Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham reacts to Donovan Stiner's game-clinching sack on Saturday night. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Back in AP Top 25 as No. 5 LSU Comes to Swamp
Sunday, September 30, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida's emotional road win at Mississippi State caught the attention of voters in the AP Top 25.
The Gators, after a three-week absence, returned to the national rankings at No. 22 following their 13-6 road win over the No. 23-ranked Bulldogs.
Florida hosts No. 5 LSU on Saturday at the Swamp. The Tigers defeated Ole Miss 45-16 on Saturday.
UF opened the season unranked, peeked in at No. 25 following a victory over Charleston Southern in Dan Mullen's debut as head coach, and then dropped from the poll following a 27-16 home loss to Kentucky on Sept. 8.
However, after a home win over Colorado State and back-to-back Southeastern Conference road wins against Tennessee and Mississippi State -- Florida's first back-to-back SEC road wins since 2012 -- the Gators are ranked for Saturday's marquee matchup against LSU (3:30 p.m. on CBS). Mississippi State dropped out of the rankings after losing to UF.
'I'm really proud of our guys,'' Mullen said. "Our guys are really starting to buy in. We need to prepare the right way, and if you do that, your performance is going to start improve every week."
LSU is off to a 5-0 start and dispatched easily of Ole Miss at home on Saturday.
SEC powers Alabama and Georgia remain at Nos. 1 and 2 in the poll, followed by Ohio State, Clemson and LSU. The Buckeyes moved ahead of Clemson following their win over Penn State on Saturday. Clemson dropped a spot after struggling at home to defeat Syracuse.
Florida's No. 22 ranking is its highest since it was ranked 21st a season ago heading into the matchup with LSU. The Tigers prevailed, 17-16, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the Gators spiraled to lose five consecutive games.
Florida leads the all-time series 33-29-3.
In nine seasons as Mississippi State's head coach, Mullen went 2-7 against the Tigers as SEC West rivals, including a 37-7 victory last year over then-No. 11 LSU in Starkville.
The Gators, after a three-week absence, returned to the national rankings at No. 22 following their 13-6 road win over the No. 23-ranked Bulldogs.
"This is just the beginning." — @CoachDanMullen #GoGators 🐊 #GatorStandard pic.twitter.com/7egwxr2hZn
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 30, 2018
Florida hosts No. 5 LSU on Saturday at the Swamp. The Tigers defeated Ole Miss 45-16 on Saturday.
UF opened the season unranked, peeked in at No. 25 following a victory over Charleston Southern in Dan Mullen's debut as head coach, and then dropped from the poll following a 27-16 home loss to Kentucky on Sept. 8.
However, after a home win over Colorado State and back-to-back Southeastern Conference road wins against Tennessee and Mississippi State -- Florida's first back-to-back SEC road wins since 2012 -- the Gators are ranked for Saturday's marquee matchup against LSU (3:30 p.m. on CBS). Mississippi State dropped out of the rankings after losing to UF.
'I'm really proud of our guys,'' Mullen said. "Our guys are really starting to buy in. We need to prepare the right way, and if you do that, your performance is going to start improve every week."
LSU is off to a 5-0 start and dispatched easily of Ole Miss at home on Saturday.
SEC powers Alabama and Georgia remain at Nos. 1 and 2 in the poll, followed by Ohio State, Clemson and LSU. The Buckeyes moved ahead of Clemson following their win over Penn State on Saturday. Clemson dropped a spot after struggling at home to defeat Syracuse.
Florida's No. 22 ranking is its highest since it was ranked 21st a season ago heading into the matchup with LSU. The Tigers prevailed, 17-16, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the Gators spiraled to lose five consecutive games.
Florida leads the all-time series 33-29-3.
In nine seasons as Mississippi State's head coach, Mullen went 2-7 against the Tigers as SEC West rivals, including a 37-7 victory last year over then-No. 11 LSU in Starkville.
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