Gators still on the outside of the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll looking in
The Gators were idle this week, meaning they didn’t have an opportunity to get back in the pollsters’ good graces after a stunning road loss to LSU as double-digit favorites. Florida fell out of the rankings after that game, and in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, it is still outside the top 25.
UF received 13 votes in this week’s Coaches Poll, tied with Oregon State and behind Louisiana, BYU, Arkansas, Houston, Arizona State and Virginia. Six SEC teams are ranked in this week’s poll: No. 1 Georgia, No. 3 Alabama, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 12 Kentucky, No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 21 Auburn.
If the Gators wish to return to the top 25, it will likely take a win over the nation’s top team in Jacksonville next weekend. Florida beat Georgia last year, but coach Dan Mullen is just 1-2 against Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart, and this could be his best team yet.
UF will certainly be heavy underdogs in that game, but if it can pull off the upset, it would both spoil the undefeated season for UGA and help right its own ship, at least slightly. If that game doesn’t go in Florida’s favor, it could be a battle to return to the rankings this season.
Here’s the full coaches poll.
Full USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll:
Rank | Team | Record | Points | Change |
1 | Georgia | 7-0 | 1,600 (64) | – |
2 | Cincinnati | 7-0 | 1,469 | +1 |
3 | Alabama | 7-1 | 1,439 | +1 |
4 | 8-0 | 1,430 | -2 | |
5 | 6-1 | 1,338 | – | |
6 | 7-0 | 1,313 | – | |
7 | 7-0 | 1,208 | – | |
8 | 6-1 | 1,139 | +2 | |
9 | Ole Miss | 6-1 | 1,019 | +3 |
10 | Iowa | 6-1 | 1,008 | +1 |
11 | 6-1 | 950 | +2 | |
12 | Kentucky | 6-1 | 857 | +1 |
13 | Wake Forest | 7-0 | 838 | +2 |
14 | Texas A&M | 6-2 | 736 | +3 |
15 | Oklahoma State | 6-1 | 684 | -6 |
16 | SMU | 7-0 | 535 | +3 |
17 | 5-2 | 517 | -9 | |
18 | Baylor | 6-1 | 509 | +2 |
19 | Pittsburgh | 6-1 | 487 | +4 |
20 | San Diego State | 7-0 | 431 | +1 |
21 | Auburn | 5-2 | 418 | +1 |
22 | UT-San Antonio | 8-0 | 219 | +3 |
23 | Iowa State | 5-2 | 190 | +3 |
24 | Coastal Carolina | 6-1 | 134 | -8 |
25 | North Carolina State | 5-2 | 73 | -7 |
Dropped from the rankings:
No. 24 Clemson
Others receiving votes:
UL Lafayette 42; Brigham Young 42; Arkansas 41; Houston 27; Arizona State 27; Virginia 23; Oregon State 13; Florida 13; Fresno State 10; Air Force 9; Appalachian State 5; Texas 3; Liberty 3; Utah 1
