College Football Rankings: Post-spring 2019 Top 25 projections

Florida made major noise against Michigan in the Peach Bowl, outclassing their Big Ten opponent for the New Year’s Six victory. That will make Florida a hot pick to land in the top 10 of the AP Top 25, as pollsters flock to Dan Mullen’s squad in his second year after leaving Mississippi State. If anyone can wrest the SEC East from Georgia, it is the Gators.

Feleipe Franks is back, and Florida merely needs him to keep playing the efficient caretaker quarterback that he demonstrated last season. More than three quarters of the offensive production from last season returns, including tailback Lamical Perine and receivers Van Jefferson, Josh Hammond, and Tyrie Cleveland.

Defensively, the Gators also bring back most of their critical parts from last season’s 10-win campaign. The defensive line should be especially solid for Florida, and they will need to be with linebackers like Jachai Polite now off to the NFL. After holding opponents to only 20 points per game last seson, the Gators will probably be at least as stingy this year.

The season-opening showdown against sporadic rival Miami has marquee billing on the long opening weekend of the season. A win against the Hurricanes would give Mullen’s team an early statement to solidify position in the top 10 of the polls, and aside from their trip to LSU and their neutral-site game against Georgia in Jacksonville most of their toughest tests transpire in the Swamp.