Even if you’ve followed every rumor and update of this conference realignment cycle, this season’s college football schedules are still hard to comprehend.
At least they were for me when I continued my annual tradition of ranking every game featuring a Florida team in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Gators play at new SEC member Texas for the first time since 1939. USF does not play SMU. Florida State does, however, because the Mustangs have moved up from the American Athletic Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference despite, you know, not being anywhere near the Atlantic.
Neither is Cal, which plays its first ACC game at FSU and faces Miami in his first conference home game. UCF’s sophomore season in the Big 12 includes all four newcomers: Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado (still led by Deion Sanders).
As if those new pairings weren’t enough, the schedules also feel bigger as the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams. Memphis-USF isn’t merely an interesting AAC matchup; it could have playoff implications for one, if not both, teams.
I weighed all those factors along with my usual, unscientific metric (my excitement level) as I ranked every game in the state from 77 to 1.
77. Monmouth at Florida International, Sept. 21
I don’t know how many programs in the nation have zero Floridians on their roster, but Monmouth is one of them.
76. Wagner at Florida Atlantic, Sept. 28
75. Charleston Southern at Florida State, Nov. 23
74. Bethune-Cookman at USF, Aug. 31
73. New Hampshire at UCF, Aug. 29 (Thursday)
Notable because it’s the debut of new UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson and it’s a weeknight.
72. Florida A&M at Miami (Sept. 7)
71. Samford at Florida, Sept. 7
The Bulldogs hung 52 on the Gators in their last trip to Gainesville (a loss) in a game that helped doom Dan Mullen’s tenure. If Samford does it again this year…
70. Sam Houston at UCF, Sept. 7
69. Sam Houston at Florida International, Oct. 22 (Tuesday)
68. Florida Atlantic at UConn, Sept. 21
67. Ball State at Miami, Sept. 14
Gaither High product Kiael Kelly started six games at quarterback for Ball State last year, briefly entered the transfer portal but remained with the Cardinals as an athlete (listed at defensive back).
66. New Mexico State at Florida International, Oct. 29 (Tuesday)
65. Florida Atlantic at Temple, Nov. 16
64. Louisiana Tech at Florida International, Sept. 28
63. Florida International at Texas El Paso, Oct. 16 (Wednesday)
62. Florida International at Kennesaw State, Nov. 23
It’s hard to see the Panthers challenging for a bowl appearance without a win over the Owls, who are jumping to the Football Bowl Subdivision.
61. Florida Atlantic at Tulsa, Nov. 30
It’s also hard to see the Owls challenging for a bowl appearance without winning this regular-season finale.
60. Tulsa at USF, Nov. 23
59. Florida International at Jacksonville State, Nov. 16
58. USF at Southern Miss, Sept. 14
57. Middle Tennessee at Florida International, Nov. 30
Curious to see how the Blue Raiders end their first season under former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason.
56. North Texas at Florida Atlantic, Oct. 12
55. Charlotte at Florida Atlantic, Nov. 23
54. Charlotte at USF, Nov. 16
Max Brown flashed at times in his first career start (for the Gators in last year’s finale against FSU). Can he lead Charlotte to respectability in his first year there?
53. Navy at USF, Nov. 9
52. Rice at USF, Nov. 29/30
51. Florida Atlantic at East Carolina, Nov. 7 (Thursday)
50. Army at Florida Atlantic, Sept. 7
West Point’s first conference game in two decades (when the Black Knights were in Conference USA with the likes of USF, Louisville and Cincinnati).
49. Central Michigan at Florida International, Sept. 7
Keep an eye on Chippewas quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr., son of the former Bucs receiver. He’s a dynamic playmaker for ex-Gators coach Jim McElwain (29-28 in five seasons at Central Michigan).
48. Cincinnati at UCF, Oct. 12
47. Florida Atlantic at Texas San Antonio, Oct. 19
46. Florida International at Florida Atlantic, Sept. 14
The Shula Bowl is back after a one-year hiatus. The Owls have won six in a row.
45. Alabama Birmingham at USF, Oct. 19
The Bulls’ homecoming game is also a homecoming for Blazers coach (and former Bucs quarterback) Trent Dilfer. It’ll be his first meaningful action at Raymond James Stadium since winning Super Bowl 35 with the Ravens.
44. Wake Forest at Miami, Nov. 23
43. Florida International at Indiana, Aug. 31
The Hoosiers debut of Curt Cignetti, who replaced Tom Allen (a former Hillsborough County prep coach).
42. Florida Atlantic at Michigan State, Aug. 30 (Friday)
The Spartans debut of Jonathan Smith, who went a respectable 34-35 at Oregon State.
41. FSU at Duke, Oct. 18 (Friday)
40. USF at Florida Atlantic, Nov. 1 (Friday)
USF fans insist it’s not a rivalry, but the Owls planting a state flag at home after blowing out the Bulls adds some juice to this in-state AAC matchup.
39. Florida at Mississippi State, Sept. 21
38. Miami at Syracuse, Nov. 30
37. Florida International at Liberty, Oct. 8 (Tuesday)
A weeknight game provides an excuse to watch the Flames — a Conference USA favorite that will be in the playoff mix.
36. BYU at UCF, Oct. 26
35. UCF at Arizona State, Nov. 9
College football in 2024: traveling from Orlando to Arizona for a conference game of a league based in Texas.
34. UCF at West Virginia, Nov. 23
33. UCF at TCU, Sept. 14
32. Cal at FSU, Sept. 21
31. Miami at Cal, Oct. 5
30. Duke at Miami, Nov. 2
Manny Diaz returns to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since he was fired so the Hurricanes could hire…
Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.
