Florida Hasn’t Started 2-0 in Five Years. Can it Now?
Five years have passed since Florida football last entered Week 3 without a loss. Since 2021, when the Gators opened the year 2-0, every other SEC team has accomplished the feat. Florida has an opportunity to snap the streak Saturday against Campbell (2-0).
Florida’s four-year drought is the longest of any current SEC program. Every other team in the conference has started a season 2-0 at least once since the Gators last did so in 2021. All but three of Florida’s conference foes opened 2025 at 2-0. Alabama and Texas last accomplished the feat in 2024, while Kentucky did so in 2023.
Similar to this season, the Gators kicked off the 2021 campaign against Florida Atlantic. The Gators picked up a 35-14 victory, and Anthony Richardson and Co. traveled to Tampa and routed the Bulls 42-20 in Week 2.
The following year would mark the first season of the Billy Napier era. The Gators started the year off with a statement 29-26 win against the Utah Utes. Although, the Gators wouldn’t stay hot for long, following it up with a sloppy 26-16 loss to the Wildcats the following week.
In Week 1 of 2023, Florida faced off against Utah in the second game of the home-and-home series. The Gators struggled to get much momentum going and fell to the Utes 24-11.
2024 would open similarly, as the Gators failed to even hit the 1-0 mark. Florida got trounced by Miami in one of the worst losses in The Swamp in recent memory. The 41-17 defeat was UF’s eighth in its last 10 matchups with the Hurricanes.
Last season, Florida had no problem dealing with Long Island in Week 1, taking down the Sharks 55-0. The following week marked the beginning of Florida’s struggles in 2025. In a contest where Florida had multiple chances to put the game away, USF ultimately took down the Gators with a game-winning 20-yard field goal in the waning seconds.
Following Florida’s 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic last week, Florida has a chance to turn the page on its recent struggles. For Jon Sumrall, a win Saturday would accomplish a feat that the Billy Napier era never did: starting the season 2-0. Against Campbell, it may seem like a low bar, but for Florida, it’s a bar that hasn’t been cleared in half a decade.
Category: Football, Gators Football
