Mike Ridaught
The college football season is still three months away, but the University of Florida knows the kickoff time for its first four games of the season.
On Wednesday, the Southeastern Conference announced its initial broadcast schedule, which shows Florida will play its first four football games at night.
The Gators will play their season opener at Utah on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m. ESPN will televise the game.
Last year, Florida upset then-No. 7 Utah, 29-26, on Sept. 3 in front of 90,799 fans, which represented the 10th-largest crowd in program history as well as Florida’s largest crowd ever for a home opener.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson became one of five UF QBs to rush for three touchdowns in a game since 1996, joining Jeff Driskel, Emory Jones, Jesse Palmer, and Tim Tebow (twice).
Florida extended its nation-leading home opener winning streak to 33 consecutive victories by defeating the Utes.
The trip to Salt Lake City in August will mark the Gators first trip to Utah.
Florida returns back to Gainesville for the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 9, against McNeese State University.
The Cowboys, who are a member of the Southland Conference, finished 4-8 last season.
Kickoff for the Gators’ home opener is at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU.
Florida’s SEC opener against Tennessee will be played in the Swamp on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Richardson, who was selected fourth overall in this year’s NFL draft, finished with 515 total yards of offense in the 38-33 loss at then-No. 11 Tennessee last year. That ranks third all-time in a single game in Florida program history (Emory Jones vs. Samford in 2021, and Tebow vs. Cincinnati in 2009).
Tennessee snapped Florida’s five-game winning streak with the win in Knoxville, but Florida has won 16 of the last 18 in the series.
Kickoff for this year’s game against the Vols is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN.
The fourth game of the season, a home game against Charlotte, will also be under the lights. It will mark the first meeting between the Gators and the 49ers.
The game will be carried on ESPN+ and SECN+ and will kick off at 7 p.m.
Earlier this week CBS announced that the annual Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville will be a 3:30 p.m. game on Oct. 28.
Other home games on the Gator schedule include the Homecoming game against Vanderbilt on Oct. 7, the SEC finale against Arkansas on Nov. 4, and the regular season finale against rival Florida State on Nov. 25.
The first game involving an SEC team will be on Saturday, Aug. 26, when Vanderbilt hosts Hawaii at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network. This is the SEC Network’s 10th college football season.