Check out the watchability rankings for Florida football's top 2025 matchups
The upcoming schedule for Florida football's 2025 campaign appears to be an exciting one — as well as immensely challenging — as the Gators look to build on their success last season.
It took Billy Napier three seasons to snap the program's three-season streak of finishing under the .500 mark, breaking through with an 8-5 final record thanks to some superlative efforts on both offense and defense. Among those wins were a few thrilling finishes that will live long in the lore of the Orange and Blue.
As for the upcoming season, Florida has a handful of games that CBS Sports writer Will Backus selected for his watchability ratings for every week on the 2025 college football schedule. Specifically, there are seven matchups that ranked among the following tiers:
Tier 1 : Become one with your couch: Put your phone on do not disturb. Tell your loved ones not to be concerned if they don't hear from you until Sunday. Make sure your fridge is stocked.
: Become one with your couch: Put your phone on do not disturb. Tell your loved ones not to be concerned if they don't hear from you until Sunday. Make sure your fridge is stocked. Tier 2 : Finish that project you've been putting off: So long as it doesn't take you away from the house and also doesn't take you all day.
: Finish that project you've been putting off: So long as it doesn't take you away from the house and also doesn't take you all day. Tier 3: If you HAVE to plan for a fall wedding: Not ideal, but you could make it work during these weeks if absolutely necessary. Still, keep a screen handy.
Florida at LSU (Tier 1): Week 3
"SEC play starts with a bang this season. Florida's a College Football Playoff dark horse thanks to a strong offseason under coach Billy Napier. The Gators will have a real chance to prove their worth against an LSU team with national title aspirations," Backus offers.
Florida at Texas A&M (Tier 1): Week 7
The Aggies embarrassed the Gators in the Swamp last season during the program's championship reunion weekend, marking TAMU's second win in three tries at Florida Field. However, UF also has two wins in three tries at Kyle Stadium and will be looking for revenge — as well as a much-needed victory to wrap the first half of the season.
Florida vs Georgia (Tier 1): Week 10
The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is perennially the top matchup on the Gators' schedule, and while UGA has held the edge in recent years, UF looked like it had a chance in last year's game before DJ Lagway was knocked out of the game before the end of the first half. A healthy quarterback, along with the offseason's reinforcements, nearly guarantees an epic battle in Jacksonville.
Florida at Miami (Tier 2): Week 1
"Last season, Miami used an early-season immolation of Florida to catapult itself to a 10-win season. Could the Gators do something similar this in a pivotal year for Billy Napier and the program?" Backus rhetorically questions.
Florida at Ole Miss (Tier 2): Week 12
"Both Florida and Ole Miss have playoff upside in 2025 — and both could very well make it — but a head-to-head result could prove crucial when deciding at-large bids," Backus notes.
Florida vs Texas (Tier 3): Week 6
"This is one of those weeks, earlier in the season, where the conference pairings don't move the needle much. Florida could make a real statement against Texas," Backus said.
Florida vs Tennessee (Tier 3): Week 13
"College football's rivalry weekend is one of the most exciting weeks in sports. The week beforehand? Not so much. Plenty of power football programs tend to schedule a "cupcake" opponent — one that it should beat with ease — in this spot after a long and arduous regular season," Backus concludes.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
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New York Times
44 minutes ago
- New York Times
Way-too-early predictions for the 2025-26 NHL season: Stanley Cup winner, awards and more
By Shayna Goldman, Sean Gentille, Jesse Granger and The Athletic NHL Staff Are the Florida Panthers bound for their third straight Stanley Cup championship? Are the Vegas Golden Knights destined to make a deep run after landing Mitch Marner, the most prized free agent on the market? What will the playoff field look like when the regular season plays out? Advertisement With the offseason's big free-agent signings in the books, The Athletic asked its NHL staff those questions plus who the first coach fired will be, which players will win the major awards and more. Here are our early 2025-26 NHL season predictions. Which predictions will look best and worst this time next year? We've brought in senior national writer Sean Gentille, analytics know-it-all Shayna Goldman and goaltending expert Jesse Granger to provide context, analysis, skepticism and some light trolling of the results. Figures are rounded. Granger: I understand the excitement for the Golden Knights, who are always among the top contenders and just addressed their biggest need by acquiring Marner, but I have concerns about the blue line after the loss of Alex Pietrangelo. Defense has long been the anchor in Vegas, and that group will look very different without its top dog. Goldman: The Panthers make the most sense at the top, because most players aren't departing for more money elsewhere after winning — they're sticking around in Sunrise to be a part of a dynasty. Until someone proves otherwise, Florida is the team to beat. Gentille: I ditched Florida for the Golden Knights at the start of the playoffs. Didn't quite work out. So, of course, I swerved back to the Panthers this time around. Congratulations to the 2025-26 champion Vegas Golden Knights! Marner Magic is coming to the Las Vegas Strip 🪄 — Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 1, 2025 Granger: Roughly 70 percent of the voters have Florida reaching its third-straight Stanley Cup Final, and it's hard to argue against it. The Panthers return the same core, with stars at every position and backstopped by 36-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky, who still looks as good as ever. Gentille: The Panthers are going to have to give me a reason to pick against them in the Eastern Conference. Advertisement Goldman: Huh, not a lot of support for the Los Angeles Kings even after adding Corey Perry? Vegas is the most interesting name here, especially if it's for another matchup against the Panthers. A projected lower-tier team (+6,000 or worse odds of winning the Cup, per BetMGM) that you see making the playoffs. Granger: After falling two points short last year, the Columbus Blue Jackets should certainly contend for a postseason spot in 2025-26. I think there's room for improvement in net, especially with Jet Greaves finally getting a chance to be a full-time NHL goalie. It wouldn't surprise me if he's Columbus' starter by the end of the season. Goldman: The Bruins??? In this economy??? The Blue Jackets showed so much promise this past year; if they can stay healthy, they should stay in the mix down the stretch. Gentille: Yeah, the Metro is on track to be weak yet again, and that's good news for the Blue Jackets. I wanted to pick the Detroit Red Wings here, but their offseason has (to date) been preeeetty uninspiring. A projected middle-of-the-pack team (between +2,000 and +6,000 odds of winning the Cup, per BetMGM) that you could see making a real run. Granger: I picked the Minnesota Wild here. They looked like one of the better teams in the West before the injuries last season, and gave the Golden Knights a good run in the first round despite just getting guys back into the lineup. With several key players in contract years, I feel like this could be the best Wild team we've seen in some time. Goldman: The Winnipeg Jets and Wild are logical picks here, although neither team really improved this summer. Vegas did, and the Dallas Stars could be better under a new(ish) head coach. So I think there's more room for a dark horse in the East, and I went off the board with Montreal. Between their post-4 Nations Face-Off turnaround and their offseason additions, the Canadiens would probably be the most fun pick of the group here. Advertisement Gentille: I came close to joining Shayna on Team Habs before going with the St. Louis Blues. They needed a 2C to help their lineup fall into place, so they went out and got Pius Suter. Lots to like about what they've done over the last two summers, as long as they don't do something weird with Jordan Kyrou. A projected favorite (+2,000 or better odds of winning the Cup, per BetMGM) that you could see missing the playoffs or being a first-round flameout. Granger: The New Jersey Devils are the obvious pick here because the team simply hasn't been able to stay healthy for a full season. New Jersey has the talent to go on a deep run in the playoffs, but between the injuries at forward and defense and the good-but-aging goalie tandem of Jacob Markström and Jake Allen, the situation feels fragile. Goldman: The Edmonton Oilers still have clear holes, so I get that pick here … but Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will literally drag this team into the playoffs. I have to agree with Jesse and go with the Devils. Love the addition of Connor Brown, but I need to see New Jersey make one more top-nine swing to convince me that its five-on-five scoring will be balanced enough. Gentille: Yeah, not to belabor the point, but I also went with the Devils. They got hit hard by injuries last season, but 'fragile' is the right word for that lineup, even if it's at full strength. Granger: Cue the 'Mitch Marner is only good in the regular season' jokes. Seriously, we've seen Jack Eichel completely flip the narrative of his career after joining the Golden Knights, and it wouldn't surprise me if Marner follows a similar path. Gentille: The Carolina Hurricanes added important pieces and should be able to beat up on a bunch of teams in their division. That, plus their regular-season track record, was enough for me. Advertisement Granger: The San Jose Sharks have a talented young core that should improve, added some solid veterans in Jeff Skinner, Dmitry Orlov and Adam Gaudette in free agency, and are turning the crease over to Yaroslav Askarov. They were terrible last season, but it certainly feels like the Sharks are on a better trajectory than the other teams on this list. Gentille: At some point, you'd think the Chicago Blackhawks will try to win some hockey games. We are not at that point. Goldman: The Blackhawks had a spark late in the year and Spencer Knight looked like a great fit there, but … this team still has a ways to go. Gentille: We heard the whispers about Andrew Brunette's job security last season, and Nashville's roster looks even worse for 2025-26. That's not a great combo. Goldman: Almost went with Patrick Roy here, because new general managers tend to want to hire their own coaches. I get why Mathieu Darche is giving him another shot, but I think his replacement is already in place (Bob Boughner) if things go south on Long Island. Ultimately decided on Brunette because, yeah, everything was a disaster in Nashville last season. I really wonder if he's just meant to be an associate/assistant, but never the guy behind the bench. Granger: It's interesting that the Devils were the overwhelming pick to be the biggest disappointment, but then Sheldon Keefe didn't get a single vote here. To me, that shows the divide between the haves and have-nots in the NHL is only growing wider, and not many people really expect the contenders to disappoint (or at least, aren't ready to predict it with any sort of confidence). Given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL. Voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA). Gentille: Seven games' worth of Ivan Demidov was enough to make this one pretty lopsided. He's supremely talented and about to get power-play/top-six minutes on a good team. Goldman: Demidov was really fun to watch in just a handful of games, so this checks out. I think the reason there isn't more certainty around him in this poll is that we don't know which players from the 2025 draft class will break through and make the NHL next year. This could look a lot different in a few months. Advertisement Granger: I agree with both of those takes. When we start to see where the top rookies are sitting in lineups around the league, there will be more options. If San Jose improves this year, as I suggested earlier, it's hard to imagine Askarov not being in the Calder discussion. Given to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position. Voted on by general managers. Granger: I thought I'd be going out on a limb by picking Jake Oettinger here, but it turns out I'm far from alone. Oettinger has quickly become one of the most consistent performers in the NHL, but I think we've yet to see his best hockey. With the team in front of him, this feels like it could be the year. Gentille: I think fatigue is about to set in for Connor Hellebuyck, and Oettinger seems as prepared as anyone to take advantage. Goldman: Also, we know how much spite can fuel a player … so after his end of the year, he should be fired up for next season. Oettinger makes a lot of sense, but I actually went with Igor Shesterkin here. If there can be one ounce of defensive stability in New York, his traditional stats should shine more. Given to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position. Voted on by the PHWA. Goldman: Quinn Hughes was a game-breaker last year, despite not being 100 percent (and having a lot of chaos around him). If he hadn't missed time last year, he might have finished higher. Thomas Harley getting some votes here is fun, but not sure he'll get the same hype as a No. 2 to Miro Heiskanen next year. Gentille: I wanted to go with Zach Werenski here, but that would've been more about last season than the next one. Cale Makar is the boring, correct answer. Granger: Can we please get fully healthy seasons out of Makar and Hughes? It would make for one of the best Norris races in a long, long time. Advertisement Given to the forward who demonstrates throughout the season the most skill in the defensive component of the game. Voted on by the PHWA. Goldman: Aleksander Barkov is always going to (rightfully) earn a bunch of votes, but how about Eichel? He earned some recognition last year, and with Marner on his wing, they could be a two-way force. Some players get docked for having a super-skilled linemate or winger (especially in the Norris and Hart conversations). But that really hasn't been an issue with the Selke — Barkov has Sam Reinhart while Anthony Cirelli has Brandon Hagel, and it hasn't stopped either from earning votes. Granger: I completely agree that Eichel should be in the conversation. It would help if he could improve his faceoff numbers, because he's already a monster defensively and plays more penalty-killing minutes than just about every other star center in the league. He's strong, rangy and has fantastic hands. It's a little odd that he isn't better at them. Given to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success. Voted on by the NHL Broadcasters' Association. Goldman: If Spencer Carbery won the award in 2023-24, maybe Dean Evason could have won this past season. So maybe this award just works on a year's delay. If the Blue Jackets use last year as a stepping stone to actually reach the playoffs, he could emerge as the favorite. Gentille: Yep, the Jack Adams was Carbery's to lose last season, I think. Still, don't underestimate Mike Sullivan. He's a great coach, he's never won the award and he's about to take over a team with an elite goaltender. Granger: My pick for 'surprise playoff team' was the Calgary Flames, so I went with Ryan Huska here. If the Flames take a step forward, he should be in the conversation. Advertisement Given to the top NHL general manager. Voted on by a panel of all 32 NHL general managers, five NHL executives and five media members. Granger: I picked the Stars to win the Cup, so I picked Bill Zito to win GM of the year. Jim Nill wins the award every time Florida wins the Cup, so it's only fitting they trade places. Goldman: Yep, Zito probably wins it this year. However, it would be nice to see Eric Tulsky get some hype after a busy offseason. Gentille: The Panthers would have to miss the playoffs for it to be anyone other than Zito. Given to the player ajudged to be the most valuable to his team. Voted on by the PHWA. Granger: After a 'down' season with 'only' 100 points, potentially playing on an expiring contract, McDavid will be motivated to remind everyone who the best player in the world is. Goldman: Originally had McDavid, swapped it to Kirill Kaprizov. His electric start to this past season made him an early favorite, so let's see if he can build on that. Factor in McDavid and Draisaitl likely having to battle for votes, and there is room for someone else to emerge as the winner. Gentille: I picked Kaprizov, too. Is that because I went chalk on my Norris pick? Maybe. We asked each voter to pick the eight East playoff teams. Here is the percentage of the vote received by each team. (Note: * playoff team in 2024-25) (Note: The New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators tied for the eighth spot) Granger: The top six teams feel like pretty safe picks to make the playoffs, and then it gets fun. I picked the Red Wings, backstopped by John Gibson, to nab the final wild-card spot, but the competition should be fierce. Goldman: The Rangers should be able to make their way back into the playoff picture, which means at least one team has to slide out. The Canadiens' improvements give them the edge over Ottawa, as much as I like the addition of Jordan Spence. Advertisement We asked each voter to pick the eight West playoff teams. Here is the percentage of the vote received by each team. (Note: * playoff team in 2024-25) Granger: I'm on an island picking the Flames to shock everyone and make the playoffs. If there's a division where someone can surprise, it's the Pacific. Dustin Wolf should take another step forward in his second full season and could join the Vezina conversation if I'm right about Calgary. Goldman: Thought the Utah Mammoth were going to be the surprise eighth seed in the West last year and was wrong, but I'm digging my heels in and running it back. The standout here to me isn't who we project will qualify, but who could miss: Vancouver! Gentille: I went with the exact 2025 playoff field. Extremely boring. (Top photo of Aleksander Barkov battling for the puck with Pavel Dorofeyev and Jack Eichel: Candice Ward / Getty Images)
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Texas A&M loses out of 2026 4-star Edge, who committed to Florida
Texas A&M's pursuit of 2026 four-star edge KJ Ford was always in doubt this week, knowing that the Florida Gators, and, out of nowhere, Alabama, were the front-runners for the Duncanville (TX) standout pass rusher, who developed a strong connection with Gators outside linebackers coach Mike Johnson. On Friday night, Ford officially committed to Florida, which came as a surprise to those who did not see On3/Rivals insider Steve Wiltfong's late prediction for the Gators to finish out the week on a high note. For Texas A&M, coach Mike Elko and defensive line coaches Tony Jerod-Eddie and Sean Spencer expected this outcome and are likely ready to shift their focus to five-star edge Anthony "Tank" Jones. However, this doesn't mean landing Ford in the future is out of the picture, as he has yet to shut down his recruitment officially, and will continue to receive calls from the Aggie coaching staff for a potential in-season visit, which could shift his mindset. This is all hypothetical, but, like five-star defensive lineman Lamar Brown, who committed to LSU on Thursday, Texas A&M was in the mix right up until the very end. Flipping Brown, who is a Baton Rouge native, is the most challenging task. Still, given that Duncanville is a little over two hours away from College Station, you can be sure Texas A&M's staff will attend several of KJ Ford's games this coming season and keep in contact before Early Signing Day on December 4. During his 2024 junior season, KJ Ford recorded 57 tackles, seven sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 15 hurries. According to 247Sports, Ford is the 98th-ranked prospect in the 2026 class, the 11th-ranked edge, and the 16th-ranked prospect in Texas. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Goran Dragic firmly believes the Heat would've won the Bubble Finals if he hadn't gotten hurt: "I'm always gonna say yes"
Goran Dragic firmly believes the Heat would've won the Bubble Finals if he hadn't gotten hurt: "I'm always gonna say yes" originally appeared on Basketball Network. The 2020 NBA Bubble was one of the strangest chapters in league history. No fans, no travel, no distractions and, most importantly, no home-court advantage. Just 22 teams living in isolation in Walt Disney World near Orlando, chasing greatness in the middle of a global pandemic. Advertisement For the Miami Heat, it was supposed to be a transition year. They had just missed the playoffs the season before, brought in Jimmy Butler, and weren't expected to make a ton of noise. But, like they always defy expectations, they turned into a wrecking crew and became just the first No. 5 seed (three lower seeds made it before) in history to reach the NBA Finals. And while they ultimately fell just two wins short of a title, the fact that they outlasted 28 other teams in that setting said everything about their culture and mental toughness. But according to Goran Dragic, if fate didn't intervene, they would've won it all. He is absolutely certain of it. Dragic and the Heat made a spectacular run Miami ran through the Eastern Conference in an unforgettable fashion. They swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round, stomped on the league-best Milwaukee Bucks and MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in five, then booted the Boston Celtics in six. Advertisement And Dragic was at the heart of it all. He and Jimmy Butler were carrying the load offensively, with Goran leading the team in total points through those first three rounds. Then came the Finals, and with it, a stroke of (un)luck. Dragic went down in Game 1 with a torn plantar fascia. Bam Adebayo injured his shoulder. Just like that, two of Miami's three best players were shells of themselves. And while Butler went above and beyond to keep them alive, the Heat were down to their knees. Still, Dragic doesn't doubt how that story would've ended if they were. "I mean, of course, I'm always gonna say yes," the Slovenian point guard told Basketball Network when asked if the Heat would've won had he been healthy. "You have to be confident, especially in the NBA. Not only me, even Bam Adebayo got hurt." Advertisement "At that time, I was the leading scorer, me and Jimmy (Butler), we really played some tremendous basketball. We even beat Boston, Indiana… and Milwaukee, too. But, like you said, it was a really unique situation, we were locked up for three months…" he added. Dragic was spectacular during that run, averaging 19.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds across 17 playoff games. It was the best version of The Dragon Heat fans had ever seen. And it made his absence in the Finals sting even more. Related: Rick Fox explains why Kobe never hung out with other teammates: "He was on a course and any minute or day wasted doing something else was going to slow him down getting to that point" The Heat gave their heart and soul With Dragic and Bam either out or banged up for most of the series, Butler emptied the tank. We all remember the image — Butler, leaning on the scorer's table, head down, drenched in sweat, absolutely exhausted. That was the visual representation of the whole Heat organization in those Finals. He gave them everything he had, but it just wasn't enough without the other two stars beside him. Advertisement The Heat ultimately fell to the Lakers in six games. LeBron James stood tall(er) at the end and took home his fourth Finals MVP trophy in one of the most challenging seasons in the Association. Both physically and mentally. Still, Dragic's belief hasn't changed. Had he and Bam been at full strength, he truly believes Miami would've left the Bubble with more than just respect. They would've left with the Larry O'Brien trophy. Related: Goran Dragic opens up about how talented but wildly inconsistent Michael Beasley was: "He just told me, 'Today's just not my day to play'" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
