Gators Finish 14th in AP Top 25

The Gators enter the offseason with a jump in the final AP Top 25. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/For UAA Communications)

Gators Finish 14th in AP Top 25

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter

Florida jumped six spots following Outback Bowl victory over Iowa.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A bowl win matters.

To the coaches. To the players. To the fans.

And to AP Top 25 voters.

The Gators jumped six spots to No. 14 in the final poll of the 2016 season. It's the highest Florida has finished in the season-ending poll since 2012 when the Gators were ninth. The Gators finished ranked 25th in head coach Jim McElwain's first season, which ended with a loss to Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

Different ending this season as Florida beat Iowa 30-3 eight days ago in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. The Gators finished 9-4 and avoided a second consecutive three-game losing streak to end the season.

Florida opens next season with a neutral-site game against Michigan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The Wolverines finished 10th in Jim Harbaugh's second season as head coach after climbing as high as No. 2 earlier in the season. Michigan lost to Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

The Gators return most of their key players on offense next season except for fifth-year senior quarterback Austin Appleby and junior left tackle David Sharpe, who announced last week that he is skipping his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft.

Meanwhile, starting cornerbacks Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson, along with linebacker Alex Anzalone and defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, have announced they will forgo their final season of eligibility to enter the draft. While first-year defensive coordinator Randy Shannon has a lot of talent to replace, junior defensive backs Duke Dawson and Marcell Harris are returning for their senior seasons and provide experience for what will be a young unit.

Earlier Tuesday, the Gators announced that season-ticket holders can begin to renew their seats for the 2017 season. You can visit FloridaGators.com/tickets for more information.