The Miami Herald takes an early look at what to expect from the Gators:

Although some experts rated Florida as a potential top-five team in the preseason a year ago, its inability to make it to the SEC championship wasn’t a huge surprise because there was a first-year coach installing a new system. This year, however, Florida is the clear favorite to win the SEC East and, if Meyer fails to at least bring the Gators to the SEC championship game, the season likely would be viewed as a failure. Meyer is probably a year or two away from fully integrating his system, but UF is still the SEC East favorite. …

Florida’s schedule won’t make it any easier for Meyer to win an SEC championship. Few teams in the nation will have a tougher path to a BCS game than the Gators. Their easier early-season games include Southern Mississippi and Central Florida. At one stretch during the year, Florida has to play consecutive games against Alabama, LSU and Auburn. Auburn replaces Mississippi State on the schedule, a tough switch for the Gators.