ESPN identifies SEC team with the ‘toughest overall schedule’ in college football
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ESPN published its annual “schedule superlatives” story on Thursday morning, which outlines some of the toughest and easiest schedules in the sport.
Multiple SEC schools are mentioned throughout the story, but it’s Florida who earns the recognition of having the toughest overall schedule of any power-conference program. Here’s an excerpt of analysis from ESPN’s Chris Low on what the Gators will be facing this fall:
The Gators are the only team in the SEC facing the league’s three highest-ranked preseason teams (No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Georgia and No. 6 LSU), with the Georgia and LSU games away from home. The Sept. 13 trip to LSU is followed by a trip to No. 21 Miami the next week. In a five-week stretch from Sept. 13 through Oct. 11, which includes a bye on Sept. 27, Florida plays at LSU, at Miami, at home against Texas and at Texas A&M. The Gators’ annual showdown with Georgia in Jacksonville on Nov. 1 is followed by back-to-back SEC road games against Kentucky and No. 24 Ole Miss.
Oklahoma and Mississippi State were also singled out in ESPN’s schedule superlatives piece. Mississippi State has the toughest power-conference home schedule, per ESPN. The Sooners face the most difficult 3-game stretch of anyone in 2025, according to the story.
This is the second consecutive season where Florida’s strength of schedule has been heralded as perhaps the toughest in the sport. Last year, Florida faced the same slate of SEC opponents but at opposite campus sites. The Gators also played ACC foes Miami and Florida State last season, too.
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Florida began spring practice this week under less-than-ideal circumstances. Quarterback DJ Lagway is dealing with another injury, although it’s not considered to be a significant problem. Still, Lagway has dealt with several different injuries since he arrived on campus in 2024. He missed all of spring practice due to an injury as well.
The Gators have College Football Playoff aspirations as they begin Year 4 under Billy Napier. However, if the schedule turns out to be as difficult as it looks on paper, the Gators may struggle to meet those lofty expectations.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
