The Gators are off to a 6-2 start in head coach Dan Mullen's first season. (File photo)
Gators No. 11 in First CFB Playoff Rankings of Season
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators remained in the top 15 in the AP Top 25 poll for the fourth straight week, as it was announced on Sunday afternoon. Now, Florida has climbed back into the College Football Playoff poll for the first time since the end of the 2016 season.
Florida (6-2, 4-2) is ranked No. 11 in the inaugural CFP rankings of the 2018 season, announced Tuesday night on ESPN.
From a general fan's point of view, all that matters is who is ranked in the top six and has a shot at the playoff. However, these rankings help determine bowl matchups and it's important to note who from the Southeastern Conference is ranked ahead and behind of Florida as these rankings come out each week.
Since 2014 when this poll has come out, the Gators have been ranked in all four polls during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, but not in the 2014 and 2017 campaigns.
Back in July at SEC Media Days, Coach Dan Mullen emphasized the inconsistency within the program.
"Over the last five years, Florida's had two four-win seasons and played in two SEC Championship Games," Mullen said at the annual event in Atlanta. "That's inconsistent and it shows me that individual teams at the university right now are playing at a high level, but the program itself is not performing consistently at the level it needs to be at.
"As I look at things and I look at us, I tell the guys on the team, 'Hey, two years ago we played for an SEC Championship. So there has to be talent here. Okay? But the fact that you have a fall-off season is that there's a lack of consistency in what's going on within our performance.' That speaks to the program as a whole."
Mullen has preached to his players about living up to the Gators Standard and giving Relentless Effort in everything they do.
Those mantras have changed the culture at Florida and made Mullen one of four first-year coaches ranked in Tuesday's CFP poll.
Josh Heupel (No. 12 UCF), Joe Moorhead (No. 18 Miss. State), and Jimbo Fisher (No. 20 Texas A&M) are the only
Meanwhile, Florida and Syracuse (No. 19) are the only teams in the poll that won less than six games in 2017.
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Florida returns home this weekend to host Missouri for its annual homecoming game. Tickets are still available and fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy an exciting Saturday in The Swamp.
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