Florida NCAA Football Teams: An Overview of the Gridiron Landscape
Florida is renowned for its football prowess, having a reputation for producing an abundance of NFL-caliber talent from a variety of respected schools. With a diverse array of colleges, players, coaches, and opponents, each team carves its own unique path every season. The Sunshine State is a hotbed for college football, boasting a multitude of teams across various divisions, each with its own unique identity and aspirations. From the powerhouse Division I programs to the smaller Division II and NAIA schools, Florida offers a diverse and competitive football landscape. This article provides an overview of the Florida NCAA football teams, examining their recent performances, coaching situations, and potential for the upcoming season.
Division I Powerhouses
Florida is home to ten Division I (DI) colleges that compete in football, some of which rank among the best-known in college sports. Teams like UF and FSU compete at the highest levels of NCAA football, boasting multiple national championships. These teams represent the pinnacle of college football in the state, attracting top talent and competing for national recognition.
Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles have a good-looking record and finished 10-3 for the first time since 2016. They have the hype that comes with an impressive win streak, having won their last six games. FSU is consistently a top recruiter in the ACC, sitting as one of the top four every year for over a decade (and being number one in the conference on several occasions in that span). Looking at their schedule, the Seminoles are in what is relatively a very comfortable position. Assuming that last season can serve as any implication to how the year will unfold, the only game that has the Seminoles as clear-cut underdogs is their road trip to Clemson. If the only concern that can be brought up about a team is one of its 12 opponents, then its circumstances are near perfect for a year of overwhelming success, and that precise description applies to Florida State beautifully.
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators football program represents the University of Florida (UF) in American college football. Florida competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Florida's football program was established along with the university in 1906. It took on the "Gators" nickname in 1911, began playing in newly constructed Florida Field in 1930, and joined the Southeastern Conference as a founding member in 1932.
The Gators possess the talent for success, having been in the top half of SEC recruiting for seven of the last eight years, but that’s about where their list of positives ends. Head coach Billy Napier already has a season under his belt at the University of Florida, and all the program has to show for it is its second 6-7 record in a row. As for their schedule, the Gators have a slate that most other Floridian schools would deem impossible to win with. If the Gators were to lose to all of those opponents-which is very much possible-they would have to win all of their other games just to enter the postseason with a winning record.
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Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes were one of Florida football’s biggest disappointments last season, finishing 5-7. The record was their worst since 2007 and left them as the worst of the state’s “big three” (Miami, Florida and Florida State). Along with being led by second-year head coach Mario Cristobal, Miami has been a top-four recruiter in the ACC for 12 years straight. All of this leaves the Hurricanes with circumstances similar to those of the lower-ranked Florida Gators: a talented roster at risk of being held back by an underachieving head coach and a challenging slate. Essentially, the Hurricanes are benefiting from the concerns surrounding multiple teams below them. If the Hurricanes were dealing with matters half as severe as those, they would have probably been placed lower on the list.
University of Central Florida Knights
The lack of familiarity has been a recurring theme on the list so far, but the Central Florida Knights will endure perhaps the most jarring effects from it. This is because they will be in the Big 12, a Power 5 conference. This year, they will be facing an astonishing seven new opponents in league play. A major public college in Orlando, UCF is the largest of the D1 colleges in Florida, enrolling more than 68,000 students annually. The UCF Knights rank among the top Florida college football teams, boasting six conference championships and 14 bowl appearances. The Knights are known for their rivalries with both the University of South Florida Bulls and the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Florida Atlantic Owls
From 2015, FAU was a top-four recruiter in Conference USA all but once, seeing the top spot on three separate occasions. “Throughout the process and the more we talked with Coach Herman, the more it became apparent to me that he was the right person to lead our football program,” FAU athletic director Brian White said. “Beyond his knowledge of the game, which is obvious by his success over the years, he also truly cares about the young people in his program. In the past, Herman has seen success with Texas and even more so Houston. The move will result in the Owls facing four new opponents in their league play: Tulsa, USF, East Carolina and Tulane. While they will initially be difficult to adjust to, Herman’s experience with each of them will surely help over time. Three of FAU’s four non-conference opponents are Ohio, Clemson and Illinois. Last year, each of those three schools had a run to be proud of; Ohio won 10 games and made its conference championship, Clemson won 11 games including its conference championship, and Illinois won eight games (its most in a season since 2007). Florida Atlantic’s one-two punch of decent recruiting and coaching prowess may make it look like one of the state’s more promising teams in a few years, but its upcoming schedule is a bit too unfamiliar/tough for a struggling team with a first-year head coach to overcome.
Florida International Panthers
There is very little about the Florida International Panthers that makes their path look remotely comforting, as they are coming off of a 4-8 season, have new head coach Mike MacIntyre entering only his second year with them, and will be playing in a new version of Conference USA. For starters, the Panthers finished 2021 (their last year without MacIntyre) with a single win. In just one offseason, MacIntyre was able to lift them up to four wins. Secondly, the program has consistently been one of the stronger recruiters in its conference, having had a top-five recruiting rating in Conference USA every year dating back to 2017. To summarize, FIU is in position to have a season successful enough to outshine the schools beneath it. Located in Miami, FIU is a large public college with a student population of more than 56,000. The FIU Panthers boast one Sun Belt Conference championship and several postseason bowl appearances. Known for their rivalry with FAU, the Panthers posted a 4-8 record.
Florida A&M Rattlers
Florida A&M just might be entering this upcoming season on a stronger note than any other team in the state. The record, the outrageous win streak, the experience of the head coach, it all adds up to a team that should strike fear into the hearts of all who encounter it. Home to more than 9,000 students, Florida A&M is a historically Black college based in Tallahassee. One of the top HBCUs for football in the state, Florida A&M’s Rattlers have won 15 Black college football national championships and 37 conference championships.
Read also: NCAA Tournament: Florida Gators
University of South Florida Bulls
In the middle of what is currently a 10-game loss streak, things were looking so bleak that Bulls head coach Jeff Scott got canned before he could even finish the season. A 1-11 season is already extremely difficult to bounce back from quickly, but the combination of a new head coach and a new conference lineup will only make necessary adjustments harder to execute. A public college in Tampa, USF serves over 49,000 students each year. The South Florida Bulls hold a lifetime 141-135 record, but the team struggled, posting a 1-14 record for the year. USF maintains a rivalry with UCF, known to fans as “The War on I-4.”
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats are coming off of a season that saw them finish with a very underwhelming record of 2-9 (the second-worst record in Florida, behind only the 1-11 South Florida Bulls). Upon its season coming to an end, Bethune-Cookman parted ways with head coach Terry Simms and ultimately replaced him with Raymond Woodie, Jr. In short, Bethune-Cookman could experience a gradual rise in formidability as the first few seasons of the Woodie, Jr. With an enrollment of over 2,700 students, Bethune-Cookman is one of the smallest D1 colleges in Florida. Based in Daytona Beach, this historically Black college has struggled athletically in recent years, with the Wildcats posting a 2-9 record for the season.
Stetson Hatters
The Stetson Hatters had the potential for a strong showing last year, garnering attention with a 3-1 start to their journey. However, their hopes were short-lived as they lost their next five games en route to a final record of 4-6. Each of their four wins were decided by double-digit margins, while half of their losses were within eight points. Also, while two of their defeats saw deficits of over 20 points, one of them was to the Princeton Tigers (who won’t be facing the Hatters) and the other was to the St. As for Stetson’s coaching situation, the program will be entering its third year under Brian Young. If he can get the Hatters to at least five wins, it will be the first time they have gotten more than four in a season since 2019. Based in Deland, Florida, Stetson is a small private college that enrolls around 4,000 students. The Stetson Hatters compete in the Pioneer Football League, posting a 4-6 record during the season. With a history dating back to 1894, Stetson boasts one of the oldest Florida college football teams.
Division II Programs
There are two DII schools in Florida, both of which compete in different athletic conferences. Varied in size and background, these schools represent the diversity of Florida football colleges.
University of West Florida Argonauts
Due to sharing the state’s Division II spotlight with the abundantly successful West Florida Argonauts, the Edward Waters football program is easily the smallest in Florida. Nobles, a former UWF quarterback, has worked under both Shinnick and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, getting some of the best mentoring that a young coach could ask for. Will West Florida be a good team? Absolutely, but being good and being the best in the state are two completely different things. A public college based in Pensacola, UWF is home to more than 13,000 students. The UWF Argonauts are a young team, playing their first game in 2016. However, the Argonauts quickly made a name for themselves, qualifying for the Division II playoffs in 2017 and winning their first national Division II championship in 2019.
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Edward Waters University Tigers
EWU managed to win its last four games in dominating fashion, with three of them being decided by 26 points or more. A private HBCU based in Jacksonville, EWU serves around 1,100 students. Since 2019, the EWU Tigers have competed mainly in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a Division II NCAA conference composed of historically Black colleges and universities. The team posted a 5-6 overall record alongside a 4-4 conference record.
NAIA Institutions
Florida does not have any Division III teams, but several teams participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). These teams still compete regionally and nationally, though typically not at the same level as D1 and D2 schools in Florida.
Southeastern University Fire
A private Christian college based in Lakeland, SEU enrolls more than 10,000 students annually. The SEU Fire has had great success in recent years, competing in the NAIA national championship in 2016. Most recently, the team posted a 6-4 record for the season.
St. Thomas University Bobcats
Based in Miami Gardens, STU is a private Catholic college that serves more than 6,000 students. The STU Bobcats compete in the Mid-South Conference’s Sun Division. The team has had great success in recent years, posting a 9-2 record.
Ave Maria University Gyrenes
A private Roman Catholic college based in Ave Maria, Ave serves a small student body of just 1,300. Established in 2011, the Ave Gyrenes compete in the Mid-South conference. The Gyrenes posted a 6-3 record for the season, their second-best record ever.
Florida Memorial University Lions
An HBCU based in Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial is home to around 1,100 students. After a 62-year hiatus, the school re-established its Lions football team in 2020. The team recently posted a 3-7 record for the season.
Warner University Royals
A private Christian college located in Lake Wales, WU serves a small student body of fewer than 900. A young team founded in 2013, the WU Royals primarily compete in the Sun Conference. The Royals struggled, posting a 1-9 record for the season.
Webber International University Warriors
Located in Babson Park, Webber is a private college that serves around 1,100 students annually. The Webber Warriors compete in the Sun Conference and the National Christian College Athletic Association. Most recently, the Warriors posted a 6-4 record during the season.
Rivalries
Florida's football landscape is fueled by intense rivalries, some of which have national implications. These rivalries add an extra layer of excitement and passion to the college football experience in the state.
Florida vs. Florida State
Florida has played a continuous series against in-state rival Florida State (FSU) since 1958. Prodding by Florida governor LeRoy Collins facilitated an agreement between the two universities to begin an annual series in 1958. Due to Florida State's smaller stadium, the first six games were played at Florida Field. Florida dominated the early series with a 16-2-1 record through 1976. Both teams have produced significant winning streaks, and the series is nearly tied over the past four decades; Florida State holds a 21-20-1 advantage since 1980. Since 2000, the teams share 10-10 records against one another.
Florida vs. Georgia
Historically, Florida's most hated and fierce rival has been the Georgia Bulldogs.
Florida vs. Kentucky
When the Southeastern Conference split into geographical divisions in 1992, Florida and Kentucky were both placed in the SEC East. This guarantees that both teams play each other every season, which they have done consecutively since 1967. The Gators and Wildcats will meet despite the end of SEC divisions. The two teams have played 74 times, with Florida holding a 53-21 lead in the series. From 1987 to 2017, Florida won every single game between the two schools. This 31-year streak was the third longest in FBS history, and the longest in the Southeastern Conference's history. Since 2017, the series has become incredibly competitive with a 4-3 split between the two teams with the winning margin being 11.4 points on average.
Florida vs. LSU
Florida and LSU first met on the football field in 1937, and have been annual opponents since 1971. From 1992, LSU was Florida's permanent inter-divisional rival from the SEC Western Division (the Gators also played Auburn yearly from 1992-2001 when the SEC assigned each team two permanent crossover opponents). The winner of the Florida-LSU game went on to win the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national championship game in the 2006, 2007, 2008, and seasons. This rivalry has been known recently for close games, with both teams highly ranked. Florida leads the all-time series; the series will take a year off and return.
Florida vs. Miami
Miami is Florida's only pre-World War II in-state rival that still plays major college football.
Florida vs. Tennessee
Although Florida and Tennessee are charter members of the SEC, irregular conference scheduling resulted in the teams meeting infrequently for many years. The rivalry reached a peak during the 1990s. In 1992, the SEC expanded to twelve schools and split into two divisions. Florida and Tennessee (in the Eastern Division) have met every year since, usually in mid-September for both teams' first conference game of the season. Led by coaches Steve Spurrier and Phillip Fulmer and featuring players such as Danny Wuerffel and Peyton Manning, both teams were regularly ranked in the top 10 when they met, giving the rivalry conference and national title implications. Since becoming annual opponents in 1992, the Gators and Volunteers have combined to represent the Eastern Division in the SEC Championship Game 16 times.
UCF vs. USF
USF maintains a rivalry with UCF, known to fans as “The War on I-4.”
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