The Gators got a much needed bye week following a loss to Miami. Despite not being on the field last Saturday, Florida still moved in both the AP and Coaches Polls. Florida fell one spot to No. 19 according to the Associated Press. Coincidently, the Gators were moved up two spots from No. 20 to No. 18 in the Coaches Poll.
While it makes sense for the rankings and polls to be released every week, I wouldn’t put much stock – none actually – into where the Gators are ranked this week. The loss to Miami stings, yes, but it doesn’t have any weight or consequence on Florida’s ultimate goal this season – a trip to Atlanta for a shot at the SEC Championship.
Florida kicks off their gauntlet SEC schedule this week with Tennessee. A win over the Vols puts Florida at 1-0 in the SEC and a trip to Kentucky next week should give the Gators a comfortable 2-0 SEC record with games against Arkansas, LSU, Georgia and South Carolina still on the docket. What I’m getting at is that the number you’ll see next to Florida’s name on television this week is completely irrelevant. The Gators are still, today, the masters of their own destiny. They control their own fate.
Win football games and that number will get smaller and smaller, lose football games and it will disappear all together. It’s simple. Take care of business on Saturday and everything else will fall into place.
AP Poll
- Alabama (59)
- Oregon (1)
- Clemson
- Ohio State
- Stanford
- LSU
- Louisville
- Florida State
- Georgia
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma State
- South Carolina
- UCLA
- Oklahoma
- Michigan
- Miami
- Washington
- Northwestern
- Florida
- Baylor
- Ole Miss
- Notre Dame
- Arizona State
- Wisconsin
- Texas Tech
Coaches Poll
- Alabama (61)
- Oregon (1)
- Ohio State
- Clemson
- Stanford
- Louisville
- LSU
- Florida State
- Texas A&M
- Georgia
- Oklahoma State
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Michigan
- UCLA
- Northwestern
- Miami
- Florida
- Baylor
- Washington
- Notre Dame
- Ole Miss
- Arizona State
- Michigan State
- Fresno State