Although the Florida Gators didn’t play a game over the weekend, ESPN’s SP+ rankings continue to adjust based on the play of the other 133 programs in the country.
Following the Week 5 bye, Florida heads into a Week 6 matchup against the UCF Knights. The Knights are a formidable opponent, but a big loss to the Colorado Buffaloes has UCF sliding down the SP+ rankings, from No. 29 to No. 38.
That shakeup puts Florida ahead of UCF in this week’s rankings. Check out the SP+ predictions for Saturday’s contest here.
Florida football’s SP+ ranking, rating
Last week, the Gators were ranked No. 33 out of 134 schools with an overall 10.3 rating. After the bye, they now rank No. 30 with an 11.3 overall rating.
Florida’s special teams remain ranked in the top 10 at No. 8 with a 0.4 rating but are no longer the in top spot on the list. On offense, the team moved up from No. 13 with a 36.7 rating to No. 12 with a 37.5 rating while the defense dropped from No. 62 to No. 68 with a 26.6 rating — 0.2 lower than last week’s figure.
SP+ Top 10 Teams
The Ohio State Buckeyes are now in the top spot of the SP+ rankings after Week 5, followed by the, Texas Longhorns, Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels and Tennesse Volunteers, respectively.
The Penn State Nittany Lions, Georgia Bulldogs, Oregon Ducks, Missouri Tigers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish round out the top 10, in that order.
About SP+ predictions
“SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-facing,” according to ESPN. “It is not a résumé ranking that gives credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling — no good predictive system is.
“It is simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you’re lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you’re strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise.”
Up next for the Gators
Florida is back in The Swamp for an in-state matchup against UCF in Week 6. The last time the Gators and Knights faced off came during a transition period for the Orange and Blue and ended in a 29-17 victory for UCF.
The Knights have one of the best rushing attacks in the country, and Florida’s defense is once again a major concern.
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