Florida football is inching closer to a return to the postseason after a 2-0 start to the 2026 campaign. Having played in just one bowl game in the last three years, the Gator Nation is hoping Jon Sumrall can get the program back onto the winter schedule.
Among the publications offering their bowl predictions after Week 2 is Athlon Sports, whose senior editor Steven Lassan predicted Florida to face Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl last week. He now foresees the Orange and Blue to take on SMU in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl held in EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on Dec. 30.
The Gators and Mustangs have split their four previous face-offs. SMU won both games played on a neutral field — a 35-25 victory in 1978 (Orlando) and a 21-14 triumph in 1972 (Tampa)
— while Florida prevailed in Gainesville during the 1964 season, 24-8, and again in 1975, 40-14.
Florida has played in the Gator Bowl nine times dating back to 1952, with seven wins over that span. The last time UF participated in the in-state event was in 2012 during Will Muschamp's first season on the sidelines, beating Ohio State, 24-17. The last time Florida lost a Gator Bowl game was in 1975, when Maryland snuck by Doug Dickey's squad, 17-13.
ESPN also predicts that Florida will play in the Gator Bowl, with Mark Schlabach agreeing that SMU will be the opponent.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Athlon Sports now has Florida projected for this familiar bowl game
