Florida projected to crack first AP Top 25 poll of 2026 season
CBS Sports expects Florida football to be among the top 25 teams in the AP Poll's preseason rankings. Here's where they think the Gators will land.
The preseason edition of the AP Top 25 will be released on Monday, with CBS Sports writer Chip Patterson projecting that Florida football could crack the first poll of the 2026 season. Patterson predicts the Gators landing at No. 22, between No. 21 Iowa and No. 23 Missouri. Jon Sumrall's hiring is expected to boost Florida's ranking potential, as his past success at Troy and Tulane has established him as a prominent figure in the coaching industry.
The Gators did not finish within the top 25 of the Coaches Poll last year, but Patterson believes media bias continues to favor the AP voters. Florida made strides in retaining talented players from the previous season and supplemented their roster through the portal, creating a team that could pose a significant challenge to any SEC opponent.
After a strong start to the 2025 season, including a 55-0 win against LIU in Week 1, Florida experienced a decline following an 18-16 home loss to USF in Week 2, leading to their removal from the top 25. This year, the Gators face FAU and Campbell at home before taking on Auburn to kick off the SEC schedule. If Florida fails to win its first two games, their season could face further challenges.
The Orange and Blue join ten other SEC teams, including Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Tennessee, and Missouri, in the projected top 25.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
