Florida Football has released its 2021 calendar Tuesday before his first season under the guidance of new head coach Tony Amato.

The Gators kick off on August 12 in an exhibition game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in Alabama before returning to face state rivals the South Florida Bulls on August 19.

The team’s home opener at Donald R. Dizney Stadium is August 22 against Texas. All UF home games are free to the guests.

Four days later, the Oranges and Blues look to defend the ‘Diz for the second time when they face the UCF Knights. Florida ends August 29 against the Miami Hurricanes.

The Gators travel to Tallahassee to fight the NCAA Finalist Florida State on September 2 before traveling to Fort Myers on September 5 to face the FGCU Eagles. They then look to take on a familiar foe in the North Carolina Tar Heels on September 9, which boasted of the No.2 ranking at the end of the brief 2020 season.

UF opens the SEC game against defending conference champion Vanderbilt on September 17 in Nashville before meeting the UNF Ospreys on the 19th. Florida then plunges back into conference action for an SEC streak. The Gators’ intra-conference battles over the following weeks include the Kentucky Wildcats on September 23, the Mississippi State Bulldogs on September 26, the Ole Miss Rebels on October 3, and the Tennessee Volunteers on October 7.

Amato’s new team pulls on once again at home on Oct. 10 against Missouri before traveling to Auburn on the 17th. Florida-Georgia takes place shortly thereafter in Athens on the 21st.

The Gators wrap up the regular season at home on Oct. 24-28 against LSU and South Carolina, and the SEC tournament begins Oct. 31 in Orange Beach, Alabama.

“The fall schedule offers us a lot of challenges and tests,” Amato said in a statement from the UAA. “This will prepare us for the SEC game which begins in September and we are excited to start it.”

Contact Karina Wilson at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kk_rinaa.