The wait for the college football season is finally over following the conclusion of Week 0. Week 1 comes with a 91-game slate, including the Florida Gators opening their season against the Florida Atlantic Owls to begin the Jon Sumrall era.
With plenty of games across Week 1, Athlon Sports ranked all 91 games
, previewing each from first to worst. So, where do the Gators land in this latest ranking?Florida vs. FAU came in at No. 23.
Florida enters the matchup as a heavy favorite, with ESPN's analytics predicting the Gators have a 95% chance of winning the game; however, there are plenty of storylines to monitor in Sumrall’s first game as the program’s head coach. The Gators return a significant portion of their roster and will look to establish
a new identity under their first-year head coach.
FAU, on the other hand, looks to cause trouble in the Swamp and upset the in-state opponent. However, since 2007, the Gators are 4-0 against the Owls, with the latest victory coming in 2021 when UF won, 35-14.
The history between the two programs dates back to 2007, when Florida dominated FAU 59-20, and Saturday's game will give the Orange and Blue another opportunity to add to their winning streak against the program.
For Florida, the focus will be less on the history and more on what the matchup represents moving forward. The Gators will have an opportunity to start the Sumrall campaign on a positive note and should be the first step into elevating the program back into the SEC's premier teams.
The Gators welcome the Owls to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, with kickoff scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Where Florida versus FAU ranks among Week 1 games
