The UF defense swarmed Charlotte on Saturday night at The Swamp. (Photo: Mallory Peak/UAA Communications)
Gators Move Up Three Spots In AP Top 25
Sunday, September 24, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida's 22-7 victory over Charlotte on Saturday night was its third consecutive win.
It was also worth three spots in the AP Top 25.
The Gators (3-1, 1-0) moved up to No. 22 in the latest poll released Sunday, one of seven Southeastern Conference teams ranked after four weeks of the regular season. The Gators entered the poll at No. 25 a week ago following their upset of then-No. 11 Tennessee. Georgia remains No. 1, with Alabama (12), LSU (13), Ole Miss (20), Tennessee (21) and Missouri (23) the other SEC teams ranked.
Quarterback Graham Mertz completed 20 of 23 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown, and the defense limited Charlotte to 210 yards in Saturday night's victory at sold-out Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Gators used five field goals from Trey Smack and Mertz's 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Arlis Boardingham to beat the 49ers in a game that was closer than expected. The Gators managed one touchdown on five trips into the red zone.
"I'm trying to help our young guys in there sort through all this, but I do think that this group kind of thrives off the hate, if that makes sense,'' UF coach Billy Napier said of the online critics. "There will be some things that come with keeping this one a little too close. I think, ultimately, there will be some things that we can learn from this game. We talk about red-zone touchdowns all the time. We want to be 70 percent touchdowns in the red area, but we want to be 100 percent red-zone scoring, and it was a factor."
The Gators return to SEC action on Saturday when they play at unranked Kentucky (4-0, 1-0). The Wildcats opened as a 2.5-point favorite for Saturday afternoon's game at Kroger Field.
Florida has dominated the rivalry, winning 31 consecutive games in the series from 1987-2017. However, the Wildcats have won two in a row and three of the last five against the Gators.
It was also worth three spots in the AP Top 25.
The Gators (3-1, 1-0) moved up to No. 22 in the latest poll released Sunday, one of seven Southeastern Conference teams ranked after four weeks of the regular season. The Gators entered the poll at No. 25 a week ago following their upset of then-No. 11 Tennessee. Georgia remains No. 1, with Alabama (12), LSU (13), Ole Miss (20), Tennessee (21) and Missouri (23) the other SEC teams ranked.
Quarterback Graham Mertz completed 20 of 23 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown, and the defense limited Charlotte to 210 yards in Saturday night's victory at sold-out Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Gators used five field goals from Trey Smack and Mertz's 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Arlis Boardingham to beat the 49ers in a game that was closer than expected. The Gators managed one touchdown on five trips into the red zone.
POLL ALERT: Colorado falls out of the AP Top 25 after getting trounced in its first loss; Ohio State up two spots to No. 4.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) September 24, 2023
Full poll: https://t.co/7dTTUiSC1j pic.twitter.com/5uN1MIXHxH
"I'm trying to help our young guys in there sort through all this, but I do think that this group kind of thrives off the hate, if that makes sense,'' UF coach Billy Napier said of the online critics. "There will be some things that come with keeping this one a little too close. I think, ultimately, there will be some things that we can learn from this game. We talk about red-zone touchdowns all the time. We want to be 70 percent touchdowns in the red area, but we want to be 100 percent red-zone scoring, and it was a factor."
The Gators return to SEC action on Saturday when they play at unranked Kentucky (4-0, 1-0). The Wildcats opened as a 2.5-point favorite for Saturday afternoon's game at Kroger Field.
Florida has dominated the rivalry, winning 31 consecutive games in the series from 1987-2017. However, the Wildcats have won two in a row and three of the last five against the Gators.
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