Greg McElroy explains why Florida can make the CFP in 2025
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Greg McElroy explained on his “Always College Football” podcast why he thinks Florida can make the College Football Playoff in 2025.
The Gators started 2024 with a 5-4 record but won their final 4 games, including games against LSU and Ole Miss. Making a run at the Playoff could come down to the play of their offensive and defensive front, according to McElroy.
“So much of the conversation surrounding Florida is about the schedule, the schedule, the schedule, the schedule. What people are not talking enough about is how good they might be along both the offensive and defensive lines,” McElroy said.
A strong offensive line will, of course, benefit DJ Lagway, but it will benefit the Gators’ run game as well.
“The offensive line returns depth, they return talent, and they return an identity. They might hand the ball off to Jadan Baugh 25, 30 times in the game. … They can also spell him. They’ve got great depth at running back,” McElroy continued. “This is going to be a team that is a ground-and-pound outfit, but it’s going to allow the talent of DJ Lagway to come to the forefront. Their quarterback’s phenomenal. He’s especially good on the downfield throws.”
On defense, Caleb Banks will be a major player to watch, McElroy said.
“They have a chance to really be impactful with their pass rush. If you have a great defensive tackle that can take over games, it’s a pretty good starting point. And Caleb Banks can absolutely be that,” he said.
But what about the schedule, the “elephant in the room” for McElroy? After opening against LIU and South Florida, the Gators visit LSU and Miami before hosting Texas. That’s on top of the annual game against Georgia in Jacksonville and Tennessee on Nov. 22.
“The schedule is an absolute beast,” McElroy said. “But if they can run the ball the way I anticipate them being able to run the ball, and the offensive line is as good as advertised, and the defensive line is as good as advertised, and Lagway takes the steps that we expect them to take at quarterback, Florida is going to be a problem. I really believe that. …
“Can they cause some serious headaches for a lot of teams in what might become a bare-knuckle brawl every single time you play them? Yes. The answer is a resounding yes.”
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
