The Gators hold a scrimmage in preparation for their season of high expectations. | Twitter
The Gators hold a scrimmage in preparation for their season of high expectations. | Twitter
On Aug. 25, the Associated Press came out with their preseason Top 25 rankings. For the first time since 1982, a Florida team did not crack the top 10. Florida will begin the season at No. 13 while Miami comes in one spot behind at No. 14. Univeristy of Central Florida received votes but did not end up ranked on the poll.
The top 25 didn't have many surprises, apart from Alabama being ranked at the top spot. Oklahoma and Clemson came in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, with Ohio State and Georgia rounding out the top 5.
Florida went 8-4 last season and enter this season under the leadership of head coach Dan Mullen in his fourth season at the helm. This is the third straight year that Florida has managed to be ranked in the preseason poll. The past two seasons, the team ranked No. 8 each of those years in the AP preseason poll. They will open their season against Florida Atlantic and expectations are high, as Florida has managed a 29-9 record over the first three seasons.
Meanwhile, rival Miami comes in No. 14. Last year, the team finished the season with a rank of No. 22. Fans and analysts felt that Miami left a little on the table, having a close 37-34 loss to Oklahoma State in their bowl game to go 8-3. Had they won that close game, Miami likely would have achieved a higher ranking and have higher expectations going into this season.
Miami has a lot of reasons to be excited for the season. They are bringing back veteran QB D'Eriq King, top receiver Mike Harley Jr., and transfers Charleston Rambo, Deandre Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson. In 2021, the team had the 11th best recruiting ranking, which bodes well for this year and the future of the program.
Many fans of Florida and Miami football are excited to see where each team ends up after being ranked so closely to start the season.
| RANK | TEAM |
| 1 | Alabama |
| 2 | Oklahoma |
| 3 | Clemson |
| 4 | Ohio State |
| 5 | Georgia |
| 6 | Texas A&M |
| 7 | Iowa State |
| 8 | Cincinnati |
| 9 | Norte Dame |
| 10 | North Carolina |
| 11 | Oregon |
| 12 | Wisconsin |
| 13 | Florida |
| 14 | Miami |
| 15 | USC |
| 16 | LSU |
| 17 | Indiana |
| 18 | Iowa |
| 19 | Penn State |
| 20 | Washington |
| 21 | Texas |
| 22 | Costal Carolina |
| 23 | Louisiana-Lafayette |
| 24 | Utah |
| 25 | Arizona State |
| SOURCE: Associated Press | |
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