Florida Football Season Preview 2024: Biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more
The Florida Gators are looking to have a successful 2024 season after missing a bowl appearance in 2023, having started the season 5-2 before dropping the final five games. With coach Billy Napier on the hot seat, the Gators need to start picking up wins, and their schedule has a lot of tough games on it.
Let's take a look at everything we need to know about the Florida Gators heading into the 2024 college football season.
Florida's biggest games in the 2024 season
The Florida Gators have some stiff competition when looking at their schedule, as they will have eight games against teams that were ranked in the preseason AP Poll, including five of their eight home games.
Below is how the schedule shapes up, as the Gators have a tough non-conference schedule as well, with the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles included.
Florida Home Games
- 8/31: vs. Miami
- 9/7: vs. Samford
- 9/14: vs. Texas A&M
- 10/5: vs. UCF
- 10/19: vs. Kentucky
- 11/2: vs. Georgia
- 11/16: vs. LSU
- 11/23: vs. Ole Miss
Florida Road Games
- 9/21: at Mississippi State
- 10/12: at Tennessee
- 11/9: at Texas
- 11/30: at Florida State
Key Florida players to watch out for in the 2024 season
#1. Graham Mertz, QB
Senior quarterback Graham Mertz has been one of the more integral parts of the Florida Gators roster and will be their key player this year. In 2023, Mertz was 261 of 358 (72.9%) for 2,903 yards with 20 passing touchdowns to three interceptions while adding four rushing touchdowns in his first season with the Gators.
The team is in a tough spot, but expect Mertz to continue improving as he gets more familiar with both coach Billy Napier's system and the level of SEC defenses.
#2. Jason Marshall Jr., CB
Despite not having an interception last season, cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. is the most significant defensive piece for the Florida Gators this season. Looking at his numbers a year ago, he had 26 total tackles, one sack and a team-high 11 pass deflections.
Marshall showcased his ability to lock down some of the top wide receivers in the nation and get his hands on the ball to disrupt a pass.
#3. Montrell Johnson Jr., RB
Senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. has been doing incredibly well and will be the best-skill position player on the roster. Last season, he had 152 rushing attempts for 817 yards (5.4 yards per carry) with five rushing touchdowns as well as 30 receptions on 236 yards (7.9 yards per catch) with a receiving touchdown.
Johnson will be a massive player for the Gators and will be the best option with no Trevor Etienne to steal carries from him.
Florida prediction for the 2024 season
The Florida Gators have an extremely difficult schedule to the point a bowl game appearance could be tough to get. They should make it to six wins, but another underperforming season will cost coach Billy Napier his job.
Expect to see an interim coach toward the end of the 2024 college football season as the program has a struggling year.