Florida on the cusp of losing 'destination program' status

In a recent mailbag from The Athletic, staff writer Grace Raynor tackles the elephant in Gainesville — are the Gators still one of the nation’s elite programs?

It’s been four seasons since Florida’s football program last competed for a playoff spot, and the expansion to a 12-team system doesn’t seem like it will help the Gators for a few more years. Yes, there’s staying power in the Orange and Blue brand, but it’s teams like Alabama and Georgia that come to mind when hearing the phrase “SEC blue blood.”

“It’s always hard to reconcile things in our mind that seem so hard to be true,” Raynor wrote. “Florida is the flagship university of one of the most talent-rich states in the country and plays in the best conference. The Gators have three national championships, including two this century. Recruiting top talent to Gainesville shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Florida has history propping it up still, but Raynor reminds us that “numbers are numbers.” A four-year run of 12th-ranked signing classes or lower outweighs the two top-10 finishes for UF in 2019 and 2020.

So, is Florida a “destination program” in 2024?

Raynor says maybe. Bringing in DJ Lagway is exciting, but the inevitable struggle the nation’s toughest schedule will bring might make it tough to add more pieces in the upcoming cycle. She also maintains that Florida can revive its reputation in an instant.

“Gainesville can still be an elite recruiting destination given Florida’s history and access to talent. But it hasn’t been for quite a while. And the Gators will be under a lot of scrutiny in the coming months.”

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