The Florida Gators will have a new look in 2021.
With star players such as quarterback Kyle Trask, tight end Kyle Pitts, and wide receiver Kadarius Toney off to the NFL, the Gators will certainly rely on their depth and new 2021 recruiting class heavily.
Sure, Dan Mullen's squad may have lost in the Cotton Bowl to Oklahoma to end the year, but there were still plenty of positives during 2020.
This year's regular-season schedule is certainly tough early on. The Gators will need to remain motivated the entire way and attempt to sidestep demoralizing moments more than they did last year.
2021 @GatorsFB Schedule#GoGators x #SECFB pic.twitter.com/6LbDaHCeyI
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) January 27, 2021
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The Florida football schedule kicks off at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with a matchup against the Florida Atlantic Owls. A trip to Tampa to take on the USF Bulls is next, and then, on September 18, a marquee regular-season meeting will take place against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Florida came within six points of beating 'Bama in the SEC Championship Game last year, so while it won't be easy, don't count out the Gators just yet, either.
Other important tests early on include games against the Kentucky Wildcats and LSU Tigers. The Gators will then square off against the Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville, as has been customary since 1996.
As always, UF's season concludes with a game against the rival Florida State Seminoles. The COVID-19 pandemic took away this game in 2020, so it is nice to see it back on the schedule.
Florida Gators football gets challenged very early on in the season, and this team is set up with some important battles against some of the SEC's best teams.
With that in mind, the SEC East title is there for the taking, and Dan Mullen and company have a realistic path to Atlanta for the SEC Championship.
If they can overcome the odds, don't be surprised to see UF in the College Football Playoff come January.
2021 Florida Gators Football Schedule
Sept. 4: FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Sept. 11: at South Florida (Tampa, Fla.)
Sept. 18: ALABAMA*
Sept. 25: TENNESSEE*
Oct. 2: at Kentucky* (Lexington, KY)
Oct. 9: VANDERBILT*
Oct. 16: at LSU* (Baton Rouge, LA)
Oct. 30: Georgia* (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Nov. 6: at South Carolina* (Columbia, SC)
Nov. 13: SAMFORD
Nov. 20: at Missouri* (Columbia, MO)
Nov. 27: FLORIDA STATE
* — Denotes SEC game
ALL CAPS — Denotes home game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.
