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Early look at FSU football final opponent Florida Gators
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- Early look at FSU football final opponent Florida Gators
We have reached the week of our Florida State football season preview. What a way to end it by taking a look at its seasonal rival, Florida Gators.
While FSU is expected to contend for the College Football Playoff this season, it is uncertain what the direction the Gators are heading.
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This season could be a make-or-break year for head coach Billy Napier , as he has yet to crack seven or more wins. Regardless of how the season unfolds between the two, the FSU-UF game never disappoints during rivalry week.
Let's take a look at the Gators.
Who is Florida 's head coach
Sep 16, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) and Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier against the Tennessee Volunteers prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Napier will be entering his third season with the Gators this coming season. Throughout his tenure, he has been 11-14. In his head coaching career, he has been 51-26.
Before coming to Florida, he spent four seasons as head coach at the University of Louisiana, where he won two Sun Belt titles.
In other places Napier has been, he served one season as an offensive coordinator at Arizona State in 2017. He had two stints in Alabama as a wide receiver coach in 2013-16 and as an analyst in 2011.
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He also coached at Clemson as an OC/QB coach and tight end coach from 2009-2010 and tight ends coach from 2006-2009. He served as a QB coach at Colorado State and South Carolina State .
Napier was a quarterback at Furman University before serving as a graduate assistant at Clemson.
Last meeting between FSU and Florida
FSU defeated UF 24-15 on Nov. 15, 2023
UF-FSU all-time record
37-25-2, Florida
Top returning players
Offense: QB Graham Mertz , 2,903 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, three interceptions; RB Montrell Johnson Jr., 152 car. 817 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns; WR Eugene Wilson Jr., 61 rec., 538 receiving yards, six rushing touchdowns; TE Arlis Boardingham, 26 rec., 289 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns; OL Austin Barber, OL Damieon George; OL Jake Slaughter;
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Defense: DL Cam Jackson , 32 tackles, two passes defended, 0.5 sack; DL Tyreak Sapp, 24 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks two forced fumbles; LB Shemar James, 55 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack; LB Derek Wingo, 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, DB Jordan Castell 60 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, three passes defended, one interception; DB Bryce Thornton, DB Jason Marshall Jr., 26 tackles, three tackles for loss, 10 passes defended, one sack
Key losses, additions
Losses: QB Max Brown, RB Trevor Etienne , WR Ricky Pearsall , OL Kingsley Eguakun, OL Richie Leonard IV, OL Micah Mazzccua, OL Lyndell Hudson II, DL Princely Umanmielen , DL Chris McClellan . LB Scooby Williams, LB Mannie Nunnery, DB Jaydon Hill, DB Miguel Mitchell, DB Jalen Kimber
Additions: WR Elijhah Badger , OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, DL Joey Slackman , Edge George Gumbs Jr., DB Cormani McClain , DB Asa Turner , DB Trikweze Bridges
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Outlook on the Florida Gators
In the last three seasons, the FSU-UF game has ended by one possession. FSU on two of those three years.
If the Seminoles are victorious, it'll be the first time since 2015 that FSU has beaten the Gators for three consecutive years. The question for UF is its defense. The Gators lost some playmakers.
Its worst loss was Princely Umanmielen, who left for Ole Miss . He led the Gators with 11.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
On the offensive side is the offensive line, as the Gators had to replace one of their five starters. Richie Leonard IV, former Gator, joined the Seminoles this season and is expected to start at left guard.
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Florida has one of the toughest schedules in college football, facing five teams in the top 25. Out the gate, UF will face No. 19 Miami in its season opener. Other teams the Gators have to deal with are
UF has not reached over seven wins since 2020.
By the time the two rivals square off at Doak Campbell Stadium , both teams will know where they stand at the end of the regular season.
How can I watch FSU football vs. Georgia Tech
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Date: Saturday, Aug. 24
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Time: Noon ET
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Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
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TV: ESPN
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Streaming: ESPN+ ($10.99 per month), WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider subscription needed), fuboTV (7-day free trial ), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)
Florida State football schedule 2024
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Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at noon., ESPN
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Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
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Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
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Sept. 21 vs. California
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Sept. 28 at SMU
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Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
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Oct. 18 at Duke
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Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
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Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
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Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
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Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
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Nov. 30: Florida
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Dec. 7:ACC Championship
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: A sneak preview of Florida State vs.Florida in 2024 season finale
