College Football Expert Gives Exciting Florida Gators Take

"If you're a Florida fan, I think you're pulse, heading into 2025, after the way you finished 2024, was like 'tell me why we can't go make the College Football Playoff," PicKell said.

While making the 12-team playoff may seem like lofty expectations for a Gators team that went 8-5 a year ago, the wealth of talent on Florida's roster is definitely a plus going into 2025.

The Gators will return star quarterback DJ Lagway, who will be entering his sophomore season. As a freshman last year, Lagway appeared in all 13 games while making seven starts in place of injured Graham Mertz. In those starts, the former five-star recruit and top signal caller in the country boasted a 6-1 record.

"Florida fans, I understand," PicKell continued. "I hear what you're saying because you finished hot with four in a row, like we said. Your quarterback looks like the five-star he was out of high school, you got top-20 production back from last year. You've been patient."

This patience is something the Gator faithful is running low on. After finishing under .500 in each of Napier's first two seasons and getting over the hump in 2024, Florida fans believe this year may be "playoff or bust."