College football has officially returned despite the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing entertainment back to the huddled masses after a tumultuous summer of cancelations, postponements, bubbles and troubles.
With two Power Five conferences sitting out and attendance for college gridiron action either limited to small numbers of attendees or outright prohibited, it will be a bit more difficult for diehards to get the maximum experience out of the 2020 season. But make no mistake, there are plenty of entertaining teams geared up to supply every football fan their much-needed fall pigskin fix.
ESPN staff writer Harry Lyles Jr. published an article on Monday surveying the “most watchable” teams playing in this coronavirus-altered season. The Florida Gators found themselves on the list at No. 5, one of four Southeastern Conference schools that made the top 10 list. Lyles Jr. offered the following explanation for Florida’s placement.
Georgia has comfortably taken ownership of the SEC East the past few years, but after an 11-2 2019 season that was capped off with an Orange Bowl win, the Gators are looking to change that.
Kyle Trask is the SEC’s leading returning passer, having thrown just shy of 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. If you’re watching the limited football we’ve got this season, one of the SEC’s best quarterbacks is worth tuning in to.
He’s got solid go-to targets in tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Trevon Grimes. And the Gators are high on Miami transfer Lorenzo Lingard, a former five-star prospect, at running back. Defensively, the Gators return six starters for a unit that led the SEC in sacks, and ranks third in SP+ for 2020.
Seeing if they’ll be able to knock Georgia off their SEC East throne is going to be a major storyline throughout the season, and, assuming we get there, it will be one everybody watches this season.
The aforementioned Georgia Bulldogs sit one spot ahead of the Gators at No. 4. The Alabama Crimson Tide was rated the “most watchable” while the Clemson Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners followed at second and third, respectively. After Florida follows the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Auburn Tigers, Army Black Knights and Arkansas State, respectively.
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