
Kyle Trask and the Gators listen to head coach Dan Mullen following Saturday's win in Nashville. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Sixth In First College Football Playoff Rankings Of 2020
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – During the opening of ESPN's broadcast of the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2020 season on Tuesday night, former Gators quarterback Jesse Palmer, a veteran TV analyst, wondered aloud where the Gators would be positioned.
About 10 minutes later, Palmer and the rest of the audience learned Florida is currently ranked sixth in the eyes of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.
The top five: 1. Alabama; 2. Notre Dame; 3. Clemson; 4. Ohio State; 5. Texas A&M.
The Gators (6-1) suffered their only loss of the season at Texas A&M on Oct. 10. Florida has won four in a row since behind the play of quarterback Kyle Trask, a leading candidate to win the school's first Heisman Trophy since Tim Tebow 13 years ago.
Palmer's initial reaction: "I think the head-to-head at this point certainly has to matter,'' he said. "Will the head-to-head lose value down the road?"
If the Gators can win out and claim their first Southeastern Conference Championship since 2008, the answer to Palmer's question is likely yes.
For now, the Gators control their own destiny and can take care of the questions surrounding their future and the Heisman hopes of Trask by winning.
"If we keep winning and we're successful, Kyle's going be putting up pretty good numbers,'' Gators coach Dan Mullen said Monday. "And he'll have the opportunity to get some individual awards. He won't be the only one. Hopefully there's other guys on the team that certainly have the opportunity with individual awards as well. You increase your chances of that as long as the team does good."
The 13-member CFB Playoff Committee, which includes UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin, released its first rankings of the 2020 season on Tuesday night after spending the day meeting in Dallas. The Gators' ranking correlates to their current position in the AP Top 25 (sixth) and the Amway Coaches Poll (fifth).
Florida hosts Kentucky on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (noon, ESPN). This is the first of five CFB Playoff rankings to determine the teams that will play for the national championship, which is scheduled Jan. 11 in Miami.
In its seventh season, the top four teams in the final CFB Playoff rankings at the end of the regular season earn berths in the NCAA semifinals. The winners play for the national championship.
About 10 minutes later, Palmer and the rest of the audience learned Florida is currently ranked sixth in the eyes of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.
The top five: 1. Alabama; 2. Notre Dame; 3. Clemson; 4. Ohio State; 5. Texas A&M.
The Gators (6-1) suffered their only loss of the season at Texas A&M on Oct. 10. Florida has won four in a row since behind the play of quarterback Kyle Trask, a leading candidate to win the school's first Heisman Trophy since Tim Tebow 13 years ago.
Palmer's initial reaction: "I think the head-to-head at this point certainly has to matter,'' he said. "Will the head-to-head lose value down the road?"
If the Gators can win out and claim their first Southeastern Conference Championship since 2008, the answer to Palmer's question is likely yes.
Take a look at the full #CFBPlayoff Top 25 rankings for games played through November 21.
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) November 25, 2020
Is your team in? 👀
🏈🏆 pic.twitter.com/OtdHoYKODN
For now, the Gators control their own destiny and can take care of the questions surrounding their future and the Heisman hopes of Trask by winning.
"If we keep winning and we're successful, Kyle's going be putting up pretty good numbers,'' Gators coach Dan Mullen said Monday. "And he'll have the opportunity to get some individual awards. He won't be the only one. Hopefully there's other guys on the team that certainly have the opportunity with individual awards as well. You increase your chances of that as long as the team does good."
The 13-member CFB Playoff Committee, which includes UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin, released its first rankings of the 2020 season on Tuesday night after spending the day meeting in Dallas. The Gators' ranking correlates to their current position in the AP Top 25 (sixth) and the Amway Coaches Poll (fifth).
Florida hosts Kentucky on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (noon, ESPN). This is the first of five CFB Playoff rankings to determine the teams that will play for the national championship, which is scheduled Jan. 11 in Miami.
In its seventh season, the top four teams in the final CFB Playoff rankings at the end of the regular season earn berths in the NCAA semifinals. The winners play for the national championship.
Players Mentioned
Aaron Chiles Media Availability 10-15-25
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Damieon George Jr. Media Availability 10-15-25
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Billy Napier Media Availability 10-15-25
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Gator Insider presented by Talon Wealth 10-15-25
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