Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) hands off to Florida Gators running back Treyaun Webb (5) in the end zone during the second half during the Orange and Blue game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024 [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]2024
The Florida Gators will open the season at home on August, 31 against the Miami Hurricanes at home. This will be a huge Week 1 game for the Gators in college football. Florida was 5-7 a season ago and they are looking to bounce back in 2024.
Florida Gators edge rusher T.J. Searcy (19) reacts after a sack on Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) during the second half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]The game time for this matchup was finally announced. Miami and Florida will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. With it being the month of August, that is when the sun will be at its hottest and it is very possible that it could be over 100 degrees that day.
Miami will look to contend in the ACC Conference this season. Florida will need to send a message in this matchup.
Florida Gators Fans Respond To the Start Time On Opening Weekend Against the Miami Hurricanes
Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) makes a catch during the second half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]There was a lot of reaction on Twitter when it was announced that the Hurricanes and the Gators would be kicking off in the middle of the afternoon on an August day down at the swamp. This is what Florida’s fanbase had to say about starting at that hour:
I truly believe this team can win us anywhere between 7 to 10 games. Severely underrated roster and UF is going under the radar for most teams, I see us shocking the CFB world this szn.
Some fans would have preferred if the game started somewhere closer to 7 p.m. because it wouldn’t be as hot out at that hour with the sun going down. That’s what they did a couple of years ago when the Florida Gators faced the Utah Utes at home, but they decided not to do that this season with the Miami Hurricanes.
Florida Gators kicker Trey Smack (29) kicks a field goal to win during the second half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Also, someone predicting Florida to be very good in college football this season will have to be a wait-and-see approach. They have decent talent on this roster, but the SEC Conference is absolutely loaded from top to bottom. Head coach Billy Napier is entering his third season with the football program. He will be under the microscope big time if they don’t win at least eight games this season.
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Glenn Kaplan is a sports writer covering all things NFC East related and SEC related on Gridiron Heroics, mainly the New York Giants. He also writes for Wisconsin Sports Heroics.
