Skip to main content
florida logo

Florida Gators enter the AP Top-25 for the first time in 2023

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•09/17/23•

delatorre

florida-gators-graham-mertz
Sep 16, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) fakes a pass during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators have entered the Associated Press top-25 poll for the first time in nearly a full calendar year. Florida is ranked No. 25 in the latest poll following their win over Tennessee. The Gators have not been ranked in the top 25 since dropping out of the AP poll released on September 24, 2022.

“I think the most important thing is the players in that locker room. But I think ultimately for your players, there is — it galvanizes your team a little bit. All of a sudden you say, hey, you’re late. You got a 300-yard shuttle after practice. All of a sudden that carries a little more weight than it did before. Right? So just the discipline, the attention to detail. We’re probably a little over the top at times, but I think, ultimately, it’s helped us have success in the past,” Billy Napier said after the Tennessee game.

“We ask a lot of our players. And, look, when you’re not getting a return on the investment, you know, much like you guys do, you take your money and go somewhere else, right? So, ultimately, I think that group will double down. We got good veteran players that have set a good example, and we’ve got some really talented young players that I think it’s good for them to experience what they experienced today.”

Tennessee started at No. 11 in the AP Preseason Top 25. The Vols moved up to No. 9 in Week 2 of the poll, after the 49-13 win over Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on September 2. They dropped back two spots to No. 11 after a sluggish 30-13 win over Austin Peay at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee plummeted to No. 23 following their loss in Gainesville.

The Gators will host Charolette this week before getting back into the SEC schedule with a trip to Lexington to take on Kentucky.

Complete AP Top 25

  1. Georgia
  2. Michigan
  3. Texas
  4. Florida State
  5. Southern Cal
  6. Ohio State
  7. Penn State
  8. Washington
  9. Notre Dame
  10. Oregon
  11. Utah
  12. LSU
  13. Alabama
  14. Oregon State
  15. Ole MIss
  16. Oklahoma
  17. North Carolina
  18. Duke
  19. Colorado
  20. Miami
  21. Washington State
  22. UCLA
  23. Tennessee
  24. Iowa
  25. Florida

You may also like