- Head coach: Billy Napier (3rd season)
- 2023 record: 5-7
- PFF power ranking: 34th
- Chance to win SEC: 3%
- Strength of schedule: 2nd
- Projected win total: 6.2
- FanDuel win total: 4.5
- 2024 recruiting rank (On3): No. 10 nationally, No. 7 in the SEC
Billy Napier heads into his third season as Florida’s coach, and he's on the hot seat with a disappointing 11-14 record across his first two years.
2024 could mark the Gators' fourth straight losing season. The last time the program went through such a severe dry spell was during the Great Depression. Unfortunately for Napier, Florida will endure one of the most brutal schedules in college football in 2024.
There are still reasons to be optimistic about the Gators’ chances to make a bowl game in 2024, particularly the team's offense. Florida will need its defense to step up to avoid another losing year, though.
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Biggest Strength: Talent everywhere on offense
The Gators have a top-10 offensive line in college football, a very good receiving corps and a strong starting running back in Montrell Johnson Jr. And then there is Graham Mertz, a top-five quarterback prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to PFF lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema.
Biggest Weakness: Pass defense
Passing attacks in 2023 diced up Florida's defense, which placed 111th in team coverage grade and 62nd in team pass-rushing grade. The Gators then lost star edge defender Princely Umanmielen and two of its top-three cornerbacks to the transfer portal this offseason, leaving the team with even more uncertainty heading into 2024.
2023 Team Overview
Offense |
||||
| EPA per play | Yards per play | Successful play rate | Explosive run play rate | Explosive pass play rate |
| 0.067 | 6.1 | 38.2% | 17.8% | 16.0% |
| 41st | 45th | 37th | T-33rd | 43rd |
Defense |
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| EPA allowed per play | Yards allowed per play | Successful play rate allowed | Explosive run rate allowed | Explosive pass rate allowed |
| 0.090 | 6.5 | 33.2% | 19.4% | 15.2% |
| 113th | 125th | 43rd | 129th | T-97th |
Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions
- WR Elijhah Badger (Arizona State): 76.7 PFF grade
- CB Cormani McClain (Colorado): 51.7 PFF grade
- S Asa Turner (Washington): 76.2 PFF grade
Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses
- EDGE Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss): 76.5 PFF grade
- RB Trevor Etienne (Georgia): 82.1 PFF grade
- G Micah Mazzccua (Nebraska): 71.4 PFF grade
Quarterback Spotlight: Graham Mertz
2023 Grade: 75.8
Key Stat: 1.4% turnover-worthy play rate (third best in FBS)
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