The Gators need to keep winning to have any shot at cracking the top four of the final College Football Playoff rankings, which were released on Tuesday night. (Photo: Adler Garfield/For UAA Communications)
Gators No. 11 in first CFB Playoff rankings of season
Tuesday, November 1, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
Florida is highest-ranked SEC team not in the decisive top four.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators must do some work to crack the top four, but they have a solid starting point from which to begin.
Florida is No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, announced on Tuesday night on ESPN.
The Gators (6-1, 4-1) lead the SEC East and play at Arkansas on Saturday. If the Gators defeat the Razorbacks, they can clinch their second consecutive SEC East title on Nov. 12 at home against South Carolina.
Florida's ranking in the CFB Playoff poll is not a surprise. The Gators moved up four spots in this week's AP Top 25 to No. 10. The highest the Gators have ever been ranked in the CFB Playoff poll is No. 8 a year ago prior to facing Florida Atlantic.
Meanwhile, no one is surprised at who is No. 1: Alabama.
The defending national champion Crimson Tide opened atop the rankings, followed by No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Texas A&M. The Aggies' position was the biggest surprise. Texas A&M's only loss is to Alabama but many expected undefeated Washington to be ranked fourth.
The top four teams in the final CFB Playoff rankings advance to the national semifinals.
Florida still has road games at LSU (No. 13) and Florida State (No. 22) prior to a potential return trip to Atlanta.
While the playoff rankings are sure to spark much debate in the coming weeks, the Gators have but one task to be in the conversation at the end: keep winning.
Florida is No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, announced on Tuesday night on ESPN.
The Gators (6-1, 4-1) lead the SEC East and play at Arkansas on Saturday. If the Gators defeat the Razorbacks, they can clinch their second consecutive SEC East title on Nov. 12 at home against South Carolina.
Florida's ranking in the CFB Playoff poll is not a surprise. The Gators moved up four spots in this week's AP Top 25 to No. 10. The highest the Gators have ever been ranked in the CFB Playoff poll is No. 8 a year ago prior to facing Florida Atlantic.
Meanwhile, no one is surprised at who is No. 1: Alabama.
The defending national champion Crimson Tide opened atop the rankings, followed by No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Texas A&M. The Aggies' position was the biggest surprise. Texas A&M's only loss is to Alabama but many expected undefeated Washington to be ranked fourth.
The top four teams in the final CFB Playoff rankings advance to the national semifinals.
Florida still has road games at LSU (No. 13) and Florida State (No. 22) prior to a potential return trip to Atlanta.
While the playoff rankings are sure to spark much debate in the coming weeks, the Gators have but one task to be in the conversation at the end: keep winning.
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