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The significance of Florida’s dominant weekend outing hasn’t been lost on the national audience.
Admittedly, the Georgia defense, which has been their calling card in 2020, was badly shorthanded, but the Gators offense was clearly in the drivers’ seat throughout the game. Kyle Trask was on fire and completely willing to spread targets around between a number of pass-catchers. The result was predictably impressive and UF dropped 44 points on the ‘Dawgs.
Sports Illustrated took notice. The Gators landed fifth in their newly updated weekly college football rankings, reclaiming their preseason rank after barely scraping into the top 10 spots last week. Georgia, who had been ranked fifth going into Saturday’s game, fell off the top 10 list entirely thanks to injury and, presumably, the drubbing they received at the hands of Trask and the receiving corps.
It’s tough to keep an even keel after a win like the one head coach Dan Mullen just orchestrated in Jacksonville. The Gators have a Heisman-level quarterback, the best tight end in the nation, and the complementary offensive pieces to keep opponents on their toes. There are some obvious flaws with the defense and the offensive line underperformed against a weakened opposing front seven, but the now 4-1 Gators are clearly playoff bound.
Gloating is bad form, though, so take a look at what SI author Ross Dellinger had to say:
On Saturday, the Florida Gators orchestrated one of the most incredible single-game wheel route clinics in college football history. Dan Mullen’s team executed at least six wheel routes that gained some 170-plus yards in a win over Georgia that may alter the SEC championship and College Football Playoff race.
On Saturday, QB Kyle Trask carved through what was the 15th-ranked defense in the nation, hitting the 300-yard mark… by halftime. Florida rolled up 571 yards of offense—one-third of it basically on one route (the wheel route!), which UGA coach Kirby Smart will surely be seeing in his nightmares.
. . .TE Kyle Pitts’ injury is concerning and, sure, the Gators tend to allow 70-yard touchdown plays on defense, but pick an offensive unit you’d least rather your team face than Florida? There isn’t one. The Gators have scored at least 38 points in every game, morphing into the offensive juggernaut we saw under Steve Spurrier in the 1990s and Urban Meyer in the 2000s.
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