Florida football is officially back in the preseason AP Top 25, with CBS Sports writer Chip Patterson predicting the Gators will land at No. 22 when the poll drops on Monday. This is a massive jump after last year’s collapse, and it immediately puts a ton of pressure on their new coaching staff.
Sumrall’s Big Bet
This projected No. 22 spot, placing them squarely between No. 21 Iowa and No. 23 Missouri, hinges big time on new head coach Jon Sumrall. The dude’s a certified winner, snagging championships in two different conferences at Troy and Tulane. Patterson straight up says Sumrall’s success is gonna give Florida’s ranking “pop,” figuring media bias will bend his way with AP voters. They didn’t even crack the Coaches Poll Top 25, but after hitting No. 22 in the CBS Sports 138, it looks like the AP voters are buying into the hype. The Gators also did a solid job holding onto some key talent from last year and beefing up through the portal, making them a dangerous opponent for anyone in the SEC.
Last Year’s Nightmare and This Year’s Gauntlet
Remember last year? Florida started at No. 15, even jumped to No. 13 after crushing LIU 55-0 in Week 1. Everyone thought they were legit. Then Week 2 happened: an 18-16 home loss to USF. Just like that, they were out of the Top 25 for the rest of the season. Ouch. Now, Sumrall and the squad face FAU and Campbell at home for their first two games. This is HUGE. The source flat out says if they “fail to prevail” in these two, “things could get ugly in Gainesville again.” After those two, it’s straight into the SEC grind, hitting the road to face Auburn.
They’re one of ten SEC teams projected in the Top 25, joining giants like Texas (No. 3), Georgia (No. 6), Oklahoma (No. 8), and Alabama (No. 13). The AP poll drops Monday. Everyone’s gonna be watching those first two home games to see if Sumrall can keep the Gators from repeating last year’s collapse. Can they hold onto that No. 22 spot and actually contend in the SEC? We’ll find out fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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