Not getting the Florida Fear/Hype going into 2025

[VFL-82-JP]

Fla is definitely trending up.

I don't think FL is trending up. They over-achieved this season, sure (to get to 7-5). Found a way to surprisingly beat LSU and Ole Miss.

But 2024 is only one data point.

Next year, they again play a murderer's row, including LSU, Miami, Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.

Once again, if they get bowl eligible they will have done well. If they could repeat 7-5, it would be very good for them.

I doubt 7-5 in 2025. 6-6 is more likely.

Go Vols!

 

[GAV4L]

I don't think FL is trending up. They over-achieved this season, sure (to get to 7-5). Found a way to surprisingly beat LSU and Ole Miss.

But 2024 is only one data point.

Next year, they again play a murderer's row, including LSU, Miami, Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.

Once again, if they get bowl eligible they will have done well. If they could repeat 7-5, it would be very good for them.

I doubt 7-5 in 2025. 6-6 is more likely.

Go Vols!

I got a feeling that we will beat them by at least 2-3 TDs.

 

[Volbrando]

florida will be much improved next year... us, TBD. We play them there. It won't be easy and I'm not counting on a W, just hoping for it

 

[JohnWardForever]

I reluctantly offer this. Florida will be much improved in 2025. Will Tennessee? What was the score this year? Where was the game played? That's all. Those that think Tennessee will automatically win this game and even blow the Gators out; where do you come up with that stuff? Do you actually think things through?

 

[TheRealUT98]

“Big Josh” has been embarrassed both times he went to Gainesville, both against teams that finished with losing records. He is really bad on the road, there’s just no way around it. If you truly “don’t get where all this is coming from,” then you haven’t been paying attention.

This for sure. As well Lagway to me has the most upside of all QBs in the conference next year. Most accurate deep ball

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

The timing of this game completely eliminated any trepidation for me. If it were in September I’d probably see it as a loss. November? I think we’ll get ‘em.

 

[JohnWardForever]

UT saved Napier by knocking out Mertz and forcing him to play Lagway. Lagway threw 2 ints and had a QBR of 48 against Tulane. He has a lot of talent but needs more work. Norris sucked in USCe's bowl game. He has a lot of talent also but needs more work. They, along with Nico play like Freshmen at times. Whoever progresses the most and plays the best next year, that team will probably have the best year.

Whoever is better on the LOS will be the team to beat. Same old adage. It's a Line Of Scrimmage game.

 

[Boston Vol]

I know they had a good run against us during the dark years, but now they are in their dark years and quickly heading towards being a bottom feeder in the SEC for a long long time. But when talking about next year, I've seen many fans on here pencil in @UF as a loss (despite us playing them in late Nov, which, the last time we played them at the Swamp after Nov 1, we won...and that was when they were still actually good!). I also see people talking about them being "on the rise" in different ways in many different threads and disucssions.

Don't forget, Big Josh owns UFail and has a winning record against Sunbelt Billy, winning 2 of the last 3. Nico is coming back and will be better than ever. And we just brought in a top 10 team off a playoff appearance and are in good position to go on a real run next year.

And where did all this arrogance and confidence come from the Lizard fans?

For the last three years all we heard from Lizard fans was how Sunbelt Billy was hot garbage and they were ready to can him. Now, it’s like they’re hoping we all have amnesia and they’re ready to crown him as the second coming of Saban and they wanna erect a statue in front of The Swamp for 5 loss seasons. Those jort-wearing fools have gone from calling Billy clown of the century to GOAT literally overnight.

I just don't get where all this is coming from considering that they're hot off a 5 loss season with a terrible coach with a 19-19 record there.

Heupel is 2-2 against UF during his time in Knoxville. Don’t think I’d describe that as owning someone.

 

[TikiVol]

The fact that they won 8 games last year is scary. UF has a lot of talent and they are starting to recruit better. I don’t know. I do know one thing. If we actually do win in the swamp, it will be one of the biggest program wins in a long time. Maybe even bigger than beating Bama in 2022.

Look at their WR room - they are surrounding Lagway w talent. They will challenge our secondary.

 

[FranklinVFL]

This has a lot to do with it. 7 wins since 1993, including just 2 in The Swamp.

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I still remember that 10-9 fiasco in 2014.

 

[05_never_again]

Heupel is 2-2 against UF during his time in Knoxville. Don’t think I’d describe that as owning someone.

...with the wins being a near-blown lead and a gutty come-from-behind win after doing nothing offensively for over half the game. We haven't beaten them in a convincing fashion since 1992.

At this point I'm convinced a decent HS team could come onto the field in UF uniforms against us and it'd be a tight game.

 

[BearCat204]

Threads like this have a history of putting feet in mouths.

 

[GAV4L]

Heupel is 2-2 against UF during his time in Knoxville. Don’t think I’d describe that as owning someone.

2-1 vs sun belt billy

year 1 was a loss to mullen but year 1 was year 1

 

[Boston Vol]

2-1 vs sun belt billy

year 1 was a loss to mullen but year 1 was year 1

Ok…..but you said UF, not just Billy Napier. By the way, 2-1 isn’t exactly owning someone.

 

[volmandu]

Yeah you can totally tell that by the way they won 4/5 after it was announced that he was being retained and they’ve since pretty much killed it in the portal and recruiting. From September 21st on they lost 3 games ALL of them to playoff teams. They took us to overtime on the road and were more competitive against UGA with a 3rd string QB.

I can tell that not by that small sample size but by a much larger sample of 3 years where Sun Belt Billy has yet to reach 8 wins in regular season. 5-7, 6-7 and 8-5 is what Butch type guy had. Recall end of 3rd year of Butch. His 2015 team finished season 9-4 with 6 game winning streak as well with same Vibes.

 

[rocytop2624]

UT saved Napier by knocking out Mertz and forcing him to play Lagway. Lagway threw 2 ints and had a QBR of 48 against Tulane. He has a lot of talent but needs more work. Norris sucked in USCe's bowl game. He has a lot of talent also but needs more work. They, along with Nico play like Freshmen at times. Whoever progresses the most and plays the best next year, that team will probably have the best year.

Mertz got hurt on a no contract injury. What hurt Florida more was when Lagway got hurt when they played Georgia.

 

[brockytop]

I get the fear. It’s hard enough for us to beat that bunch with superior talent, never mind when the squads are relatively even and the game is in Gainesville.

 

[GAV4L]

I actually like playing them late. Billy will be on the hot seat by the time we play em and his team will have packed up. He is a bad coach who had a good season ending run (reminds me a lot of Butch)

Billy might be fired by the time we play them.

They could lose @ LSU, @ Miami, vs Texas, @ Texas A&M and will likely lose to Georgia again.

At 5 losses coming into November could be enough for them to pull the plug before they even face us.

 

[Volfan1000]

We will beat them in basketball in Gainesville tomorrow night.

 

[TheVolunteer002]

Until I see us beat them down there, I don't feel good about it.

 

[majinVol]

we are 8-26 against them in my life time and have found ways to lose in several of those games we shoulda won.

 

[GAV4L]

We will beat them in basketball in Gainesville tomorrow night.

Easily

Tennessee has the best AD in the SEC and maybe the nation

#1 Baseball
#1 Men's Basketball

And football is in the upper echelon.

Once Heup gets us to an elite level at football, we will officially be the best AD in the nation, if we aren't already.

 

[Savannahbayvol]

They have the same schedule next year basically.

Another 5 or more loss season in store for the cafe risqué lot lizards

I"ll take the over of 6 wins on the Gators for any amount you want to wager.

 

[Savannahbayvol]

I"ll take the over of 6 wins on the Gators for any amount you want to wager.

Date	Opponent	Location
Aug. 30	Long Island	Gainesville
Sept. 6	South Florida	Gainesville
Sept. 13	LSU	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Sept. 20	Miami	Miami Gardens
Sept. 27	Open Date	Open Date
Oct. 4	Texas	Gainesville
Oct. 11	Texas A&M	College Station, Texas
Oct. 18	Mississippi State	Starkville, Mississippi
Oct. 25	Open Date	Open Date
Nov. 1	Georgia	Jacksonville
Nov. 8	Kentucky	Lexington, Kentucky
Nov. 15	Ole Miss	Oxford, Mississippi
Nov 22	Tennessee	Gainesville
Nov. 29	Florida State	Gainesville

 

[Savannahbayvol]

Date	Opponent	Location
Aug. 30	Long Island	Gainesville
Sept. 6	South Florida	Gainesville
Sept. 13	LSU	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Sept. 20	Miami	Miami Gardens
Sept. 27	Open Date	Open Date
Oct. 4	Texas	Gainesville
Oct. 11	Texas A&M	College Station, Texas
Oct. 18	Mississippi State	Starkville, Mississippi
Oct. 25	Open Date	Open Date
Nov. 1	Georgia	Jacksonville
Nov. 8	Kentucky	Lexington, Kentucky
Nov. 15	Ole Miss	Oxford, Mississippi
Nov 22	Tennessee	Gainesville
Nov. 29	Florida State	Gainesville

I see 5 almost automatic wins, Long Island, USF, MSU , Kentucky and FSU. One more among 3 or 4 tossups gets them over the Hump.