Gators’ 2022 schedule highlighted by stretch against LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M

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The success of the 2022 Florida Gators could hinge on a three-game, four-week stretch against SEC West crossover foe LSU, SEC East rival Georgia and a visit a week later to Texas A&M.

While Dan Mullen’s 11th-ranked Gators (2-1, 0-1 SEC) are focused on Saturday night’s visit from Tennessee (2-1, 0-0), the SEC released next season’s schedules Tuesday for the league’s 14 schools.

The Gators will open with a Sept. 3, 2022 visit from the Pac-12′s Utah Utes, where Mullen served as Urban Meyer’s quarterbacks coach in 2003-04.

UF opens SEC play a week later against perennially pesky East division foe Kentucky.

An Oct. 15, 2022, visit from LSU highlights the Gators’ seven-game home schedule and begins a challenging four-week stretch likely to determine the fortunes of Mullen’s squad. UF will face Georgia Oct. 29 in Jacksonville and travel to Kyle Field on Nov. 5 to face Texas A&M.

The Gators have lost three of four games to LSU, including a stunning 37-34 defeat on 2020 Senior Night in the Swamp. UF still captured the SEC East title by snapping a three-game losing streak to Georgia. The Bulldogs-Gators have spilt their past 14 meetings.

The Gators have had less luck during their rare SEC matchup with Texas A&M. UF has dropped two straight to the Aggies, including a crushing 41-38 loss Oct. 10. A late fumble by Malik Davis and repeated defensive breakdowns paved the way for a game-winning field goal by coach Jimbo Fisher’s team.

A Sept. 24, 2022, visit to Tennessee is the only game away from the Swamp for the Gators until the Georgia game. The visit to A&M is one of three November road games, ending with a trip to Tallahassee to face Florida State on the 26th.

2022 schedule

Sept. 3 Utah

Sept. 10 Kentucky

Sept. 17 USF

Sept. 24 at Tennessee

Oct. 1 Eastern Washington

Oct. 8 Missouri

Oct. 15 LSU

Oct. 29 vs. Georgia (Jacksonville)

Nov. 5 at Texas A&M

Nov. 12 South Carolina

Nov. 19 at Vanderbilt

Nov. 26 at FSU

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.