College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 8

Last year, Florida surprised the field to win the SEC East in Jim McElwain’s first year at the helm in Gainesville. This season, the Gators are back on track to repeat as division champions. Despite losing to Tennessee in Knoxville, Florida sits a game ahead of the Volunteers in the standings thanks to disparities in cross-division opponent strength. The defense is the backbone of this Gators team. The unit ranks second nationally in points allowed per game, allowing a touchdown or less in four of six games.

The one thing working both for and against the Gators is the fact that they had to cancel their game against FCS Presbyterian College. That eliminates a sure win, and now they also lost a home game. But if they manage to beat an LSU team that has surged back to prominence under interim coach Ed Orgeron, it will bolster their credentials more if they do it on the road. If they keep winning through a tough second half of the schedule, Florida will keep creeping up the Top 25.