Tag: No. 5

Alabama outside of top four in USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll

Alabama takes hefty fall from the top in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.

Waking up on Sunday and the nightmare is still real for Alabama fans. For the first time in 19 games, Nick Saban’s squad has lost, getting outplayed by Texas A&M on Saturday night, 41-38.

Plenty of streaks came to an end as well. A former assistant coach has finally beaten Saban, alongside Alabama’s 100 game winning streak against unranked opponents. Not the situation Crimson Tide fans are used to being in.

With the loss, the latest USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll has dropped Alabama outside the coveted top four and to No. 5. Georgia has taken over the top spot, followed by Iowa, Oklahoma, Cincinnati.

Texas A&M shot back up in the rankings, going to No. 18. Florida is one spot ahead, claiming the title of the highest-ranked two-loss team in the poll.

Dropping out is Auburn and Texas, with both losing to out-of-state rivals.

Here is the full poll:

Rank Team Record Points Change
1 Georgia 6-0 1,624 (64) +1
2 Iowa 6-0 1,537 (1) +1
3 Oklahoma 6-0 1,452 +2
4 Cincinnati 5-0 1,418 +2
5 Alabama 5-1 1,363 -4
6 Ohio State 5-1 1,254 +1
7 Michigan 6-0 1,237 +1
8 Penn State 5-1 1,124 -4
9 Michigan State 6-0 1,064 +2
10 Oregon 4-1 1,004 +1
11 Kentucky 6-0 994 +3
12 Oklahoma State 5-0 910 –
13 Notre Dame 5-1 817 –
14 Ole Miss 4-1 741 +3
15 Coastal Carolina 6-0 708 –
16 Wake Forest 6-0 580 +4
17 Florida 4-2 543 +1
18 Texas A&M 4-2 396 +8
19 Arkansas 4-2 386 -3
20 BYU 5-1 342 -10
21 NC State 4-1 321 +1
22 Arizona State 5-1 294 +3
23 SMU 6-0 269 +1
24 San Diego State 5-0 156 +3
25 Clemson 3-2 155 -4

Dropped from the rankings:

No. 19 Auburn; No. 23 Texas.

Others receiving votes:

Auburn 98; Baylor 91; Texas 74; Pittsburgh 36; Texas-San Antonio 30; Mississippi State 18; Iowa State 18; Appalachian State 18; Boston College 11; Air Force 9; Tennessee 8; Liberty 8; Nevada 7; UL Lafayette 3; Houston 3; Fresno State 3; UCLA 1.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Griffin McVeigh on Twitter @Griffin_McVeigh.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, Bijan Robinson discuss comparisons to Reggie Bush

Texas has one of the best RBs in the country on their hands in Bijan Robinson. Steve Sarkisian recently compared him to USC’s Reggie Bush.

Texas has one of the best running backs in the country on their hands in Bijan Robinson. Already voted to the preseason All-Big 12 first team, the former five-star recruit is ready to break out on the national stage.

His role is only going to expand under Steve Sarkisian. With an inexperienced quarterback taking the reigns this year, Robinson is expected to be the focal point of the offense. His speed, home run ability, and passion for the game are unmatched.

The recent comparisons for Robinson have been to former USC running back Reggie Bush. Sarkisian said the “one-cut ability” is the biggest similarity and he has not seen anything like it since the Heisman Trophy winner and wasn’t sure if he’d ever see it again.

“I think the biggest thing that Bijan resembles to Reggie Bush is the one-cut ability,” Sarkisian said. “I hadn’t seen that for quite some time — the ability to make that full speed, violent, one-cut, not lose top speed and get vertical. Bijan has that. Seeing it on tape is one thing, but to see it on the ground at field level is another.

Robinson himself admits he looked up to Bush when he was growing up, being a west coast kid himself. The No. 5 the Texas back dawns today is because of Bush.

During his final season at USC, Bush ran for over 1,700 yards on 200 total attempts. He led the Trojans to the national championship before coming up short in the Rose Bowl. Even so, he was by far the most exciting player in college football.

Robinson has the chance to achieve the same personal status this fall. Team accomplishments may fall short in comparison, but the running back is going to see a lot of the ball. His 8.2 yards per carry last season set a Texas football record. More is on the way.

ESPN’s Week 2 college football power rankings has Florida ranked fifth

Though they won’t start their season for another two weeks, the Gators appear in the top five of ESPN’s rankings, coming in at No. 5.

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The first full week of the 2020 college football season is in the books, and though only Power Five teams from the ACC and Big 12 competed, ESPN has released an updated power ranking of the top-25 teams competing this fall.

Though they won’t start their season for another two weeks, the Gators appear in the top five of ESPN’s rankings, coming in at No. 5. They’re the third-highest ranked SEC team behind No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Georgia.

Here’s what ESPN said about Florida.

Todd Grantham’s defensive units get after the opposing quarterback, as evidenced by the Gators’ SEC-best 86 sacks over the past two seasons. Jonathan Greenard is gone, but Grantham plans to turn Brenton Cox loose at the Gators’ hybrid BUCK position. The 6-foot-4, 247-pound Cox sat out last season after transferring from Georgia but will flourish in Grantham’s pressure-oriented system.

No. 8 LSU, No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 10 Auburn round out the SEC teams in the top five, while No. 14 Tennessee and No. 17 Kentucky also appear. Despite struggling in the first half against UAB in its opener, Miami is the final team on the power rankings at No. 25.

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Florida Gators ranked 5th, SEC dominates top 10 in latest AP college football poll

The latest AP college football poll was released for Week 2 with UF sitting at the edge of the top-5 with the 5th spot in the rankings.

The latest Associated Press college football poll was released for Week 2 on Sunday, with the Florida Gators sitting on the inner edge of the top-5 with the fifth spot in the rankings. Meanwhile, the Southeastern Conference continues its dominance at the top of the list.

Florida moved up three spots thanks in large part to the omission of Big Ten teams the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions, who sat ahead of UF in the initial poll released on Aug. 24 at No. 2 and No 7, respectively. The Gators also managed to leapfrog the LSU Tigers largely due to transfers, dismissed players and opt-outs in Baton Rouge, which leaves them with 15 players from the 2019 roster who will not take the field this fall.

The Clemson Tigers continue their dominance at the top of the poll, with the Alabama Crimson Tide shifting up a spot to the No. 2 position just behind them. The Oklahoma Sooners and Georgia Bulldogs also both inched up a notch thanks to the Ohio State’s absence, with Florida finishing off the top-5.

Overall, the SEC placed six of its schools in Week 2’s top-10, as LSU takes the No. 6 spot while the Auburn Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies both move into the top of the list at No. 8 and No. 10, respectively. The Tennessee Volunteers come in at No. 18 and the Kentucky Wildcats at No. 23, giving the conference eight teams in the top-25.

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Watchability Rankings: Florida Gators among the most entertaining teams

ESPN staff writer Harry Lyles Jr. published an article surveying the “most watchable” teams and Florida found itself on the list at No. 5

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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Florida Gators football ranked 5th in Sports Illustrated’s preseason poll

The Gators rank fifth on these new rankings, behind SEC foes Alabama and Georgia, who are ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

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In response to the release of the AP Top 25, which notoriously featured teams from leagues that have canceled the fall football season (nine in total), Sports Illustrated narrowed its initial top 25 to a “Still Standing 16.”

The Gators rank fifth on these new rankings, behind SEC foes Alabama and Georgia, who are ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

Sport’s Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger wrote that while the Gators should be successful offensively with the return of redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Trask, their defense has to replace a multitude of starters.

Here’s what Dellenger said about UF heading into the third season of coach Dan Mullen’s tenure.

Dan Mullen and the Gators can’t get over the hump called Georgia. For three seasons the SEC East rival has stood in their way of the conference championship game, but for how much longer? Mullen became the first Florida coach to open his tenure with back-to-back double-digit-win seasons

It feels as if the Gators are this close to greatness—and achieving it will depend on a QB many believe is the SEC’s best. Senior Kyle Trask is good enough to send incumbent Feleipe Franks packing to Arkansas. Trask threw for 300 yards in three of his last four games and finished with 25 TDs and seven INTs, but many of his top targets are gone, including Freddie Swain and Van Jefferson. Trask’s sophomore backup, Emory Jones, is a powerful runner whom Mullen uses as he did Dak Prescott early in his career at Mississippi State.

Under coordinator Todd Grantham, Florida’s defense has been one of the best in the nation the last two years, carrying a sometimes sluggish offense to ugly victories. But 2020 presents problems … such as the departure of much of the front seven. At least senior safety Shawn Davis is back to anchor the secondary. —R.D.

Player to Watch: Miami transfer Lorenzo Lingard, a 6-foot, 200-pound sophomore, might be one of the best running backs no one has heard of. A former No. 2–ranked recruit at the position, he suffered a left knee injury in October 2018 that derailed his tenure as a Hurricane. Florida has other RB options, but Lingard intrigues.

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By the numbers: the best Wisconsin Badger to wear jersey No. 4

Today’s “by the numbers” focuses on former Badger wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, the best Wisconsin Badger to wear jersey No. 4…

Today’s “by the numbers” focuses on former Badger wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, the best Wisconsin Badger to wear jersey No. 4.

Abbrederis came to Madison out of Wautoma High School in Wautoma, Wisconsin–a place where he played seemingly every position except for wide receiver.

The Wisconsin native started his high school career as a quarterback and received all-conference honors three of his four years as a starter. His junior and senior seasons, additionally, he played defensive back and received additional all-conference honors for his work in the defensive backfield.

His high school career finished with 3014 passing yards, one second-team all-conference honor as a quarterback, two first-team all-conference honors as both a quarterback and defensive back and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association first-team all-state quarterback and conference offensive player of the year as a senior.

His high school production landed him in Madison in 2009 as a walk-on spread quarterback, but then-head coach Brett Bielema quickly realized his receiving potential and switched him to the position before his redshirt freshman season began in 2010.

Though his freshman production wasn’t much to be in awe about–the Wisconsin native finished the season with 13 games played, 20 receptions, 289 yards and three touchdowns–it was impressive production for a walk-on that hadn’t yet played the position.

It was then going into his sophomore season that Abbrederis made a massive jump–playing in 14 games and catching 55 passes for 933 yards and eight touchdowns.

Not much more needs to be said about Abbrederis’ junior seasons but his stats were as follows: 13 games, 49 catches, 837 yards and five touchdowns as a junior and 13 games, 78 catches, 1081 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior.

The former Badger finished his Wisconsin career with a school-record 202 receptions, the Burlsworth Trophy for the best student-athlete to begin their career as a walk-on and a then-Rose Bowl record 348 all-purpose yards (a record broken by current NFL running back Christian McCaffrey a few years later).

His college production was enough to get him drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

His professional career, though, was not nearly as productive as his time in Madison.

The former Badger played four years in the league–three for the Packers and one for the Detroit Lions–during which he recorded a total of 21 games played, 13 catches, 163 yards and zero touchdowns.

Nevertheless, his story going from a walk-on quarterback to becoming the school’s all-time leader in receptions is an inspiring one and makes him the best Wisconsin Badger to ever wear jersey No. 4.

Tune in tomorrow for jersey No. 5–the first quarterback on the list and one who lead the Badgers to arguably their best stretch of success of any four-year period (no, it isn’t yet four-star recruit Graham Mertz, as only time will tell what his legacy in Madison will be).

Seahawks finish at No. 5 in Touchdown Wire’s final NFL power rankings

Following Super Bowl LIV, the Seattle Seahawks have finished at No. 5 in Touchdown Wire’s final NFL power rankings of the 2019 season.

Now that Super Bowl LIV is officially in the books, USA TODAY’s Touchdown Wire issued its final NFL power rankings of the 2019 season.

After winning the championship, the Chiefs – to no one’s surprise – claimed the top spot. The Seahawks finished the season at No. 5.

“The Seahawks lost to Green Bay in the divisional round,” writes “There’s no shame in that, because Lambeau Field is a difficult place for visiting teams to win – especially in the postseason. The problem is that Seahawks coaches think they’re a run-first team. But the reality is that quarterback Russell Wilson is their best player. The Seahawks need to give Wilson more freedom going forward.”

Seattle landed behind only the Packers, Ravens, 49ers, and of course, the Chiefs.

These rankings could somewhat change between now and the start of the 2020 regular season depending on how each team fares throughout free agency and the NFL draft.

Regardless, the Seahawks wrapping up 2019 in the top five is respectable, to say the least.

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