While many programs are moving away from holding spring games, Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier took the opposite approach—and it paid off. Florida drew a massive crowd of 56,563 fans, the highest attendance for any spring game in the country according to 247 Sports.
Clearly, Florida fans didn’t get the memo that spring games are supposedly outdated. Per The Gainesville Sun, it was the Gators’ largest spring game crowd since 2009, filling more than half of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. While the halftime celebration for the men’s basketball national championship likely helped, much of the buzz came from growing anticipation around the 2025 football roster. Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, one of the most exciting young talents in college football, is a major reason for the enthusiasm.
Florida’s turnout not only led the nation but also exceeded every other school’s by over 15,000 attendees, including traditional powerhouse Ohio State, which saw its lowest spring game attendance in years. This marked Florida’s best turnout since Tim Tebow’s senior season.
Though spring games have become controversial—with some schools dropping them due to concerns over the transfer portal and recruitment—Florida is embracing them as a developmental opportunity. With Lagway sitting out, backups Aidan Warner and Harrison Bailey gained valuable reps; Warner’s performance even earned him a scholarship.
Another factor behind Florida’s confidence in hosting a full-scale spring game was roster stability—98% of their players are already secured for the 2025 season. That level of certainty makes it easier to showcase talent and build momentum.
Florida’s success may inspire other schools to reconsider spring games, especially as revenue sharing and NIL incentives reshape the college football landscape.
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