Florida moved up two spots to No. 11 in the latest Associated Press college football rankings.
The Gators (9-3) are coming of a 41-14 win Saturday at Florida State. Florida had 536 offensive yards and reinforced its case for an at-large spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game.
“That’s hard for me to say because only 12 teams get to go do that,” Florida coach Dan Mullen said. “We’ve certainly put ourselves in the conversation as one of those teams.”
The next to the last College Football Playoff rankings, where the Gators are also No. 11, is Tuesday. The final one is next Sunday after Saturday’s conference title games.
Notes: Florida rushed for 200-plus yards for the eighth time this season Saturday. That matched its combined total from 2015-17. The Gators’ 2,762 yards rushing is the fourth-highest total since the start of 1990.
Florida also had 500 or more offensive yards for a third straight game, which also includes wins over South Carolina and Idaho to close the regular season.
AP Top 25
| Record | Pts | Pv | |
| 1. Alabama (61) | 12-0 | 1525 | 1 |
| 2. Clemson | 12-0 | 1458 | 2 |
| 3. Notre Dame | 12-0 | 1409 | 3 |
| 4. Georgia | 11-1 | 1336 | 5 |
| 5. Oklahoma | 11-1 | 1266 | 6 |
| 6. Ohio St. | 11-1 | 1229 | 10 |
| 7. UCF | 11-0 | 1146 | 8 |
| 8. Michigan | 10-2 | 1058 | 4 |
| 9. Texas | 9-3 | 959 | 11 |
| 10. Washington | 9-3 | 897 | 16 |
| 11. Florida | 9-3 | 876 | 13 |
| 12. Washington St. | 10-2 | 818 | 7 |
| 12. LSU | 9-3 | 818 | 8 |
| 14. Penn St. | 9-3 | 751 | 15 |
| 15. West Virginia | 8-3 | 672 | 12 |
| 16. Kentucky | 9-3 | 602 | 17 |
| 17. Utah | 9-3 | 536 | 18 |
| 18. Syracuse | 9-3 | 475 | 19 |
| 19. Boise St. | 10-2 | 409 | 21 |
| 20. Mississippi St. | 8-4 | 324 | 22 |
| 21. Northwestern | 8-4 | 322 | 20 |
| 22. Texas A&M | 8-4 | 283 | NR |
| 23. Army | 9-2 | 169 | 23 |
| 24. Iowa St. | 7-4 | 116 | 25 |
| 25. Fresno St. | 10-2 | 102 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Utah St. 92, Missouri 88, NC State 39, Cincinnati 33, Stanford 10, Iowa 4, Appalachian St. 1, Buffalo 1, Oregon 1.
Michigan gets 62 point scored on them and stays in the top 10?
I’m very confused.
That’s the coach, who is yet another darling of the media.
At this point in the season, you can argue forever about the rankings of teams with 2 or 3 losses. Even Ohio State and Oklahoma with only one loss aren’t set in stone. Oklahoma gave up 700 yards and 50+ points in their last game. LSU could make an argument to be the highest ranked 3 loss team, but does it really matter? Hopefully the extra practices we get for whatever Bowl game will pay off for the young guys getting ready for next year.
Yes. That’s really the big win here, the extra practice time. We’ll see what happens after the conference title games, but I am already happy with whatever bowl we get, whether New Year’s six or something else.
Jaws. The bean counters at the UF accounting office and Scott Stricklin in the AD’s office will be much happier with a New Year’s Six bowl over something else, I can assure you of that. So will Dan Mullen, as I am sure his bonuses are impacted in a positive manner by the bowl game Florida makes this year. And I know the players will be much more jacked up for a New Year’s Six bowl (a trip to Atlanta, Phoenix, or New Orleans over something else (Orlando, Tampa, or Jacksonville) as well. So will most of Gator Nation. But either way, it sure beats what FSU and their fans are doing in December and January.
are you aware of where every bowl is located?
Weregator. No, but I know where the New Year’s Six bowls are located and where the “something else” bowls (the ones in Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville) are located.
LOL! I assume I won’t be able to attend no matter where it is! Unless we go to the Pinstripe Bowl in NYC, if that’s still a thing, but I think that is one for 6 win teams if i recall.
New Year’s Six, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl.
Nothing teaches like experience, and the experience of no bowl last year, makes WHATEVER bowl we get this year special. I, like you, am happy to be bowling, regardless of where. If it’s near where I live I can see it live!!!! YAY!
ESPN is projecting UCF and Florida to meet in the Chick Fil A Bowl on December 29 in Atlanta. Order our tickets and a stay in the downtown Hyatt for New Year’s celebrations as well, please.
Thanks for deets. I am assuming this is not a New Year’s Six game, though? I still feel a bowl is good no matter what– though it has one of the least cool names of any bowl game in my opinion! The only worse one was the Emerald Nuts Bowl.
Jaws. The Chick Fil A Bowl is a New Year’s Six bowl and has the related big payout. FYI. A bowl does not need to be on New Year’s Day to be a New Year’s Six bowl. FYI.
Will UF still play UCF if they lose their conference championship?
UCF wont be playing in a New Years 6 if they lose Saturday. I personally think they will lose now without their starting QB, but that’s why they play the games.
At this rate, UF may have played it’s way out of a potential matchup with UCF. If UCF wins out they are expected to go the Fiesta. The higher ranked at large between LSU and Florida is expected to go to Peach. So if LSU drops below Florida — as they should — there’s a good chance Florida and UCF miss each other.
Which is entirely OK, because any way you slice it we’ll draw a quality Power-5 opponent who should draw out our best game by then. Not that UCF isn’t a good team, they’re just not a Power-5 team with a week in – week out Power-5 schedule. Auburn would have beaten them last year but for a slight bit of “mis-underestimation” (to quote a former POTUS).
That may well be my man but the injury to their RB K Johnson played a bigger part IMO
Either way I rather play anothet power5 as well. I’m thinking WSU, West Va or OSU
The last 2 would provide great side stories and commentary
You got that right, CO — any of those would be a big game I’d be tickled with. We can beat any of those teams, and if we don’t for some reason, I think they would still be sorry they ever drew the Gators in whatever bowl it is. Man, I can’t wait ’till this recruiting season starts!