Gators open vs. FAU, will play USF in Tampa
GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators ended the 2020 SEC season against Alabama and will kick off the 2021 conference slate against the league’s standard-bearer and the defending national champion.
The SEC announced next season’s schedule Tuesday to round out the slate for each of the league’s 14 teams.
Among the highlights for the Gators following the Alabama matchup are a Sept. 25 visit from Tennessee and new coach Josh Heupel, an Oct. 16 trip to SEC West crossover rival LSU and the resumption of the in-state rivalry with Florida State on Nov. 27 in the Swamp.
The SEC shifted to a 10-game conference-only schedule this past season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The move was popular among fans and players due to the level of competition and familiarity of opponents.
But the conference aims to return in 2021 to a traditional 12-game lineup of regular-season games, including eight SEC contests.
UF will open the 2021 slate Sept. 4 at home against FAU and coach Willie Taggart. The Gators will visit USF a week later at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, the first game of a two-for-one series with the Bulls, who visit Gainesville in 2022 and 2025.
A Nov. 13 visit from Samford is UF’s other nonconference game.
2021 schedule
Sept. 4 FAU
Sept. 1 1 at USF (Raymond James Stadium) Sept.18 Alabama Sept. 25 Tennessee Oct. 2 at Kentucky Oct. 9 Vanderbilt Oct. 1 6 at LSU
Oct. 3 0 Georgia (Jacksonville)
Nov. 6 at South Carolina Nov.13 Samford Nov. 2 0 at Missouri Nov. 2 7 Florida State