There are few jobs as prestigious in the college football realm as the head coach position, especially in the Southeastern Conference. But with great honor also comes great responsibility, and if the program does not perform up to expectations, the buck usually stops at the top, giving the role a double-edged sword.
Once upon a time, Florida football’s head coaching job was among the most enticing in the nation, known for its great weather and facilities while also sitting smack dab in the heart of one of the deepest reservoirs of recruiting talent. Nonetheless, the Orange and Blue still represent a storied program that is working its way back to the top, but it has its work cut out against its fellow conference peers.
On3’s Jesse Simonton recently took a look at the 14 SEC schools and ranked each based on how name, image and likeness, collectives, and the transfer portal — among many things — have changed the way business is done in collegiate football. He placed the Gators at No. 5 and offered the following justification.
A decade ago, UF finds itself higher on this list. It’s slipped some in recent years, but the Gators remain one helluva attractive job — even if it’s a harder gig than say Georgia or LSU. The Sunshine State is a fertile (but notably competitive) recruiting base and the school’s administration has shown a renewed financial commitment (hello brand new football-only facility). The Gators also have one of the foremost aggressive NIL collectives going right now.
Florida trails the Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers, respectively, in the rankings, while sitting one spot ahead of the Tennessee Volunteers. Unsurprisingly, the Vanderbilt Commodores came in last.
[mm-video type=video id=01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs/01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs-2de89d368109d2f40c8f40dae499be2b.jpg]
[lawrence-related id=85759,85743,85742,85717,85711]
[listicle id=85653]
[listicle id=85559]
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!