The Gators Crack A Pre Season Top 25 Selected by A Few Guys Who May Know About Football

The Florida Gators may not be getting very much respect this summer from various publications, media members, football gurus and experts but they are getting recognized by a few guys who may know a thing or two about football. The USA Today Coaches’ poll has released it’s first poll of the Fall, of course it’s a Preseason Top 25 Poll, but the Gators are ranked 23rd.

Oklahoma was the majority favorite for the top spot with 42 votes, with 2. Alabama, 3. Oregon, 4. LSU, and 5. Florida State rounding out the top five.

USA Today Preseason Top 25 Poll
The USA Today preseason Top 25 football coaches poll, with first-place votes in parentheses:
1. Oklahoma (42)
2. Alabama (13)
3. Oregon (2)
4. LSU (2)
5. Florida State
6. Stanford
7. Boise State
8. Oklahoma State
9. Texas A&M
10. Wisconsin
11. Nebraska
12. South Carolina
13. Virginia Tech
14. Arkansas
15. TCU
16. Ohio State
17. Michigan State
18. Notre Dame
19. Auburn
20. Mississippi State
21. Missouri
22. Georgia
23. Florida
24. Texas
25. Penn State
Source: AP

The Gators are one of EIGHT SEC schools popping up in the poll. The other SEC schools in the coaches’ poll are Alabama (No. 2), LSU (No. 4), South Carolina (No. 12), Arkansas (No. 14), Auburn (No. 19), Mississippi State (No. 20) and Georgia (No. 22).

Florida, which was not ranked in the final coaches’ poll last season, plays six teams ranked in the top 22 this season.

The Associated Press preseason poll will be released Aug. 20.

The Gators open practice Saturday and kick off the season on Sept. 3 against Florida Atlantic.