The Gators have won three consecutive games after Saturday's victory over Georgia in Jacksonville. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/For UAA Communications)
Gators Trending Upward Ahead of CFB Playoff Rankings
Monday, October 31, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
Florida moved up from No. 14 to No. 10 in latest AP Top 25.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida is back in the top 10.
The Gators moved up four spots in the AP Top 25 on Sunday and enter Saturday's game at Arkansas ranked 10th, the program's highest ranking since it entered last season's regular-season finale against Florida State No. 10.
The Gators lead the SEC East with three conference games remaining, starting with the trip to Fayetteville, marking the program's first game at Arkansas since 2008.
Florida (6-1, 4-1) defeated Georgia on Saturday in Jacksonville and has won three in a row since its only loss, a 38-28 setback at Tennessee on Sept. 24.
The Gators have steadily climbed the AP Top 25 after starting the season 25th. They fell out of the poll following a season-opening victory over UMASS but quickly re-entered. Florida is one of five SEC teams ranked in this week's poll.
Alabama remains No. 1, Texas A&M is seventh, followed by the Gators, No. 11 Auburn and No. 15 LSU.
Florida's four-spot jump tied Auburn, Oklahoma, LSU and Penn State for the biggest leaps in this week's AP Top 25.
Gators head coach Jim McElwain is confident his team has the ability to return to Atlanta as defending SEC East champions and challenge for the program's first SEC championship in eight years.
"I believe we can,'' he said. "I believe we have the ingredients here both offensively and defensively and special teams to make a heck of a run."
The Gators faced familiar questions after their latest win. Is the offense good enough? Can the defense keep up at this pace? Where are the big plays?
Linebacker Alex Anzalone said while others can have their doubts, the Gators plan to keep playing and believing.
"If we don't believe in ourselves, who will,'' he said. "There's a lot of belief in that locker room and a lot of true leaders that will lead us to Atlanta and hopefully beyond that."
Meanwhile, the College Football Playoff selection committee unveils its first rankings of the season on Tuesday night.
The AP Top 25 is likely a good preview with Alabama, Michigan, Clemson and Washington currently the four teams projected to be the top four in the playoff rankings.
The Gators moved up four spots in the AP Top 25 on Sunday and enter Saturday's game at Arkansas ranked 10th, the program's highest ranking since it entered last season's regular-season finale against Florida State No. 10.
The Gators lead the SEC East with three conference games remaining, starting with the trip to Fayetteville, marking the program's first game at Arkansas since 2008.
Florida (6-1, 4-1) defeated Georgia on Saturday in Jacksonville and has won three in a row since its only loss, a 38-28 setback at Tennessee on Sept. 24.
The Gators have steadily climbed the AP Top 25 after starting the season 25th. They fell out of the poll following a season-opening victory over UMASS but quickly re-entered. Florida is one of five SEC teams ranked in this week's poll.
Alabama remains No. 1, Texas A&M is seventh, followed by the Gators, No. 11 Auburn and No. 15 LSU.
Florida's four-spot jump tied Auburn, Oklahoma, LSU and Penn State for the biggest leaps in this week's AP Top 25.
Gators head coach Jim McElwain is confident his team has the ability to return to Atlanta as defending SEC East champions and challenge for the program's first SEC championship in eight years.
"I believe we can,'' he said. "I believe we have the ingredients here both offensively and defensively and special teams to make a heck of a run."
The Gators faced familiar questions after their latest win. Is the offense good enough? Can the defense keep up at this pace? Where are the big plays?
Linebacker Alex Anzalone said while others can have their doubts, the Gators plan to keep playing and believing.
"If we don't believe in ourselves, who will,'' he said. "There's a lot of belief in that locker room and a lot of true leaders that will lead us to Atlanta and hopefully beyond that."
Meanwhile, the College Football Playoff selection committee unveils its first rankings of the season on Tuesday night.
The AP Top 25 is likely a good preview with Alabama, Michigan, Clemson and Washington currently the four teams projected to be the top four in the playoff rankings.
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