Where Florida football lands in preseason bowl projections

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Florida Gators look to return to the postseason after missing a bowl game for the fourth time since 2013 last season.

With the 2026 college football season quickly approaching, bowl projections are beginning to take shape, previewing an early look at how the 43-game bowl slate could unfold. Plenty can change between now and December.

Florida enters the season under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall, who has never missed postseason football in his career. The program hopes to reestablish itself as a contender in the SEC with new play-calling and roster construction, though there are still plenty of questions to be answered before the schedule is played out.

CBS Sports' latest bowl projections provide an early indication of where they could be headed if a successful 2026 campaign is put together. The Gators are projected to face off against South Florida in the Cure Bowl.

The matchup would allow the program to face an in-state opponent it has faced a few times over the years. Since 2010, the Gators have held a 3-1 record against South Florida, with the Bulls' lone victory coming last year when they upset Florida, 18-16, in Gainesville.

USF participated in the Cure Bowl last season, losing to Old Dominion, 24-10.

Florida has controlled most of their matchups in the past, but a potential bowl matchup would also mark the first meeting between Florida and South Florida in the Sumrall era and would give the Gators a chance to get back on track against the in-state opponent.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Where Florida football lands in preseason bowl projections

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos