Gators coach Dan Mullen is entering his third season in 2020. (Photo: Anissa Dimilta/UAA Communications)
Gators Ranked in Top 10 in AP Top 25 Preseason Poll
Monday, August 24, 2020 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For the second consecutive season, the Gators will open ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25 Preseason Poll.
Florida's ranking in the poll, released early Monday afternoon, matches the 2019 team as Florida's highest season-opening ranking since 2010 when the Gators checked in at No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll.
The Gators are set to open the season Sept. 26 at Ole Miss in their third season under head coach Dan Mullen. Florida finished last season ranked No. 6 in the AP Top 25 after beating Virginia in the Orange Bowl to finish 11-2.
Florida enters the 2020 season on a four-game winning streak, another similarity from a year ago. The Gators closed Mullen's first season on a four-game win streak and opened the 2019 season with a victory over Miami in the season opener, which coincidentally happened during Week 0 a year ago today.
The Gators are one of six SEC teams ranked in the poll and the only Power 5 school from the state of Florida. UCF is ranked 21st while Miami and Florida State are unranked.
Florida is ranked No. 8 in the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll, which was released earlier this month.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty hovering over the 2020 season, the AP intends to rank teams if major college football games are played this season. The AP asked its voters to consider all Division I teams when filling out their preseason ballots.
After games begin, voters will rank only teams that are scheduled to play.
"The preseason poll has always been a speculative ranking of teams based on last year's results and knowledge about the new makeup of teams," said Michael Giarrusso, AP's global sports editor. "This year, we think it is crucial to give all the teams and all their fans a snapshot look at what the Top 25 would have been to open the season."
Florida's ranking in the poll, released early Monday afternoon, matches the 2019 team as Florida's highest season-opening ranking since 2010 when the Gators checked in at No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll.
The Gators are set to open the season Sept. 26 at Ole Miss in their third season under head coach Dan Mullen. Florida finished last season ranked No. 6 in the AP Top 25 after beating Virginia in the Orange Bowl to finish 11-2.
BREAKING: Clemson is No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25; Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma round out top five.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 24, 2020
Full poll: https://t.co/DWCBw9xytP
More AP college football coverage: https://t.co/Fy8sGPLf7y pic.twitter.com/p3e6xxluqe
Florida enters the 2020 season on a four-game winning streak, another similarity from a year ago. The Gators closed Mullen's first season on a four-game win streak and opened the 2019 season with a victory over Miami in the season opener, which coincidentally happened during Week 0 a year ago today.
The Gators are one of six SEC teams ranked in the poll and the only Power 5 school from the state of Florida. UCF is ranked 21st while Miami and Florida State are unranked.
Florida is ranked No. 8 in the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll, which was released earlier this month.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty hovering over the 2020 season, the AP intends to rank teams if major college football games are played this season. The AP asked its voters to consider all Division I teams when filling out their preseason ballots.
After games begin, voters will rank only teams that are scheduled to play.
"The preseason poll has always been a speculative ranking of teams based on last year's results and knowledge about the new makeup of teams," said Michael Giarrusso, AP's global sports editor. "This year, we think it is crucial to give all the teams and all their fans a snapshot look at what the Top 25 would have been to open the season."
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