Gators face rare challenge: Nos. 1 and 2 teams in AP Top 25 Preseason Poll on road in same season
Saturday, August 30, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators kick off one of the nation's most difficult schedules Saturday night by hosting Idaho. Eastern Michigan and Kentucky then make stops at The Swamp.
After that opening stretch, the Gators tread into deeper waters.
If they are going to compete for an SEC East title, they will have to play well -- and win some games -- against this formidable lineup: at Alabama, at Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, Georgia in Jacksonville, at Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Eastern Kentucky and at Florida State.
To sum up that stretch: Florida's first road game is at No. 2 Alabama. Their final regular-season game is at No. 1 Florida State. And in between there are no slouches, though the Gators should be heavily favored at home against Eastern Kentucky.
I reached out to Associated Press national college football writer Ralph Russo to see when the last time a team opened the season scheduled to face the Nos. 1 and 2 ranked teams in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll on the road in the same season.
Russo called on the services of AP researcher Paul Montella, who pored over the rankings and schedules. Thanks to both for their help.
The Gators are only the second SEC team -- and first in 36 years -- to face the two top-ranked preseason teams on the road in the same season.
While those rankings could easily change during the season, it also won't be a surprise if FSU and Alabama remain atop the poll. They are that good.
Here is a look at those teams that opened the season with the preseason Nos. 1 and 2 waiting at home:
Teams scheduled to play Nos. 1-2 in the preseason poll on the road:
Top 20 Era
1961 -- Wisconsin (No. 1 Iowa; No. 2 Ohio State)
1962 -- Oregon (No. 1 Ohio State; No. 2 Texas)
1969 -- TCU (No. 1 Ohio State; No. 2 Arkansas)
1970 -- Texas A&M (No. 1 Ohio State; No. 2 Texas)
1973 -- Washington State (No. 1 Southern Cal; No. 2 Ohio State)
1978 -- Vanderbilt (No. 1 Alabama; No. 2 Arkansas)
1983 -- Colorado (No. 1 Nebraska; No. 2 Oklahoma)
1983 -- Iowa State (No. 1 Nebraska; No. 2 Oklahoma)
1983 -- Kansas (No. 1 Nebraska; No. 2 Oklahoma)
Top 25 Era (1989-present)
2006 -- Penn State (No. 1 Ohio State; No. 2 Notre Dame)
2006 -- Michigan (No. 1 Ohio State; No. 2 Notre Dame)
2010 -- Penn State (No. 1 Alabama; No. 2 Ohio State)
