| Year: | 2017 |
| Team: | Florida Gators |
| Sport: | football |
| Logo Alt: | Florida Gators logo |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Division: | Eastern Division |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Record: | 4–7 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Jim McElwain (3rd season: First 7 games (3–4 record), fired) |
| Head Coach2: | Randy Shannon (1st season: Last 4 games (1–3 record), interim) |
| Off Coach: | Doug Nussmeier |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Coach: | Randy Shannon |
| Dc Year: | 1st as DC; 3rd overall |
| Codef Coach1: | Chris Rumph |
| Codc1 Year: | 1st as co-DC; 3rd overall |
| Off Scheme: | Multiple |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Stadium: | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium[1] |
The 2017 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gators played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Florida played as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by third-year head coach Jim McElwain until his dismissal on October 28, after which defensive coordinator Randy Shannon served as the interim head coach until the end of the season.[2]
Florida finished with a 4–7 record overall and were 3–5 in SEC play, good for fifth place in the Eastern Division. It was the program's second losing season since 1979.
The spring game, dubbed the Orange and Blue Debut, took place on April 7, in Gainesville.
The Gators' 2017 schedule consisted of 6 home games, 3 away games, and 2 neutral site games in the regular season. The Gators hosted SEC opponents Tennessee, Vanderbilt, LSU, and Texas A&M. They traveled to Kentucky, Missouri, and South Carolina. They faced Georgia at a neutral site.
Florida's non-conference schedule consisted of two home games: UAB and their rival Florida State. A third was scheduled for Sep 9 vs Northern Colorado, but was canceled due to inclement weather caused by Hurricane Irma. The season was opened against Michigan in the Advocare Classic.
The game between Florida and Northern Colorado was originally scheduled for September 9 at 7:30 p.m. On the Wednesday before the game, the kickoff time was moved up to noon, as forecasts for Hurricane Irma had the storm approaching the east coast of Florida on Sunday. On Thursday, updated forecast tracks (correctly) predicted that Irma would move up the middle of the Florida peninsula as a major hurricane, prompting both schools to agree to cancel the game altogether due to safety and traffic concerns. This cancellation marked the third time in four seasons that Florida had to cancel or move a home game due to inclement weather and the second season in a row in which a scheduled home game was affected by the threat of a hurricane.[4]
Schedule Source[5]
See also: 2017 Michigan Wolverines football team and Advocare Classic.
See also: 2017 Tennessee Volunteers football team and Florida–Tennessee football rivalry.
With 0:09 seconds left in the fourth quarter quarterback Feleipe Franks threw a 63-yard hail mary to wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland for the win.See also: 2017 Kentucky Wildcats football team.
See also: 2017 Vanderbilt Commodores football team.
See also: 2017 LSU Tigers football team and Florida–LSU football rivalry.
See also: 2017 Georgia Bulldogs football team and Florida–Georgia football rivalry.
Following the game, it was announced that Florida and Head Coach Jim McElwain would be parting ways and Defensive coordinator Randy Shannon was to be promoted to interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
See also: 2017 Missouri Tigers football team.
See also: 2017 South Carolina Gamecocks football team.
See also: 2017 UAB Blazers football team.
See also: 2017 Florida State Seminoles football team and Florida–Florida State football rivalry.
| Name | Position | Joined staff |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach (dismissed Oct 29) | 2015 | |
| Defensive coordinator / Interim head coach (after Oct 29) | 2015 | |
| 2015 | ||
| Chris Rumph | Defensive line / Interim defensive coordinator (after Oct 29) | 2015 |
| Defensive line (after Oct 29) | 2017 | |
| Greg Nord | 2015 | |
| 2017 | ||
| 2017 | ||
| Kerry Dixon II | 2015 | |
| 2015 | ||
| Corey Bell | 2017 | |
| Mike Kent | 2015 | |
See also: 2018 NFL draft.
| 1 | 29 | DT | Jacksonville Jaguars | ||
| 2 | 56 | CB | New England Patriots | ||
| 4 | 105 | WR | Cleveland Browns | ||
| 5 | 173 | P | Oakland Raiders | ||
| 6 | 184 | S | San Francisco 49ers |