Gators No. 8 in the preseason AP poll

The sports writers and broadcasters agree with the college football coaches on the Florida Gators.

 They are a top-10 team heading into the season.

 The Gators will open the 2020 season at the No. 8 spot in the Associated Press Poll that was released Monday, the same position they’re at in the Amway Coaches Poll that came out two weeks ago.

 UF is one of seven SEC schools in the AP Poll, joined by Alabama (No. 3), Georgia (4), LSU (6), Auburn (11), Texas A&M (13) and Tennessee (25).

 The Gators have become a top-10 program under Dan Mullen. UF finished in the top 10 in both polls in his first two seasons in Gainesville. The Gators were No. 6 in last season's final AP poll.

 UF, a popular pick to win the SEC East in the preseason publications, will open the season still looking up at UGA, which is ranked ahead of the Gators in both the AP poll and the Amway Coaches rankings.

 The Gators open their conference-game only schedule on the road at Ole Miss on Sept. 26.

All Division I teams were eligible for the preseason AP Top 25, but after the season starts, only teams scheduled to play in the fall are eligible.

The first College Football Playoff selection committee rankings will be released Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The complete 2020 Preseason AP Poll (first-place votes in parentheses):

1. Clemson (38)

2. Ohio State (21)

3. Alabama (2)

4. Georgia

5. Oklahoma

6. LSU (1)

7. Penn State

8. Florida

9. Oregon

10. Notre Dame

11. Auburn

12. Wisconsin

13. Texas A&M

14. Texas

15. Oklahoma State

16. Michigan

17. USC

18. North Carolina

19. Minnesota

20. Cincinnati

21. UCF

22. Utah

23. Iowa State

24. Iowa

25. Tennessee

Others Receiving Votes: Memphis 86, Virginia Tech 85, Boise State 68, Arizona State 66, Miami (FL) 42, Louisville 32, Appalachian State 26, Washington 21, Kentucky 20, Indiana 19, Baylor 15, California 11, TCU 9, Virginia 7, Navy 6, Florida State 6, SMU 3, Mississippi State 3, Air Force 3, Northwestern 1, UAB 1.