LIU’s SEC Challenge Highlights 2025 Schedule Release
Sharks in The Swamp. It sounds like a bad horror movie.
But in the NEC, it's how Ethan Greenwood will kick off his first season as the undisputed starting quarterback.
The LIU Sharks are set to open their 2025 football season with an unprecedented challenge—facing the Florida Gators in Gainesville on August 30. This matchup marks the first time a Northeast Conference football team has taken on an SEC opponent. It's a daunting test that will push LIU before September even begins.
Florida, a program rich in history and success, represents one of the toughest environments in college football. Playing in front of over 88,000 fans at The Swamp is an experience few NEC teams have ever faced. The closest comparison might be Duquesne’s trip to Florida State to open the 2022 season, but even that doesn’t quite match up to this stage.
Head coach Ron Cooper has led LIU into difficult matchups before. Last season, the Sharks traveled to Ft. Worth to take on TCU from the Big 12 in an early-season challenge game. When we’ve talked to coaches about these FBS matchups, they often acknowledge the financial component but also emphasize the unique opportunity for their players to compete in an unforgettable atmosphere. For the Sharks, this game isn’t just about the score—it’s about playing on a national stage and measuring themselves against top-tier competition. There can be no doubt that this game will be televised nationally.
This contest won’t impact the NEC standings, but it will test the Sharks at the highest level. What LIU takes away from Gainesville will become clear as the season unfolds. The coaching staff will have the chance to see how well their roster matches up against a power four FBS opponent. These types of games are rarely wins from a binary perspective, but if you want to see what you’ve got on your squad, there’s no better way to find out.
The Sharks have embraced a major challenge to open the year, and now they prepare to see how they measure up.
And, as always, if you win one of these, you'll never forget it.
