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  • Staff Predictions: Gators vs Arkansas

    Staff Predictions: Gators vs Arkansas

    Photo by Rob Foldy / Getty Images

    Coming off the biggest win in the Dan Mullen era, Florida welcomes former starting QB Feleipe Franks and his Arkansas Razorbacks teammates to Gainesville.

    The following are our staff’s predictions for the Florida – Arkansas game.

    …

    Ainslie Lee:

    The Arkansas Razorbacks will ride into The Swamp on the back of a familiar face: Feleipe Franks. In what it likely to be one of the biggest stories in college football this week, this game is shaping up to be a fun one after hearing the Gators’ defense talk about how excited they are to hit Franks and not get in trouble for it. However, riding the high of a big win against Georgia last week, mixed with the emotions of Feleipe’s return, the Gators will have to steer away from complacency. Albeit improved, Florida’s defense still had some hiccups last week and it should be thankful the Bulldogs couldn’t capitalize. However, we know as well as anyone that Franks has a talented arm and the Razorbacks’ receivers have taken quickly to the former Gator quarterback. This game, like most this season, will hinge on the defense. And if Todd Grantham’s unit falters, Kyle Trask and Co. must be ready to bail it out. The Florida-Arkansas matchup is bound to be full of emotion. But there’s no reason Florida should keep it close with Sam Pittman’s team. I’ll take Florida 42-24.

    Brian Fox:

    If it looks like a trap and feels like a trap, it must be a trap, right? Everything about this matchup is so trap-ish. Florida comes in off a massive win in Jacksonville to face their former quarterback, who, no doubt, wants to light up the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Arkansas, who many thought might go winless this year, has played really good ball, led by their transfer under center. Franks will likely make some plays against the Florida secondary, but the Gators talent on offense should be enough to win this game handily. Florida, 38-24.

    David Soderquist:

    I think Florida is a way more talented team here and possibly on both sides of the football. Arkansas and Franks have been impressive but they have not faced a team quite like Florida. I know they forced 6 interceptions on a mighty Ole Miss offense led by Matt Corral but I don’t think Corral is the quarterback Kyle Trask is. Trask was easily able to put up points against one of the best defenses in the league last week. Even barring the injuries Georgia had, they still have a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball. I think Trask has another good game here. If Florida gets pressure on Franks and they will have a field day. The only thing I am worried about for Florida is the defensive backfield and giving up the deep plays. Arkansas scores some points here, but Florida scores just that much more. Florida wins 51 – 27.

    Jake Hitt:

    Brian said it above, this just feels like a trap game. So Florida should be on the attack early to dispel any doubts. The Razorback defense hasn’t exactly been a pushover this year thanks to Barry Odom. Arkansas linebackers Grant Morgan and Bumper Pool are one and two in the SEC, respectively, in total tackles. Pool’s also seventh in the league in tackles for loss. Hudson Clark is T-1 with three picks! But, despite facing some good offenses, they haven’t faced Kyle Trask and Co. Additionally, another intriguing matchup for the Florida defense as the Feleipe Franks Reunion Tour rolls into town. Statistically, Franks plays much better on the road. His TD:INT ratio is 9:0 and he completes 73 percent of his passes outside Fayetteville. It’ll be a matter of execution considering both sides probably have the book on each other. Arkansas also has some cats who can make plays on offense like De’Vion Warren averaging 20 yards a catch or Treylon Burks with almost 15 YPC. However, the Razorbacks are very susceptible to allowing sacks. They’re one of the worst in the conference with 19 allowed, just over three per game. Things could be dicey early, so it won’t be an easy win but I expect Florida to pull away. Florida 35-17.

    Michael Pfeffer:

    Florida will be facing another solid defense this weekend, when the Razorbacks come to town. But, hey, it’s the SEC… Right? Everything that my colleagues have said is true. However, this week’s a little bit different. First, there’s no way that the team isn’t going to be up for a showdown with their former quarterback. I don’t care how much they like each other, these guys are ultra competitive with one another and they want to walk away with permanent bragging rights.
    Next is the fact that Barry Odom will be coaching. Sure, he’s 2-2 against the Gators but he was thrust into this position suddenly. On top of that, he will be working double-duty as he is still handling his defensive responsibilities. This could prove to be a little more difficult without having the advantage of being able to see the entire field, making the little adjustments based on what look the offense is showing him. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Dan Mullen, it’s that he disguises his offensive sets very well.
    Finally, the battle between Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask is not an even one. Even when we aren’t comparing their specific skill sets, Trask has more weapons around him and a better offensive line (feels good to say that, doesn’t it?). On the other hand, Franks can extend plays with his legs but this also forces him to sacrifice accuracy. He will be forced out of the pocket for most of the night because of a porous offensive line. Inevitably, this will lead to mistakes. This is a better than advertised Arkansas football team but there are too many things working against them, this week. Florida wins 42-24.

    …

    Florida and Arkansas are scheduled to kickoff at 7:00 PM from The Swamp. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.

    You can also check out the latest episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast, where David, Brian, and Jake preview the Gators’ matchup with Arkansas, just click play on the following audio player:

  • Preview: Florida vs Arkansas

    Preview: Florida vs Arkansas

    Gators Set Their Sights on Feleipe Franks and the Razorbacks
    Photo by Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images


    Gainesville. FL – Following last weekend’s electric performance against the Georgia Bulldogs, one might expect the Gators to come out a bit flat for Saturday’s game against Arkansas. However, they would be underestimating the motivational power of a night game in The Swamp. Especially when that game also includes an opportunity to defeat your former starting quarterback.

    In my last column, I spoke in depth about the return of Feleipe Franks and how he holds a special place in this renaissance of the Gator Standard. But all of that is in the past. This article is all about what’s happening now.

    The Gators control their destiny with a two-game lead in the East. As long as they can get through their remaining schedule without any major catastrophes, they will be playing for the SEC championship in Atlanta. But before they can think of any of that, they have to take care of business this weekend. According to Kyle Trask, that’s exactly what they’re doing.

    The senior quarterback out of Manvel, Texas was quick to point out that once Monday rolled around, it was time to get to work, preparing for Arkansas. There will be much made about the obvious storyline on Saturday, so let’s address the elephant in the room.

    Feleipe Franks had a turbulent career in Gainesville, that was marked by many highs and lows. He enjoyed moments of absolute adulation and suffered incredible scorn. In a moment, Franks could go from the GOAT (to be fair, nobody was ever taking it this far) to the scapegoat, responsible for all of the programs warts. All the while, Kyle Trask sat patiently, waiting for a chance he wasn’t even sure that he would ever get. But then it happened…

    Late in the third quarter against Kentucky, Franks suffered a gruesome ankle injury that thrust the quiet guy from Manvel into the spotlight. Few had any idea just what to expect. Kyle wasted no time, making the most of his opportunity, leading a come from behind victory on the road, and securing his role as QB1.

    Since that fateful night, the two quarterbacks have gone down very different paths. For Franks, one last win in Gainesville would be a high point to this season. That’s not a knock on Franks. He has actually performed quite well since transferring. Instead, it’s an acknowledgement of the ceiling that he faces with the Arkansas football program.

    On the other hand, Kyle Trask is having the type of season that earns great players a trip to New York and a bronze statue. Both quarterbacks will be out to make a statement on Saturday night. So, who will have the final word?

    Well, regardless of the fact that the Razorbacks defense has been a takeaway machine this season, I am going to have to go with Kyle Trask. He’s just been too consistent–even going back to last season–to think otherwise. Trask has thrown 22 touchdown passes this season and averages 10.3 yards per completion. Those are elite numbers. Not only that, but he’s surrounded by top-tier talent and spreads the ball around as though he were making one of Jim McElwain’s famous peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

    As if that weren’t enough, Florida is averaging 43 points per game. That’s well above Arkansas’ average of 24.5 points per game. So, how does Arkansas compete? They could attempt to keep the ball out of Kyle Trask’s hands by sustaining long drives. However, their offensive line has been one of the worst in the nation when it comes to pass protection, and the running game has been spotty at best. Ultimately, this is going to be an emotional game for some but these two teams just don’t matchup well.

    It is highly possible that we will see a relatively close game at first. But once these teams settle in, I will be looking for Todd Grantham to dial up the pressure on Feleipe Franks, taking advantage of the offensive line’s weak points and forcing him into making ill-advised throws. In the end, I think Florida will run away with this one. Gators win, 42-24.

    Florida will host Feleipe Franks and the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday night. The game will be broadcast live from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and can be found on ESPN. Coverage begins at 7:00 EST.

    Click play on the following audio player to listen to The Gridiron Growl Podcast preview of this game:

  • The Gridiron Growl Podcast: Florida – Arkansas Preview

    The Gridiron Growl Podcast: Florida – Arkansas Preview

    David Soderquist, Brian Fox, and Jake Hitt are back at it again, this time previewing the upcoming Florida vs Arkansas matchup.

    The trio discuss the Feleipe Franks homecoming and the strengths and weaknesses of both teams before making predictions during a game of “under / over”.

    Click play on the following audio player to listen to this episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast:

    You can also follow The Gridiron Growl Podcast on the following platforms:

  • SB: Gators Add Four New Players on Signing Day

    SB: Gators Add Four New Players on Signing Day

    Photo by Benjamin Fox / ChompTalk.com


    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida welcomed four signees to its softball program on Wednesday morning: Cali Decker, Lexie Delbrey, Kendra Falby and Reagan Walsh.

    Head coach Tim Walton expressed his excitement with the softball team’s signing day. “Today is a special day! I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to coach these young women starting next fall and helping them achieve their goals both on and off the field,” Walton said.

    After holding a 24-3 overall record (3-0 conference record) in the 2020 shortened season, Florida will look to build on its recent success in the spring as the program celebrates its 25th anniversary.

    Image

    Decker is a right-handed catcher who bats left-handed. She attends Lake Mary High School and plays for the Georgia Impact travel team. Decker’s list of accolades include the following:

    • 2018-19 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Scholar-Athlete
    • 2020 All-Conference First Team
    • 2020 Florida Athletic Coaches Association 7A All-State Team
    • 2020 Florida Athletic Coaches Association 7A All-Academic Team
    • 2019 All- Seminole Athletic Conference First Team
    • 2019 Offensive Team Award

    “I wanted to be a part of Florida’s culture and everything else that comes with being a Gator,” Decker said, justifying her decision to go to Florida. “I just fell in love with the coaches and campus when I got there.”

    Lexie Delbrey National Signing Day

    Delbrey is a right-handed pitcher from southwest Georgia. She goes to Brainbridge High School and plays travel softball for Georgia Impact – Lewis. Over the past few years, Delbrey has received the following accolades:

    • 2020-21 Region 1-AAAA Player of the Year
    • 2020-21 Georgia Dugout Club All-State
    • 2020-21 Positive Athlete Star
    • 2019-20 Region 1-AAAA Pitcher of the Year
    • 2018-19 Region 1-AAAA Pitcher of the Year
    • 2018-19 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee

    Delbrey knew from a young age that she aspired to play at UF. “I knew from the age of eight years old that Florida was my dream school. Committing to Florida gives me the opportunity to have the best coaching and facilities to help me continue to get better and make a run for a national title,” Delbrey said.

    Image

    Falby is an outfielder who throws right-handed but hits left-handed. She goes to Sunlake High School in Land O’ Lakes and plays travel ball for Tennessee Mojo. Falby boasts a lengthy list of accolades that include:

    • 2020 Miracle Sports Softball Player of the Week
    • 2019 Canadian U-19 Women’s National Team
    • 2019 WBSC Junior World Cup Bronze Medal
    • 2019 Home Run Sports Female Fastpitch Minor Athlete of the Year 
    • 2019 Canadian Jr. Athlete of the Year
    • 2019 All-Conference and Eastern Conference First Team – OF
    • 2018 MaxPreps National Underclass All-American Freshman
    • 2018 Eastern Conference Player of the Year
    • 2018 All-North Teams First Team – OF 

    When asked about why she chose to attend UF, Falby answered, “I wanted to go to a university that has the best softball program and education. Florida has it all.”

    Reagan Walsh National Signing Day

    Walsh is a right-handed infielder from California who has racked up her fair share of accolades in recent years:

    • 2020 Daily Breeze All-Area League First Team
    • 2019 Daily Breeze All-Area League First Team
    • 2018 All-State Cal-Hi Sports Player of the Week
    • 2018 Daily Breeze All-Area League First Team

    When asked about her decision to play at Florida, Walsh replied, “I want to win a national championship and being a Gator has always been my dream.”

  • Strange Homecoming: The Return of Feleipe Franks

    Strange Homecoming: The Return of Feleipe Franks

    Photo by Michael Reaves / Getty Images


    Gainesville, FL – It seems like so long ago. Jim McElwain was roaming the sidelines of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the Florida football program was at (arguably) its lowest point since the firing of “Give ’em hell” Pell, and a young and talented and woefully unprepared quarterback was being thrown to the wolves of the SEC each and every Saturday.

    Despite the fact that McElwain was dismissed from the program amid a myriad of scandals and administrative issues that were macabre, to say the least, the damage to that young quarterback’s reputation had already been done. It didn’t matter that the very next season, Feleipe Franks put up the best numbers of any Florida quarterback since The Great One, Tim Tebow, was willing his team on to victory. Nor did it matter that the team went from 4-7 the previous year, to 10-3 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Champions the next. And it most certainly didn’t matter that Franks was named the MVP of that New Year’s Six Bowl Game. No. The damage had been done and the Gators’ faithful had already made up their collective minds about the kid from Crawfordville, Florida.

    It’s hard to believe that it has already been three years since Feleipe Franks was thrust into the spotlight, in moments much too big for him, by coaches that didn’t quite understand how to refine him. Three years ago, Feleipe Franks had just completed a freshman season that he and every Gator fan in the world would rather forget. But was it fair to place so much on his shoulders?

    I mean, sure, he did complete less than 55% of his passes. Likewise, his paltry 6.3 yards per attempt was only good enough to finish the season with a 9/8 touchdown/interception ratio. But what if we were all just a bit too hasty? What if we were a little too hardened to acknowledge the obstacles that he had to overcome and give credit where it was due? Don’t get me wrong. It is quite evident that sitting patiently, quietly, behind Feleipe Franks was a truly special talent. The likes of which demanded to be seen by all the world. But we’ll get to that in my next column.

    Instead, I want to take a moment to acknowledge what Feleipe Franks did for the Florida football program. Time and again, he was placed in terrible positions by the previous coaching staff. And yet, he never pointed the finger. Franks held his head high, even when everywhere he turned, he was reminded of why he wasn’t good enough. The fan base had high expectations for the position that so many tremendous players have played in the orange and blue. Anything less than extraordinary wasn’t going to cut it, and there could be no excuses for the contrary.

    Photo by Wesley Hitt / Getty Images

    Despite having such a tumultuous freshman season, Franks showed the intestinal fortitude to continue on, even when Dan Mullen arrived and promised that they were going to work like they had never worked before. And work they did. Franks became a vocal leader in the locker room and on the field. He made sure to soak up every bit of instruction that his new mentor had for him. As a result, Franks had a very impressive progression from year one to year two.

    Although he still displayed some struggles with accuracy, completing just 58.4% of his passes, Franks posted the best statistical season for a Florida quarterback in a decade. More than that, Franks was a leader that was an integral part in restoring the culture at Florida. The swagger of the 90s and the 2000s was on the way back, and it was because of players, like Feleipe that were willing to put the team before themselves. Don’t believe me? Just look at how Franks responded when he was sidelined by a broken ankle last season.

    Throughout his rehabilitation, Franks was an active presence at team events, and often seen right beside Kyle Trask, on the sidelines, discussing what the other was seeing on the field. As much as losing his starting role hurt, he continued to put the team first. That rough young talent with the awkward delivery has shown incredible heart and a work ethic that is second to none. As a result, his accuracy has improved (67.2% so far this season) and he has now thrown 52 career touchdown passes. Of course, a tremendous amount of credit has to go to Dan Mullen, who has proven to be one of the greatest developers of talent in the modern era of college football. But, in order to be coached, one must be coachable.

    It is with great admiration, that I welcome Feleipe Franks back to The Swamp on Saturday night. I, for one, appreciate and recognize your contributions to the success of the Florida Gators football program, and I applaud you for it. With that said, there won’t be any “Shoosh-ing” of the home crowd this weekend. Go Gators!

  • #NationalSigningDay: Gator Gymnastics Adds Elite Recruit

    #NationalSigningDay: Gator Gymnastics Adds Elite Recruit


    Chomp chomp, baby Gators – it’s National Signing Day 2020! Early signing period officially begins today for most NCAA sports, and gymnastics is no exception. Today, Gator Gymnastics announced the successful signing of verbal commit Sloane Blakely, a former US national team member.

    https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1326530079560667136?s=20

    Blakely competed at Gymnix International in 2019, taking silver on beam and bronze in the all-around in the Senior Cup. She’s a strong gymnast on all events, and will likely factor into at least three lineups for the Gators in the 2022 season. Head coach Jenny Rowland said of Blakely, “Her competitive experience, poise and grace will help her make an immediate impact as a Gator all-arounder,” indicating that she can already see how Blakely will slot in to lineups in the future.

    Rowland also lauded Blakely’s “heart of gold and… spirit that lifts up and supports all those around her,” an important part of the team dynamic that Rowland has built her legacy at Florida around. Rowland is “so excited to have Sloane… join our team this upcoming season. She really brings so much to this team as far as depth… personality… [and] the will and desire to help teammates out and be the best she can be for Gator Nation.”

    2022 will be a big year for the Gators. Alyssa Baumann, Jazmyn Foberg, and Megan Skaggs, who have previously contributed 11 routines to Gator lineups when all healthy, will graduate, but Blakely will be joined by Olympic hopefuls Morgan Hurd and Riley McCusker as freshmen that season, bringing in an enormous wave of talent and an enormous skill variety across the three of them. Here’s how Sloane’s skills break down on each event:

    Vault – Blakely vaults a Yurchenko 1.5, the same vault competed by many of her future teammates, including Trinity Thomas, Nya Reed, and Savannah Schoenherr. Her one appearance in 2020, the WOGA Classic, did not look quite this good, but her video below from nationals last year looks very viable for college competition.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq615AcQ9hE

    Bars – Blakely has majorly upped her difficulty in the last two years, with an increase of more than a full point from summer 2018 to spring 2019. However, she’s chosen not to compete bars at her last two major meets – U.S. nationals in 2019 and the WOGA Classic early this year. Check out her floaty releases here – with the decreased difficulty demand in NCAA, she could still play a role in the Florida bars lineup.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GTHv7w78sA

    Beam – A strong suit for Blakely, beam is one of the likeliest places for her to help her new team. Her high standing arabian has become more and more consistent in this last few years, and her front series (front handspring+front tuck) is sure to be a crowd pleaser in the O-Dome. Her biggest challenge will be mental toughness, as she’s been prone to bobbles and balance checks in the past, but with head coach Jenny Rowland working with her, Blakely is sure to make strides in that department as soon as she starts training in Gainesville.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lFkDOnqrPk

    Floor – Another strong event for Blakely, floor could be a great place for her to slot into in 2022, especially as the team will lose Alyssa Baumann by then, who’s been a major floor contributor. Blakely sports a high, powerful full-in, similar to Gator great Alicia Boren in her earlier years, as well as a double arabian, which could be another strong E pass choice for her with some reining in from tumbling coach Adrian Burde. She also has some lovely dance elements, with great split positions in her leaps and a gorgeous double Y turn, which will earn her some good start value bonus under the collegiate code.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PnALCxtFRo

    In total, Gator fans should get excited for the 2022 season. Hurd, McCusker, and now Blakely being part of the 2022 freshman class is an enormous asset to Florida. The sheer number of international medalists and former national team members on this squad cannot be overlooked when gauging this team’s staying power and competitive edge in the next several years. It’s a very strong indication the Gators will continue to lead the conversation for the national title for years to come, and a challenge to other top-tier schools to keep up in their recruiting or get left in the dust.

  • Gators Drop Regular Season Finale, 5-2

    Gators Drop Regular Season Finale, 5-2

    Photo by Benjamin Fox / ChompTalk.com


    Missouri overcame Gator Soccer 5-2 at home. Two Tigers put on a show to help their side beat the Gators on Sunday.

    The Gators have suffered its worst season since 1995, losing six consecutive games. Yet, they are looking to find the winning mentality in the upcoming SEC tournament.

    “As much as this one hurt, we are going to have to find a way to get past it and draw a line under it, as we have to prepare for the SEC Tournament that begins Friday,” Head Coach Becky Burleigh said.

    The Gators were on the road for their last two games on Friday and Sunday and did not get the results that they wanted.

    Early in the game, Alivia Gonzalez scored the earliest goal for the Gators this year, assisted by Nicole Vernis, giving the Gators a 1-0 lead.

    8′ into the game, Parker Roberts put Missouri on the board with an own goal after trying to clear a free kick. The ball came off the back of her head and got in the goal.

    16′ Bella Alessi doubled the score for Missouri Tigers after bringing the ball into the right side of the box and left-footed the ball into the goal.

    30′ Cassidy Nurnberger shot and hit the crossbar. She then proceeded to kick and put the ball in, Missouri 3 – Florida 1.

    62′ Julissa Cisneros served Alessi after putting the ball in the box. Alessi got her second after right-footed a six-yard shot, bring the game 4-1 for the Tigers.

    8′ later, Nurnberger scored her second goal. Hannah Joella sent off a corner kick that join Nurnberger who struck the ball at the top of the box off a volley.

    Down four goals, the Gators’ chance to even the game became slimmer and slimmer.

    Yet, they scored another goal at about a quarter of the regulatory time. Gonzalez scored the Gators’ second goal of the game after assisted by Roberts.

    Florida Gator ended this regular season 1-6-1.

    Next-up

    The SEC tournament is set for Nov 13- Nov 22 in Orange Beach, Ala. The Gators open SEC Tournament action on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET. The match airs live on the SEC Network.

  • Trask, McPherson Earn Weekly Honors After Georgia Win

    Trask, McPherson Earn Weekly Honors After Georgia Win

    Photo by Kelly Chase / Getty Images


    Two different Gators received recognition from the league office after Florida’s victory over Georgia on Saturday. Kyle Trask earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week while kicker Evan McPherson claimes Special Teams Player of the Week.

    Trask threw for 474 yards and four touchdowns with a 69 percent completion rate in the win in Jacksonville. The performance made him the first SEC quarterback to throw at least four touchdowns in five consecutive games. His 22 touchdowns are the most in the SEC and tied for first in the country with Memphis’s Brady White and Texas’s Sam Ehlinger.

    Furthermore, those 474 yards are the second-highest in a single game at Florida (eight yards behind Tim Tebow’s 2010 Sugar Bowl game) and the most ever against Georgia.

    https://twitter.com/onlygators/status/1325203930129657856?s=19


    McPherson nailed three field goals out of four attempts Saturday. Additionally, his efforts earned him the Lou Groza Star of the Week. He made from 34, 50 and 51 yards. It’s the third time in school history a kicker had multiple field goal makes of 50 yards with the first two being Eddy Piñeiro and David Posey. McPherson currently leads the SEC in field goal makes of 50 or more yards in a game.

  • The Gridiron Growl Podcast – Episode 15 (Florida 44 – Georgia 28)

    The Gridiron Growl Podcast – Episode 15 (Florida 44 – Georgia 28)


    David Soderquist and Michael Pfeffer are reunited once again on this episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast as Florida destroys Georgia in Jacksonville.  David and Michael go over some of the spectacular plays and some of the not so spectacular injuries that happened during the game as Dan Mullen finally got the monkey off his back in Jacksonville in blowout fashion, 44-28.  

    Give us a listen, tell us what you think and if you would like to leave your opinions, questions, or hot takes on our voicemail line feel free to do so by calling 352-888-4687 and leaving a message and we will put you on next week’s episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast!

    Click play on the following audio player to listen to this week’s episode:

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  • Gators Move To No. 5 in Coaches Poll

    Gators Move To No. 5 in Coaches Poll

    Photo by Hannah White / Getty Images

    Coming off a 44-28 victory over (former) No. 5 ranked Georgia, the Florida Gators have risen to No. 5 in the Amway Coaches Poll. Florida was ranked No. 8 in last week’s poll.

    The Gators’ win over the Bulldogs puts them in the driver’s seat in the East for an SEC title game berth. The victory also puts Florida in the College Football Playoff discussion.

    Florida sits behind Alabama (6-0), Notre Dame (7-0), Ohio State (3-0), and Clemson (7-1) but one spot ahead of Texas A&M (5-1), who handed the Gators their only loss.

    Amway Coaches Poll, Top 15:

    The Gators will host Arkansas on Saturday as Feleipe Franks makes his return to Gainesville as the Razorbacks quarterback. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7 and will be broadcast live on ESPN.