College football rankings: Florida Gators enter AP Top 25 for first time in 2023 after Tennessee win

Football

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Image Credit: Mallory Peak, UAA

Coming off a thrilling win inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the Florida Gators entered the college football rankings for the first time this season. Florida’s 29-16 victory over Tennessee (previously ranked No. 11) clearly earned it some goodwill with AP Top 25 voters as it gained 103 points after not receiving a single vote in the prior week’s poll.

The Gators were not ranked in the Coaches Poll, receiving the 29th-most points in those rankings.

Florida is 1-1 against AP Top 25 opponents this season with a loss to Utah (previously ranked No. 7) to open the campaign. Under head coach Billy Napier, the Gators are 2-6 against ranked teams, concluding the 2022 season with five straight such losses after knocking off Utah in Napier’s first game wearing orange and blue.

Georgia kept its hold on the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25, receiving 57 of 62 first-place votes, while Texas jumped Florida State for No. 3.

Florida, which entered the season with the nation’s toughest schedule, is set to face three more AP Top 25 teams before the season is out: No. 1 Georgia, No. 4 Florida State, No. 12 LSU.

AP Top 25

1. Georgia (55)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Texas (3)
4. Florida State (1)
5. USC
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Notre Dame
10. Oregon
11. Utah
12. LSU
13. Alabama
14. Oregon State
15. Ole Miss
16. Oklahoma
17. North Carolina
18. Duke
19. Colorado
20. Miami
21. Washington State
22. UCLA
23. Tennessee
24. Iowa
25. Florida