The Florida Gators enter 2021 with massive expectations following a 16-1 start to the 2020 season before the Covid-19 pandemic cancelled the remainder of the season. As a result, Florida is the nation’s unanimous preseason No. 1 team, according to the polls.
U N A N I M O U S#GoGators pic.twitter.com/WIwlUjLsQh
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) February 4, 2021
The USA Today Coaches Poll placed Florida ahead of second ranked UCLA on Thursday to complete the unanimous rankings. The Gators received 24 of 31 first place votes in the poll.
Florida previously ranked first in five other polls: D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Perfect Game, and Baseball America. Earlier this week, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association also placed Florida on the top spot.
This year marks the fourth time since Kevin O’Sullivan took over that the team has been a unanimous preseason No. 1 (2012, 2016, 2018). In all, it has happened eight times since 2008, but Florida is the only program to achieve the poll position multiple times.
The Gators open the season against Miami in the confines of the brand new Florida Ballpark on February 19.
Check out our 2021 Baseball Preview as it is set to be published early next week.
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