If you’re a Florida football fan, buckle up because this season’s going to be a ride.

According to ESPN’s Chris Low, no college football program faces a steeper uphill climb in 2025 than the Florida Gators. And honestly, after looking at the slate, it’s hard to argue.

Billy Napier’s squad showed real resilience last year, riding a four-game win streak into the offseason to finish 8-5 after a bumpy start. That momentum sparked some optimism in Gainesville. But if the Gators are going to match or exceed that success this fall, they’ll have to run through what ESPN calls the toughest Power 4 schedule in the country.

The Gators are the only SEC team that will face all three of the league’s highest-ranked preseason teams: No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Georgia and No. 6 LSU.

If Napier somehow guides Florida to a double-digit win season against a schedule as daunting as this, they’ll have proven themselves playoff-ready. But the flip side is just as true–stumble early and this could be a long year for the Orange and Blue.

Here is everything Low said about Florida and why they have the toughest Power 4 schedule in college football.

What ESPN said about Florida

“A year ago Billy Napier and his Florida football team epitomized resiliency. Despite an ugly 1-2 start, Napier never lost the locker room and guided the Gators to four straight wins to end the season with an 8-5 finish. But just like a year ago, Florida’s schedule is again brutal,” Low begins.

“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.

“Wisconsin is a close second in this category. Luke Fickell and the Badgers could use a strong bounce-back season after losing five in a row to end 2024 and missing a bowl game for the first time in 22 years. Like Florida, Wisconsin faces six ranked teams, including four of the top 11 — at No. 9 Alabama on Sept. 13, home against No. 5 Ohio State on Oct. 18, at No. 8 Oregon on Oct. 25 and home against No. 11 Illinois on Nov. 22.”

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: ESPN: Florida football’s 2025 schedule toughest in college football