GAINESVILLE — Florida added FAU and South Alabama as the Gators continue to build out their future non-conference football schedules, the school announced Monday.
UF will host FAU on Sept. 5, 2026, and South Alabama on Sept. 4, 2027, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Gators also will welcome Campbell University, as previously announced, on Sept. 12, 2026. Charleston Southern also is on UF’s 2027 schedule with a Sept. 11 home matchup set.
UF is 4-0 all time against FAU, with their last meeting a 35-14 Gators win Sept. 4, 2021 in Gainesville to open the season. The Gators have never played Campbell.
Florida and South Alabama also have never met. The Jaguars were 7-6 last season under first-year coach Major Applewhite, culminating with a 30-23 win over Western Michigan during the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
Florida coach Billy Napier talks with quarterback DJ Lagway, who started seven games as a true freshman. (Colin Hackley/AP)
Coming off an 8-5 season, the Gators will will open 2025 with visit from Long Island University Aug. 30 followed by a Sept. 6 matchup with USF in the Swamp.
The back-to-back early season games UF will be heavily favored to win signal a philosophical shift after the debut of the College Football Playoff proved to value overall record more than strength of schedule.
Indiana was 11-1 during the regular season, but did not beat a ranked team and lost by a combined 65-32 to Ohio State during the penultimate game of the regular season and Notre Dame in the playoff.
SMU beat two ranked teams (No. 22 Louisville and No. 18 Pittsburgh) to finish 11-1, but lost to Clemson in the ACC title game and qualified for the 12-team field, where the Mustangs lost 38-10 to Penn State.
Meanwhile, three three-loss SEC teams, Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina, finished on the fringe of the playoff.
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Publish date : 2025-05-19 17:42:00
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