2020 Florida Gators football team

2020 Florida Gators football
Florida Gators logo
SEC Eastern Division champion
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 12
APNo. 13
Record8–4 (8–2 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrian Johnson (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorTodd Grantham (3rd season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumBen Hill Griffin Stadium
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 13 Florida x   8 2     8 4  
No. 7 Georgia   7 2     8 2  
Missouri   5 5     5 5  
Kentucky   4 6     5 6  
Tennessee*   3 7     3 7  
South Carolina   2 8     2 8  
Vanderbilt   0 9     0 9  
West Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#^   10 0     13 0  
No. 4 Texas A&M   8 1     9 1  
Auburn   6 4     6 5  
LSU*   5 5     5 5  
Ole Miss   4 5     5 5  
Arkansas   3 7     3 7  
Mississippi State   3 7     4 7  
Championship: Alabama 52, Florida 46
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * – Tennessee vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. LSU was ineligible for postseason due to self imposed ban.
    Note: Due to COVID-19, the SEC played a conference-only schedule.
Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2020 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gators played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by third-year head coach Dan Mullen and quarterback Kyle Trask.

Florida reached No. 3 in the AP Poll, their highest ranking since 2012, and won the SEC East for the first time since 2016.[1] They lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, finishing the season with a 8–4 record and ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll.

Preseason

SEC Media Days

In the preseason media poll, Florida was predicted to win the East Division. Florida received the fourth-most votes to win the SEC Championship Game.[2]

Schedule

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 college football season was postponed, and there was some question if the season would be played at all. On July 31, the Southeastern Conference announced that its teams would play a ten-game conference-only season beginning in late September. Florida's previously scheduled games against non-conference opponents Eastern Washington, New Mexico State, and South Alabama were all canceled due to the scheduling change, as was the annual rivalry game against Florida State, breaking a streak of annual meetings that began in 1957. Conference games against Texas A&M and Arkansas were added to increase the usual eight-game SEC schedule to ten.[3][4]

Attendance at all college football games was restricted during the 2020 season due to COVID-19 social distancing considerations. The University of Florida limited home attendance to 20% of capacity at Florida Field. All road games along with the SEC Championship Game and the Cotton Bowl Classic were played with similar attendance caps.[5]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 2612:00 p.m.at Ole MissNo. 5ESPNW 51–3513,926
October 312:00 p.m.South CarolinaNo. 3ESPNW 38–2415,120
October 1012:00 p.m.at No. 21 Texas A&MNo. 4ESPNL 38–4124,709
October 31[a]7:30 p.m.MissouridaggerNo. 10
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
SECN Alt.W 41–1712,049
November 73:30 p.m.vs. No. 5 GeorgiaNo. 8CBSW 44–2819,210
November 147:00 p.m.ArkansasNo. 6
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
ESPNW 63–3516,116
November 2112:00 p.m.at VanderbiltNo. 6ABCW 38–171,147
November 2812:00 p.m.KentuckyNo. 6
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
ESPNW 34–1014,453
December 53:30 p.m.at TennesseeNo. 6CBSW 31–1922,943
December 12[b]7:00 p.m.LSUNo. 6
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
ESPNL 34–3716,610
December 198:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 AlabamaNo. 7CBSL 46–5216,520
December 308:00 p.m.vs. No. 6 Oklahoma*No. 7ESPNL 20–5517,323
^[a] Due to COVID-19 management requirements in response to positive tests and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the Florida program, the Missouri game was moved from October 24 to 31.[6]
^[b] Due to COVID-19 management requirements in response to positive tests and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the Florida program, the LSU game was moved from October 17 to December 12.[7]

[8]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP88*5534101010866666111013
Coaches88*663989855555111012
CFPNot released66677Not released

Game summaries

Ole Miss

Florida Gators at Ole Miss Rebels – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 5 Florida 14 14 131051
Ole Miss 7 7 71435

at Vaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS

Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

South Carolina

South Carolina Gamecocks at Florida Gators – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
South Carolina 7 7 3724
No. 3 Florida 14 10 14038

at Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL

  • Date: October 3, 2020
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: N at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h) • Weather: Partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 15,120
  • Referee: Lee Hedrick
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, and Marty Smith[10]
  • Boxscore
Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

Texas A&M

Florida Gators at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 4 Florida 14 7 71038
No. 21 Texas A&M 7 10 71741

at Kyle FieldCollege Station, TX

Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

Missouri

Missouri Tigers at Florida Gators – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Missouri 0 7 01017
No. 10 Florida 6 14 14741

at Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL

  • Date: October 31, 2020
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: NE at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 12,049
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV announcers (SECN Alt.): Mike Morgan, Hutson Mason, Taylor Davis[12]
  • Boxscore
Game information
Uniform Combination*
Helmet Jersey Pants
  • For homecoming, the Gators wore throwback uniforms featuring blue helmets and jerseys based on those worn in the mid-1960s.[13]

Georgia

Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 8 Florida 14 24 3344
No. 5 Georgia 14 7 7028

at TIAA Bank FieldJacksonville, FL

  • Date: November 7, 2020
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: ENE at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) • Weather: Partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 19,210
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Jamie Erdahl[14]
  • Boxscore
Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

Arkansas

Arkansas Razorbacks at Florida Gators – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Arkansas 7 7 71435
No. 6 Florida 7 28 72163

at Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL

Game information
Uniform Combination*
Helmet Jersey Pants

Vanderbilt

Florida Gators at Vanderbilt Commodores – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 6 Florida 7 10 14738
Vanderbilt 10 0 7017

at Vanderbilt StadiumNashville, TN

  • Date: November 21, 2020
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind: SSE at 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 1,147
  • Referee: Lee Hedrick
  • TV announcers (ABC): Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Paul Carcaterra[16]
  • Boxscore
Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

Kentucky

Kentucky Wildcats at Florida Gators – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Kentucky 0 10 0010
No. 6 Florida 7 7 17334

at Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL

  • Date: November 28, 2020
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: NE at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h) • Weather: Partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 14,453
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, and Marty Smith[17]
  • Boxscore
Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

Tennessee

Florida Gators at Tennessee Volunteers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 6 Florida 3 14 7731
Tennessee 0 7 01219

at Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN

  • Date: December 5, 2020
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 51 °F (11 °C) • Wind: W at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h) • Weather: Sunny and clear
  • Game attendance: 22,943
  • Referee: Steve Marlowe
  • TV announcers (CBS): Carter Blackburn, Aaron Murray, Jenny Dell[18]
  • Boxscore
Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

LSU

LSU Tigers at Florida Gators – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
LSU 7 17 31037
No. 6 Florida 7 10 14334

at Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL

  • Date: December 12, 2020
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: NW at 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h) • Weather: cloudy, 97% humidity
  • Game attendance: 16,610
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Todd McShay[19]
  • Boxscore
Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

Alabama

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida Gators – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Alabama 14 21 01752
No. 7 Florida 10 7 141546

at Mercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GA

Game information
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants

Oklahoma

Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 7 Florida 3 10 0720
No. 6 Oklahoma 17 14 101455

at AT&T StadiumArlington, TX

Game information

Personnel

Roster

As of January 24, 2021[22]
2020 Florida Gators roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  •  6 Nay'Quan Wright – Redshirt Freshman
  • 20 Malik DavisRedshirt Junior
  • 21 Lorenzo Lingard – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 24 Iverson Clement – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 27 Dameon PierceJunior
  • 39 Michael Weir – Redshirt Senior

Wide receivers

Tight ends

  •  9 Keon ZippererSophomore
  • 45 Clifford Taylor IV – Senior
  • 84 Kyle PittsJunior
  • 87 Jonathan Odom – Freshman
  • 88 Kemore Gamble – Redshirt Junior

Offensive line

  • 51 Stewart Reese – Redshirt Senior
  • 54 Gerald Mincey – Freshman
  • 55 Hayden Knighton – Freshman
  • 56 Jean DeLance – Redshirt Senior
  • 61 Brett Heggie – Redshirt Senior
  • 62 Griffin McDowell – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 64 Riley Simonds – Redshirt Freshman
  • 65 Kingsley EguakunRedshirt Freshman
  • 67 Richie Leonard – Freshman
  • 70 Michael Tarquin – Redshirt Freshman
  • 72 Stone ForsytheRedshirt Senior
  • 73 Mark Pitts – Freshman
  • 74 Will Harrod – Redshirt Freshman
  • 75 T.J. Moore – Redshirt Junior
  • 76 Richard GouraigeRedshirt Sophomore
  • 77 Ethan White – Sophomore
  • 78 Josh Braun – Freshman

Defensive line

  •  9 Gervon DexterFreshman
  • 17 Zachary CarterRedshirt Junior
  • 33 Princely UmanmielenFreshman
  • 54 Lamar Goods – Freshman
  • 55 Kyree Campbell – Senior
  • 56 Tedarrell SlatonSenior
  • 66 Jaelin Humphries – Sophomore
  • 81 Dante Lang – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 91 Marlon Dunlap Jr. – Redshirt Senior
  • 92 Jalen Lee – Freshman
  • 95 Lucas Alonso – Freshman

Linebackers

Defensive backs

  •  0 Trey DeanJunior
  •  2 Brad Stewart Jr. – Senior
  •  3 Marco WilsonRedshirt Junior
  •  5 Kaiir ElamSophomore
  •  6 Shawn DavisSenior
  • 12 C.J. McWilliams – Redshirt Senior
  • 13 Donovan Stiner – Senior
  • 14 Quincy Lenton – Redshirt Senior
  • 16 Tre'Vez Johnson – Freshman
  • 21 Ethan Pouncey – Freshman
  • 22 Rashad Torrence II – Freshman
  • 23 Jaydon Hill – Sophomore
  • 24 Avery Helm – Freshman
  • 25 Chester Kimbrough – Sophomore
  • 26 Kamar Wilcoxson – Freshman
  • 27 Jahari Rogers – Freshman
  • 32 Mordecai McDaniel – Freshman
  • 38 Nick Oelrich – Redshirt Senior
  • 39 Fenley Graham – Freshman
  • 43 Nicolas Sutton – Redshirt Senior

Punters

  • 18 Jacob Finn – Redshirt Senior
  • 26 Jeremy Crawshaw – Freshman

Placekickers

  • 19 Evan McPhersonJunior
  • 36 Zack Sessa – Freshman
  • 71 Chris Howard – Redshirt Junior

Long snappers

  • 44 Brandon Becar – Graduate
  • 45 Marco Ortiz – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 48 Brett DioGuardi – Redshirt Senior

Athletes

  • 13 Kyle Engel – Redshirt Freshman
  • 17 Kahleil Jackson – Freshman
  • 18 Jack Anders – Redshirt Freshman
  • 19 Jack Ruskell – Redshirt Junior
  • 25 Erik Askeland – Redshirt Junior
  • 29 Khamal Ellison – Redshirt Junior
  • 29 Isaac Ricks – Redshirt Junior
  • 31 Chase DeMichele – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 32 N'Jhari Jackson – Redshirt Freshman
  • 33 Daniel Cross – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 35 William Sawyer – Redshirt Freshman
  • 36 Trey Thompson – Redshirt Junior
  • 37 Patrick Moorer – Redshirt Junior
  • 37 Tyler Waxman – Redshirt Freshman
  • 42 Quaylin Crum – Redshirt Junior
  • 42 Jaylin Jackson – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 43 Nicolas Sutton – Redshirt Junior
  • 46 John Brady – Redshirt Freshman
  • 47 Justin Pelic – Redshirt Freshman
  • 47 Austin Perry – Redshirt Junior
  • 53 Chase Whitfield – Redshirt Freshman
  • 57 Coleman Crozier – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 83 Joshua Tse – Redshirt Junior
  • 85 Kevin Johnson – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 96 Travis Freeman – Redshirt Freshman
  • Redshirt Redshirt
  • Injury

Coaching staff

Name Position Joined staff
Dan Mullen Head coach 2018
Todd Grantham Defensive coordinator 2018
Brian Johnson Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks 2018
Tim Brewster Assistant head coach / Tight ends 2020
John Hevesy Running game coordinator / offensive line 2018
Billy Gonzales Passing game coordinator / Wide receivers 2018
Greg Knox Running backs / Special teams coordinator 2018
Ron English Safeties 2018
Torrian Gray Cornerbacks 2019
David Turner Defensive line 2019
Christian Robinson Linebackers 2018
Nick Savage Director of strength and conditioning 2018
Stephen Adegoke Graduate assistant 2019

Players drafted into the NFL

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
1 4 Kyle Pitts TE Atlanta Falcons
1 20 Kadarius Toney WR New York Giants
2 64 Kyle Trask QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4 136 Marco Wilson CB Arizona Cardinals
5 149 Evan McPherson K Cincinnati Bengals
5 165 Shawn Davis S Indianapolis Colts
5 173 Tedarrell Slaton DT Green Bay Packers
6 208 Stone Forsythe OT Seattle Seahawks

References

  1. ^ "Florida Gators Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced". SECSports.com. Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Talty, John (July 30, 2020). "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Dellenger, Ross. "Sources: SEC Adopts Conference-Only Schedule With Sept. 26 Start". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Cobb, David; Sallee, Barrett (September 11, 2020). "SEC football stadium attendance: All 14 league schools establish caps on capacity for 2020 season". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  6. ^ SEC Announces Football Schedule Changes
  7. ^ LSU at Florida Football Game Postponed
  8. ^ "2020 Football Schedule". floridagators.com. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  9. ^ MISS Pregame
  10. ^ SCAR Pregame
  11. ^ TAMU Pregame
  12. ^ MIZZ Pregame
  13. ^ "Gators to wear 1960s Throwback Uniforms vs. Missouri". gatorsports.com. Gainesville Sun. October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  14. ^ UGA Pregame
  15. ^ ARK Pregame
  16. ^ VAN Pregame
  17. ^ KEN Pregame
  18. ^ TENN Pregame
  19. ^ LSU Pregame
  20. ^ ALA Pregame
  21. ^ Brooks, Amanda (December 23, 2020). "ESPN Commentators Set for New Year's Six, College Football Playoff Semifinals". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "2020 Football Roster". Florida Gators. Retrieved January 24, 2021.