The Gators competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

The Gators hosted SEC foes Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, and traveled to Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, and South Carolina.

[11]Head coach Jim McElwain announced during the week that redshirt freshman Will Grier would get his first career college start, and Treon Harris would come off the bench.

On the ensuing possession, the Gators went three-and-out, and punted the ball back to East Carolina, who would get well into Florida territory before quarterback Blake Kemp fumbled a pass attempt, which was recovered by defensive end Alex McCalister, who would have scored had his teammate, Jarrad Davis, not tackled him.

Head coach Jim McElwain called the Gators' performance "embarrassing," not only speaking of the several missed opportunities to put points on the board, but also of the 12 penalties totaling 105 yards, including two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls following scores.

Florida could not score for the remainder of the game, however their defense was able to hold Kentucky's potent offense led by Patrick Towles, one of the SEC's top returning quarterbacks, to only two additional field goals, and intercepted a desperation pass on 4th & 27 to secure the result and kneel off the remaining time.

Ole Miss was the only team able to upset reigning Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the eventual national champion 2008 Gators.

Ole Miss made their first trip to the red zone early in the second quarter, but the Gators attacked the Rebels defensively, forcing Gary Wunderlich to attempt a 29-yard field goal, which sailed wide right.

After a pair of punts, Vernon Hargreaves returned an interception to the Ole Miss 5-yard line, but Florida once again settled for a field goal following a three-and-out.

[35] Treon Harris would make his second start of the season following Will Grier's tearful announcement of his suspension on Monday due to testing positive for an NCAA-banned supplement.

Facing 4th-and-1 at the LSU 4-yard line, Florida elected to go for the first down from scrimmage, doing that and more as Treon Harris completed a pass to Jake McGee for a touchdown.

[44] Florida would receive the first half kickoff, and put on a 10-play, 61-yard drive, and set up for a 45-yard field goal attempt, however Austin Hardin would miss wide right.

Georgia's Reggie Davis, however, who was deep to receive, muffed the punt at the 5-yard line, and the ball rolled into the end zone where it was fallen upon by Nick Washington for a touchdown.

The extra point try was blocked, and Florida was forced to kickoff from their own 20-yard line to begin the second quarter due to a personal foul that occurred on the Georgia return.

Georgia responded by driving 86 yards in 9 plays to get to the Florida 3-yard line, but Faton Bauta threw his third interception of the game when Keanu Neal caught a tipped pass in the end zone for a touchback.

Florida's opening possession, however, would stall when the Gators failed to score after playing from scrimmage on fourth down instead of attempting a field goal.

They would drive into Vanderbilt territory before they committed their third turnover of the second quarter when Treon Harris threw a pass which was intercepted Ryan White at the 26-yard line.

Florida would go 57 yards in seven plays, but committed their fourth turnover at the Vanderbilt 12-yard line when Jay Woods forced Demarcus Robinson to fumble.

However, Teez Tabor would intercept a Perry Orth pass 2 plays later, setting up the Gators inside the red zone at the 18-yard line.

South Carolina would get the ball back three plays later following Treon Harris' second interception of the game, this time caught by Gerald Dixon.

Florida would again gain possession following a South Carolina three-and-out, and would go on their fourth double-digit play drive of the game, but turned the ball over on downs at the Gamecocks' 36-yard line.

Florida's ensuing possession ended in a three-and-out, and South Carolina was able to continue their momentum, scoring their second straight touchdown with 4:49 remaining.

[61][62] With the win, the Gators snapped a two-year losing streak to the Gamecocks, and finished with a perfect record against SEC Eastern Division opponents.

Florida would leave the end zone empty handed, however, as Austin Hardin hit the left upright on a 33-yard field goal attempt.

On the ensuing Florida Atlantic possession, the Owls drove 51 yards in ten plays to reach the Gators' 29-yard line before junior kicker Greg Joseph went wide right on a 45-yard field goal attempt.

The Gators would reclaim possession three plays later when Teez Tabor intercepted FAU quarterback Jaquez Johnson at the Owls' 21-yard line.

Three plays into the ensuing Owls drive, however, Nick Washington forced a fumble that was recovered by Marcus Maye giving the Gators their third takeaway of the game.

Florida's offense once again stalled, however, and all of the drives that followed in the fourth quarter ended in punts before the Owls ran out the clock deep in their own territory to send the game into overtime.

Florida had the first possession of the overtime period and scored in three plays on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Treon Harris to Jake McGee, but led only by 6 after Austin Hardin's extra point attempt was blocked.

Florida Atlantic would reach the 9-yard line before the Gators defense stuffed a quarterback run for a loss of three yards followed by forcing three consecutive incompletions to preserve a final 20–14 overtime lead.