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Florida football schedule 2022: Way-too-early game-by-game picks for Billy Napier’s first season

By Ethan Lee

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: Head Coach Billy Napier of the Florida Gators speaks during a press conference introducing him to the Media at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on December 05, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: Head Coach Billy Napier of the Florida Gators speaks during a press conference introducing him to the Media at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on December 05, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Billy Napier and the Florida Gators are looking to get this new era of Florida football started off on the right foot. How will Florida do in 2022?

Dan Mullen didn’t work out for the Florida Gators, so Scott Stricklin decided to move on and find a new coach to lead the Florida football program. Billy Napier worked out well with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. Maybe he can work out well with the Gators.

There’s a lot of proving that Napier will have to do, but his resume looks pretty good. If he can recruit at a high level and find a way to get this team turned into a championship contender, he’ll be better off than his predecessor. How much progress can Napier make in his first season in Gainesville? How will the Gators fare in 2022?

Florida football: Way-too-early 2022 predictions for Billy Napier, Florida Gators

  • Sept. 3 vs. Utah: L
  • Sept. 10 vs. Kentucky: W
  • Sept. 17 vs. South Florida: W
  • Sept. 24 at Tennessee: W
  • Oct. 1 vs. Eastern Washington: W
  • Oct. 8 vs. Missouri: W
  • Oct. 15 vs. LSU: L
  • Oct. 29 vs. Georgia in Jacksonville: L
  • Nov. 5 at Texas A&M: L
  • Nov. 12 vs. South Carolina: W
  • Nov. 19 at Vanderbilt: W
  • Nov. 26 at Florida State: W

2022 way-too-early prediction: 8-4

Napier and the Gators are going to face an uphill battle at times this season. Early on in the year, things could be a little challenging for Florida. Starting the season off against a Utah Utes team fresh off a Rose Bowl berth could be a tough challenge, or it’s an opportunity to get a monumental win.

That remains to be seen.

Immediately following that game up with a home test against the Kentucky Wildcats could prove to be a bit of an issue as well. There’s a really good chance that Florida splits its first two games. For Florida to have a good start to the season, Napier needs to make sure the Gators don’t lose both of those games.

After that, a road trip to Knoxville could provide yet another tough challenge for the Gators. About halfway through the year, Florida will run into a rough skid of games with the LSU Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, and Texas A&M Aggies.

As long as the Gators don’t get totally derailed, they can end the year on a solid note and go to a pretty decent bowl game.

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