Florida faces one of toughest schedules in 2024, but so do these SEC teams

It is no secret that Florida football faces one of the toughest schedules among FBS schools this coming fall, but the Gators are not necessarily alone in their plight.

USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg put together his ranking of the 10 toughest college football schedules ahead of Week 1, with the Orange and Blue headlining the pack. Billy Napier and Co.’s opponents went 106-50 combined last season and appear to be just as formidable this time around.

“On paper, this is one of the hardest schedules in recent FBS history. The Gators face Miami, Central Florida and Florida State in non-conference play, opening the regular season at home against the Hurricanes and ending November in Tallahassee.

“The Gators’ final six games are against the Volunteers, Kentucky, the Bulldogs, the Longhorns, LSU, Mississippi and the Seminoles. This slate is an absolute beast.”

Other SEC schools facing brutal schedules

The Alabama Crimson Tide also made the list, facing “a predictably tough schedule for first-year coach Kalen DeBoer, capped by a four-game stretch at LSU, home for Mercer, at Oklahoma and back home for the Iron Bowl to close the regular season,” according to Myerberg.

Speaking of the Sooners, the newly-minted SEC program is in for a rude welcome to the conference with four of their final five games coming against Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama and LSU.

Then there is the perennial SEC format — the Vanderbilt Commodores — whose misery is only exacerbated by playing in the most competitive conference in football.

“The Commodores could go 3-1 in non-conference play games against Virginia Tech, Alcorn State, Georgia State and Ball State. (They could also go 1-3.),” Myerberg notes. “But they’re unlikely to snap a five-year postseason drought against an SEC schedule that includes the Crimson Tide, Longhorns, Tigers, Tennessee and Missouri.”

Florida’s season opener for 2024

The Florida Gators and No. 19 Miami Hurricanes square off on Aug. 31 in Gainesville, Florida to open their schedule for the 2024 season. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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