After Florida lost to UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl, Knights receiver Ryan O’Keefe claimed that the win proved they were the best in the state. UCF coach Gus Malzahn repeated those words in the locker room following the victory, and now The Athletic is weighing in on the conversation.
Florida sat at No. 1 in the midseason update, but The Athletic has UCF on top of the Sunshine State 7 to start the new year. The Gators fell two spots to No. 3 behind Miami after the Hurricanes finished with a 7-5 record (UM withdrew from its bowl game).
The good news for the Orange and Blue is that Dan Mullen is no longer the head coach and Billy Napier is getting momentum back on the Gators’ side. It’s fair to ask how impressive it is to be the best in the state during a year where the typical top schools finish the season with no coach and fighting for bowl eligibility? Even The Athletic’s staff notes that the rankings “used to mean a lot when the Sunshine State produced national champions and first-round picks on a regular basis.”
Still, UCF is No. 1 and Florida can’t afford to let the Knights repeat in the rankings next season. Napier’s first season needs to go well, but that’s easier said than done, especially with a season-opener against Utah.
Billy Napier’s immediate challenges will be trying to fill out the Gators’ 2022 recruiting class, scouring the transfer portal for help and deciding on a starting quarterback. Six offensive and six defensive starters from the end of the season are expected back this spring, but there are holes along the offensive line, defensive line, running back and linebacker. Depth is suspect everywhere … Getting back to a bowl game might be the most realistic goal for Napier all things considered, with road trips to Texas A&M, Tennessee and a home game against Pac-12 champion Utah to open things up.
That’s not the immediate playoff contention some Florida fans will want, but it is indeed realistic. UCF has a ton of talent coming back, and Florida State will always be looking to outdo Florida. It’ll be no cakewalk to get back to the top of the mountain for the Gators.
The full Sunshine State 7 is as follows:
- UCF (9-4)
- Miami (7-5)
- Florida (6-7)
- Florida State (5-7)
- FAU (5-7)
- USF (2-10)
- FIU (1-11)