer (2005-2010, 65-15 .813 winning percentage)
Meyer鈥檚 legacy at Florida is a complicated one.
On one hand, Meyer won two national championships in 2006 and 2008, re-established the Gators as a national powerhouse, and was named 鈥淐oach of the Decade鈥 by Sports Illustrated.
He ran an innovative spread offense and his dynamic recruiting lured the nation鈥檚 top talent. He coached a – from MVP Cam Newton to the to shutdown cornerback Joe Haden.
On the other hand, Meyer鈥檚 tenure ended in 2010 when he . He said he would never coach anywhere ever again鈥 but went to Ohio State two years later. That鈥檚 a bitter pill to swallow for many UF fans despite the level of success he brought to the school.
Regardless, Meyer鈥檚 six seasons at Florida were unlike any other in the program鈥檚 history. He won two national championships, two SEC titles, and went 5-1 in bowl games.
Florida National Championships
Steve Spurrier’s Gators won their first national title with a 52-20 victory over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Urban Meyer鈥檚 team, led by quarterback Chris Leak, .
- 2008 (13-1)
Tim Tebow led the Gators to their second title under Coach Meyer, in the BCS Championship Game.
Florida Football Records
Florida has produced players so memorable you only need one word: . . . Nonetheless, there are a whole host of talented players to don the over the years.
Rushing Yards (Career)
- Errict Rhett (1990-1993) – 4,163 yards
- Emmitt Smith (1987-1989) – 3,928 yards
- In 1989, Smith set the single-season rushing record, running for 1,599 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
- Neal Anderson (1982-1985) – 3,234 yards
- Earnest Graham (1998-2000) – 3,085 yards
- Fred Taylor (1994-1997) – 3,075 yards
- Tim Tebow (2006-2009) – 2,947 yards
- The fact that quarterback Tim Tebow ranks sixth on this list is a testament to his dominance.
Passing Yards (Career)
- Chris Leak (2003-2006) – 11,213 yards
- Danny Wuerffel (1993-1996) – 10,875 yards
- Shane Matthews (1989-1992) – 9,287 yards
- Tim Tebow (2006-2009) – 9,285 yards
- Rex Grossman (2000-2002) – 9,164 yards
- Kyle Trask holds the single-season passing record, throwing for 4,283 yards in 2020. Trask is 8th on the all-time passing list.
Receiving Yards (Career)
- Carlos Alvarez (1969-1971) – 2,563 yards
- Jabar Gaffney (2000-2001) – 2,375 yards
- Andrew Caldwell (2003-2007) – 2,349 yards
- Reidel Anthony (1994-1996) – 2,274 yards
- Jack Jackson (1992-1994) – 2,266 yards
- Travis McGriff holds the single-season record, catching 1,357 yards in 1998. McGriff is ranked #14 on the all-time receiving list.
Touchdowns (Career)
- Tim Tebow (2006-2009) -145 total touchdowns
- Danny Wuerffel (1993-1996) – 122 total touchdowns
- Chris Leak (2003-2006) – 101 total touchdowns
- Rex Grossman (2000-2002) – 83 total touchdowns
- Shane Matthews (1989-1992) – 81 total touchdowns
Tackles (Career)
- David Little (1977-1980) – 475 tackles
- Scot Brantley (1976-1979) – 467 tackles
- Sammy Green (1972-1975) – 457 tackles
- Charlie Williams (1974-1977) – 409 tackles
- Ed Robinson (1990-1993) – 363 tackles
Interceptions (Career)
- Fred Weary (1994-1997) – 15 interceptions
- Teako Brown (1995-1998) – 14 interceptions
- Will White (1989-1992) – 14 interceptions
- Ahmad Black (2007-2010) – 13 interceptions
- Bruce Bennett (1963-1965) – 13 interceptions
Total Heisman Trophy Winners: 3
- (1966)
- (1996)
- (2007)
Total Conference Championships: 8 (which across college football)
Bowl Games: 48 (this )
Total NFL Players: 374 (this )
Notable Rivalries
Florida-Georgia
This rivalry between UF and UGA has been going on for more than 100 years, and the game has been played in Jacksonville since 1933. According to , the game was originally moved to Jacksonville because it was easier for both teams鈥 fans to get there by train. The stadium sold out in 1933, and the rest is history!
UGA owns the all-time series with a record of . However, in Florida鈥檚 heyday from 1990-2010, the Gators owned the Bulldogs, going 18-3 during that stretch.
Third Saturday in September (Florida-Tennessee)
The Gators first played the Volunteers in October of 1916. Since then, there鈥檚 been a natural rivalry between the two teams since they鈥檝e always been in the same conference (originally, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association).
The rivalry, however, became more heated in the 1990s. With the advent of the SEC, both teams were placed in the East Division guaranteeing a yearly matchup.
Florida Gators Football Schedule 2024 & Gators History (Continued)
The rivalry is more commonly known as the Third Saturday in September, which is when the teams have . Some notable exceptions to that scheduling trend include a rescheduled game due to the 9/11 attacks, the 2020 COVID season, and – for some unknown reason – the upcoming 2024 season in which the teams face off on Oct. 12.
Florida owns the all-time record 32-21 and, since 2005, Florida has gone .
Florida-Florida State
Only a 2-hour drive on I-10 separates Gainesville and Tallahassee, and this in-state rivalry has the intensity of a civil war.
The rivalrywhen FSU was called Florida State College and UF was called Florida Agricultural College and was located in Lake City. In the modern era, however, the true rivalry began in 1958. In those 66 years, these teams have played each other 67 times! Florida leads the all-time series 37-28-2.
Heading into the Florida Gators Football Schedule 2024
The 2024 season is shaping up to be a crucial year for head coach Billy Napier. However, with one of the toughest schedules in all of college football, the focus for the Gators should be on player development rather than a national championship.
With like quarterback Graham Mertz and a promising youth cohort, the Gators have enough talent for a bowl bid. In addition, many high-potential but unproven players, such as , need to show their capabilities this season.
The SEC is only getting stronger. This season, the Gators for a significant leap in 2025.
2024 Florida Gators Football Schedule 鈥 Additional Resources
- Best and Loudest College Football Stadiums
- 25 Highest-Paid College College Football Coaches
- Who Has the Most College Football Championships
- Highest Paid College Athletes
- Colleges With the Most NFL Players
- Largest College Football Stadiums
- 25 Biggest College Football Rivalries
- UGA Football Schedule 2024
- Alabama Football Schedule 2024
- Texas Longhorns Football Schedule 2024