College football rankings: Florida Gators reenter AP Top 25 after impressive road win over Texas

Football

0

Image Credit: UAA

It was hardly a surprise when the Florida Gators were left off preseason college football rankings lists, and at this point, there’s no telling where it may wind up in the college football rankings at season’s end. With a couple of embarrassing defeats sandwiched between bookend victories over top 10 teams, Florida appears to be capable of beating and losing to any team in the nation.

The Gators’ 27-24 victory over prior No. 7 Texas on Saturday marked their first road win over a top 10 team in 14 years and their first road win over any ranked team since 2020. Florida prevailed by flashing improved play on its offensive line and throughout its defensive front seven, but there are still plenty of questions to answer entering the off week — including who will start at quarterback and whether some of the Gators’ playmakers will be healthy enough to see the field after the bye.

After placing 32nd in total voting points last week, Florida moved up 12 positions back into the AP Top 25 at No. 20. The Gators were not given as much love by the sports information directors who vote in the Coaches Poll, elevating nine spots to No. 24 in those rankings.

In the AP Top 25, UF is ranked 13 spots behind Ole Miss and one back of Texas, both of which it beat this season. The Gators being under the Longhorns — six spots behind in the Coaches Poll — is particularly flummoxing.

Entering Week 7, Florida is one of nine SEC teams in the rankings, with four of those teams on the schedule, including two still to play — the top two teams in the nation.

AP Top 25, Oct. 18

1. Miami (FL) (40)
2. BYU (20)
3. Ohio State (9)
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgia
6. Indiana
7. Ole Miss [W 52-28]
8. Texas Tech
9. UCLA
10. Utah
11. Tennessee
12. Kentucky
13. Alabama
14. Houston
15. Iowa
16. USC
17. Wake Forest
18. LSU
19. Texas [W 27-24]
20. Florida
21. Boise State
22. Missouri [L 17-41]
23. SMU
24. Northwestern
25. Arizona

Coaches Poll, Oct. 18

1. Miami (FL) (50)
2. Ohio State (13)
3. BYU (10)
4. Georgia
5. Texas Tech
6. Indiana
7. Ole Miss [W 52-28]
8. Notre Dame
9. Utah
10. UCLA
11. Tennessee
12. Kentucky
13. Alabama
14. Iowa
15. USC
16. Houston
17. LSU
18. Texas [W 27-24]
19. Wake Forest
20. SMU
21. Missouri [L 17-41]
22. Boise State
23. Northwestern
24. Florida
25. Oregon