3 teams that could beat Billy Napier's Florida in 2024 CFB season
2024 does not appear to be an ideal moment to be a Florida Gators fan. Florida's schedule is highly difficult, likely the toughest in the country, and coach Billy Napier is on the hot seat in his third season. Florida's schedule starts rough, but they have a devastating November, facing Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida State.
In this series of columns, we usually consider a top team and the handful of teams that could beat them. Florida is probably going to be an underdog in the majority of its 2024 games. Accordingly, we'll step outside of that monstrous November and still offer three teams that could beat the Gators.
3 teams (not on the November schedule) that could beat Florida in 2024
1. Miami (August 31st)
There is nothing like starting with the obvious. The Hurricanes have put together an outstanding roster full of portal additions. Mario Cristobal's seat isn't a lot cooler than Billy Napier's, but Miami is in a position to possibly be a playoff contender, while Florida might be hoping for .500 in 2024.
Washington State QB transfer Cam Ward has plenty of weapons like Damien Martinez, Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George. A year ago, Miami's defense had 35 sacks and most of those players returned.
Meanwhile, Florida's offensive line allowed 39 sacks and most of those players also returned. This one could be decided on the line of scrimmage.
2. Tennessee (October 12th)
This is one that Florida has long been able to hang onto in the column of competitive matchups. The Gators are 17-2 over the Vols in the last 19 games in the series. That said, this isn't the same Tennessee program that has bumbled and stumbled through most of the last two decades.
Josh Heupel's high-power offense is a significant threat to everybody in the SEC. QB Nico Iamaleava is getting some big-time hype and the Vols look like a potential CFP contender if they get the right bounces.
But much of that was true a year ago—when UT wasn't starting a freshman QB—and Florida won 29-16 in a game that wasn't as close as the score. UT has to flip the script soon.
3. Kentucky (October 19th)
Speaking of games that once looked certain, Florida won 31 straight games over Kentucky in this series. Great Florida teams, awful Florida teams—they all handled Kentucky. But Kentucky has now won the last three meetings and four of the last six since that streak ended.
A season ago, Kentucky's run game sliced through Florida's defense like a knife on hot butter. UK rushed for 329 yards at a 9.1 yards per carry clip. If Kentucky comes anywhere close to that in 2024, Florida is in a mountain of trouble.
Which games (early or late) do you think Florida will lose? Share your thoughts and predictions with us below in the comment section!