Florida Gators 2016 football schedule released

The Southeastern Conference on Thursday officially released the entire 2016 league schedule, including the 12 match-ups involving the Florida Gators.

Florida’s schedule includes three games against teams coming off bye weeks, including Missouri (Oct. 15), Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (Oct. 29) and Arkansas (Nov. 5).

The Gators’ nonconfernece slate features UMass for the first time (Sept. 3), North Texas for the first time since 1947 (Sept. 17), Presbyterian for the first time since 1945 (Nov. 19), and the annual in-state rivalry game with Florida State.

Saturday, Sept. 3 – UMass at Florida
Saturday, Sept. 10 – Kentucky at Florida
Saturday, Sept. 17 – North Texas at Florida
Saturday, Sept. 24 – Florida at Tennessee
Saturday, Oct. 1 – Florida at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Oct. 8 – LSU at Florida
Saturday, Oct. 15 – Missouri at Florida
Bye Week
Saturday, Oct. 29 – Florida vs. Georgia
Saturday, Nov. 5 – Florida at Arkansas
Saturday, Nov. 12 – South Carolina at Florida
Saturday, Nov. 19 – Presbyterian at Florida
Saturday, Nov. 26 – Florida at Florida State

The Gators’ home slate in 2016 includes: UMass, Kentucky, North Texas, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina and Presbyterian. Not the most attractive home schedule, especially considering Steve Spurrier is no longer coach of the Gamecocks.

Notes:

– Florida will be playing on the road in the state of Tennessee in back-to-back weeks (Sept. 24, Oct. 1).
– The Gators face the Razorbacks in Fayetteville for the first time since 2008.
– If his suspension is not reduced, then-redshirt sophomore quarterback Will Grier would be able to return against Mizzou on Oct. 15.