Billy Napier and his army of staffers have an uphill climb ahead of them in 2023 after a disappointing showing during the 2022 campaign. For the second straight season, the Orange and Blue succame to a losing record giving the Gators consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the late 1970s.
As they say, hope springs eternal and that is exactly the attitude on campus these days. Following a lackluster Orange and Blue game — the program’s annual intrasquad scrimmage meant to hype up the fanbase — it appears that Florida football still has a lot left to be desired.
Now that all of the Southeastern Conference schools have wrapped up their spring practice season, The Athletic’s David Ubben took on the task of ranking the league’s teams from top to bottom based on what was seen these past couple of months. The Gators landed at No. 10 in these power rankings and here is what Ubben had to say about his decision.
The Gators are still searching for an answer at quarterback, but Billy Napier’s underwhelming Year 1 means there will be pressure for him in Gainesville. He’s recruited well but needs a Year 2 bump in a sport with less patience than ever.
The Georgia Bulldogs are perched at the top of the list, followed by the LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Tennessee Volunteers and Ole Miss Rebels to round out the top five. The Texas A&M Aggies, Kentucky Wildcats, South Carolina Gamecocks and Arkansas Razorbacks are also head of the Gators, respectively, while only the Auburn Tigers, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Missouri Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores lag behind them in the standings.
The Orange and Blue kick off its 2023 campaign on Aug. 31 on the road against the Utah Utes, with the start time yet to be determined.
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