The Florida Gators were expected to finish below .500 in 2024. Even after being soundly dispatched by Cam Ward and Miami in their first game, they found a way to go 8-5. That finish has Greg McElroy placing them within shouting distance of a College Football Playoff spot to open the 2025 campaign.
RELATED: Ready to bet on the Gators? Check out the SDS guide to Florida sports betting apps and get in on the action!
The 2010 BCS National Champion spoke highly about Florida on his Always College Football podcast, where he ranked the Gators No. 16 in his preseason top 25 teams. That placement is one spot lower than the AP poll. However, McElroy believes Florida could have a season to remember because of their talent in the trenches.
“The thing that makes [the Gators] special, potentially, this year is… their line of scrimmage play. On offense, they bring back four starters from an offensive line that was really, really good… they are going to lean on that offensive line, they’re going to lean on that run game… it’s the run game that’s really going to make this engine go and make Florida a difficult team to defend.””
McElroy knows how important a quarterback is to team success, particularly in the SEC. He admitted that “no one’s going to deny” that DJ Lagway is extremely talented. But taking the pressure off Lagway’s shoulders and placing it upon All-American center Jack Slaughter, among others, would allow Lagway to grow in the early stages of the season and carry more responsibility in its latter stages.
Florida opens the year against Long Island on Aug. 30.
No. – @GatorsFB
— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) August 15, 2025
Great line of scrimmage play could lead to a dangerous run game, making Florida one of the most difficult teams to defend in the country.#GoGators pic.twitter.com/CUcwcgmUWO
