How far are the Gators from No. 1 in the way-too-early 2017 preseason polls? We've got the answer. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: A study of where Gators stand in those Way-Too-Early Top 25s
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter
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We examine 11 way-too-early top 25 polls from around the world and draw a final conclusion -- sort of.
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One of my favorite parts of the college football offseason is the way-too-early preseason top 25 polls that begin to flood the Internet as soon as Nick Saban finishes his on-field interview at the national championship game.
Not sure who invented the way-too-early top 25 concept, but boy, has it ever spread. The NFL mock draft remains No. 1 on the Internet in terms of mass production in the offseason, but over time, way-too-early might catch up.
Here at FloridaGators.com, my colleague Chris Harry and I have discussed doing a way-too-early top 25 the past couple of years, but then we come to our senses. Who would actually read it?
I always have the Gators No. 1, and Chris, deep into the UF men's basketball season by now, doesn't have time to analyze film and study bear fronts, gap integrity and arm talent as much he does during football season.
So, we simply rely on the views of others to get a proper gauge of where the Gators might open the next season in polls.
With more and more options each year to choose from, I've selected 11 way-too-early top 25 polls from around the world to determine the likelihood of Florida's ranking entering the 2017 season. For what it's worth, the Gators finished ranked 14th in the final AP Top 25 poll in head coach Jim McElwain's second season.
There's a good chance they will open around that spot in 2017 – or not.
Without further ado, let's get to these way-too-early top 25 polls before the revised way-too-early polls come out after National Signing Day:
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--The Landof10.com website covers the Big Ten conference heavily, and with Florida concluding the season with a 30-3 whipping of Iowa, I figured the folks at Landof10 might think highly of the Gators heading into next season. I was wrong. Ranking: 31 (Landof10.com prefers a way-too-early top 40 poll).
--Next, we head back to Southeastern Conference territory to take a look at the still-way-too-early top 25 poll from the Opelika-Auburn (Ala.) News. Back in the Deep South, no surprise Alabama is ranked No. 1. I was somewhat surprised Auburn is not No. 2, but instead ranked 13th. What about the Gators? Ranking: 17. Sixteen spots below where I'd have them, but 14 ahead of Landof10.
--At SBNation.com, they refer to their poll as "our stupendously early top 25." Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Florida State and Penn State are in the top five spots. The Gators are sandwiched between West Virginia and Miami lower in the poll. Ranking: 18. The Gators return Cece Jefferson on defense next season. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
--The folks at bleacherreport.com have Alabama No. 1 and Florida's SEC-East rivals Georgia (No. 7) and Tennessee (No. 18) ahead of the Gators. Sound familiar? Ranking: 24.
--A common theme has clearly emerged as I make my way through these way-too-early top 25s: Alabama is going to be good again in 2017. While that may not sit well with other fan bases around the SEC, sportingnews.com has the Crimson Tide on top, too. The Gators gain some ground, though. Ranking: 14.
--USA Today is familiar with college football polls as the administrator of the Amway Coaches' Poll throughout the season. In its way-too-early top 25, Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan form the top four. The Gators open the season against Michigan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Where do the Gators stand? Ranking: 22.
--SportsonEarth.com prefers to take a high-brow look at the sports world, but that doesn't mean a way-too-early top 130 isn't worth their time. UAB, which is cranking its program back up in 2017, is No. 130. Alabama, located not too far away, is at the top. Florida is closer to Alabama than UAB. Ranking: 19.
--CBSSports.com takes college football seriously, and especially takes SEC football seriously. We all know who is No. 1 in their poll, but I was surprised at No. 10: South Florida. Charlie Strong has fans in Tampa fired up. Meanwhile, what about the Sunshine State's flagship program? Ranking: unranked. The poll doesn't go beyond 25, so that must mean the Gators are the first team among those receiving votes. (At least according to my averaging system for this little project).
--The first time I remember seeing a way-too-early top 25 was on ESPN.com a few years ago, and if that was the first of its kind, then I'd like to thank the World Wide Leader for igniting this blog's creation in some tiny way. The Gators are more popular in this way-too-early top 25 than the last one we visited. Ranking: 21.
--Next up is foxsports.com, which surprisingly has Kansas ranked No. 1. OK, not really, just checking to see if you're still reading this. Yep, it's you know who at No. 1 -- again. However, despite uncertainty at quarterback heading into spring camp, Florida "should be set otherwise on offense." Ranking: 17. Gator fans will take that analysis and see what happens.
--Finally, last but not least, we check in with the folks at SportsIllustrated.com to see who they have atop their way-too-early top 25. By now you're really tired of hearing about No. 1, so let's get right to it. Ranking: 19. "The Gators have a lot to replace defensively, but have won back-to-back SEC East titles" SI concludes.
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That is true. So, where should we realistically expect the Gators to open next season in the national polls?
First, let's scratch the Landof10.com way-too-early top 25 from our scientific experiment. It's obviously a very non-objective ranking. How can the Gators be 30 spots below where I would have them if I did a way-too-early top 25?
Meanwhile, Florida is ranked in nine of the 10 traditional media polls referred to here, except for CBSSports.com. As mentioned above, I'm just going to assume they would have made it if this was a review of "way-too-early top 26s" from around the world.
Having made that clear, the Gators check in at 17, 18, 24, 14, 22, 19, 26, 21, 17 and 19 in the 10 polls. If my math is correct, that totals 197, and combined by 10, equals an average ranking of 19.7.
Based on our final conclusion and rounding up, the Gators should open next season ranked No. 20 in the polls.
Here at FloridaGators.com, my colleague Chris Harry and I have discussed doing a way-too-early top 25 the past couple of years, but then we come to our senses. Who would actually read it?
