Easiest SEC permanent opponent draws - 12: Florida
The Gators may have the hardest schedule in the nation this year, but that has a lot to do with their non-conference opponents as well as those who they are actually facing in the SEC. Florida State and Miami are both top-10 teams right now, and the Gators will play both— not to mention USF, who is pretty decent as well.
That said, their three-opponent slate is not near as tough as what they’ve had to deal with over the last two years relative to the rest of the conference. The Georgia Bulldogs will be a tough team to reckon with, of course, but South Carolina and Kentucky are teams that the Gators should be able to compete with if not beat pretty regularly.
That’s a nice break for a team that has had one heck of a roller coaster ride over the last two seasons. UF will be navigating all this with a new coach in all likelihood, as it really seems like Billy Napier’s days are numbered down in Gainesville, but their brand is strong enough to keep attracting top talent.
That alone should be enough to have them be competitive against these teams (well, maybe not Georgia) for the upcoming future. South Carolina has had some good years, of course, but I think most Gator fans see that as a game they should win two times out of three at the worst.