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Florida Football: Why 2019 shouldn’t be College Football Playoff or bust

By Briley Hughes

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Florida Gators celebrates the win with his teammates and fans after the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Florida Gators celebrates the win with his teammates and fans after the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Many Florida football fans are enthusiastically expecting an inaugural College Football Playoff appearance in 2019. But is it fair to expect the Gators to compete for a national championship in 2019 or can they still have a successful season while taking steps toward arriving in 2020?

The story may not be fresh but it’s no less exciting: The Gators stormed back to national relevancy in 2018 behind the miracle-working of Dan Mullen. The 2018 season offered concrete evidence that Mullen was the right choice for Gator Nation. For many, he was not the top candidate before his hire, but few, if any, still hold that stance following the undeniably successful 2018 campaign.

Just as important as solidifying Mullen’s long-term viability, however, was the avalanche of momentum rushing into this offseason and the 2019 season. Not since the Meyer tenure have the Gators carried this much energy and hype into an offseason. Positive results have ensued.

Recruiting rankings continue to rise. Players appear energized and excited during the offseason lull. Fan expectations have climbed sky-high.

The team provided the catalyst to fans’ already warming expectations following a dominant victory over Michigan in the Peach Bowl, when players and coaches shared their goal of returning to Atlanta to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2019.

It’s no secret that Gator fans are ravenous for an SEC East title, an SEC Championship and an inaugural CFP birth, but are those expectations realistic or even the benchmark by which the success of the 2019 Gators should be judged? Can 2019 be a successful campaign if the Gators aren’t playing in the College Football Playoff?

The answer is yes. Perhaps the most passionate Florida fans may mock the idea of a continued rebuild, but the program must still climb several hills before it can truly compete with college football’s elite again. And so, the upcoming season can be positive even if no championship hardware is won, but only if the Gators realize significant progress in conquering the current hurdles holding the program back from royalty status.

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