College Football Preview 2024: Florida Gators win projections, strengths and weaknesses, quarterback spotlight and more

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
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)