That was easily the worst week of the year for Florida teams. Only one team, FIU, was able to pick up a victory.
1. Central Florida Knights (7-0, 4-0 AAC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: Bye week
Next opponent: vs Temple Owls (5-3)
UCF took it’s 20 game winning streak into the bye week and became the only undefeated team left in the State of Florida thanks to USF’s loss to Houston. UCF has some tests late in the year as their last two opponents, USF and Cincinnati, have a combined record of 14-2.
2. Florida Gators (6-2, 4-2 SEC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: at #7 Georgia Bulldogs (7-1) *Neutral site L 36-17
Next opponent: vs Missouri Tigers (4-4)
There was some good and some bad in this game for the Gators. The good was UF held up pretty well in the trenches against Georgia and the defense kept the game in play for a while. The goal line stand that the Gators had after a Feleipe Franks fumble was extremely impressive. And that brings us to the bad. Feleipe Franks played awful. Franks completed 13 of 21 passes for just 105 yards and had 1 touchdown and 1 interception. The running game did chip in 170 yards, but nobody can win when you are averaging just 4 yards per pass attempt.
3. South Florida Bulls (6-1, 3-1 AAC) (Last Week: 4)
Last week: at Houston Cougars (6-1) L 57-36
Next opponent: vs Tulane Green Wave (3-5)
There was just too much offense for USF to keep up against Houston. The Bulls did manage to fight off a quick 14-0 start by Houston and only be down 7 going into the final quarter, but the Cougars offense proved to be too much to handle. Houston QB D’Eriq King had a monster day for Houston, as he threw for 419 yards and 5 touchdown, and ran for 132 yards and 2 more touchdowns. He did, however, throw two interceptions that allowed USF to stay in the game. USF will need to shore up their defense if they are going to have any chance against UCF next month.
4. Miami Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last week: at Boston College Eagles (6-2) L 27-14
Next opponent: vs Duke Blue Devils (5-3)
It seems that the bye week had virtually no effect on the Hurricanes. Miami did have one drive where they threw in one motion play and one wildcat play and were able to get a touchdown, but overall the same problems continue to plague the Canes. The running game has no momentum, the receivers are blanketed almost every play, and the few plays that the receivers do get open, the QB can’t get them the ball. The good news? Miami returns to Hard Rock this week where they have not lost a regular season game in over two years.
5. Florida International Panthers (6-2, 3-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1-7) W 38-17
Next Opponent: vs Florida Atlantic Owls (3-5)
Finally, we reach a team who was able to win. It may have been against a team called the Hilltoppers, but a win is a win. James Morgan continues to play at a very high level as he threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over a single time. FIU’s running game also continues to play well, as they had another 200 yard rushing game.
6. Florida State Seminoles (4-4, 2-4 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs #2 Clemson Tigers (8-0) L 59-10
Next Opponent: at NC State Wolf Pack (5-2)
That was ugly. Florida State is coming off of their worst loss in school history and to make matters worse, they had multiple top recruiting targets on hand to see it. Clemson had more than twice as many yards of offense as FSU did, largely in part to FSU’s negative 21 rushing yards. Despite all of that, FSU fans are optimistic about the state of their program. Whatever helps them sleep at night, I suppose.
7. Florida Atlantic Owls (3-5, 1-3 CUSA) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5-2) L 21-13
Next Opponent: at FIU Golden Panthers (6-2)
Another week, another poor performance for FAU. The Owls managed to throw for just 121 yards with zero touchdowns and 1 interception. The running game did keep them in the game with 227 rushing yards, but the QB play was terrible. On top of everything, FAU played a very undisciplined game, committing 11 penalties for a total of 77 yards. A win over FIU would go a long way in changing the perception of this season for the Owls, but right now, that seems unlikely.
1. Central Florida Knights (7-0, 4-0 AAC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: Bye week
Next opponent: vs Temple Owls (5-3)
UCF took it’s 20 game winning streak into the bye week and became the only undefeated team left in the State of Florida thanks to USF’s loss to Houston. UCF has some tests late in the year as their last two opponents, USF and Cincinnati, have a combined record of 14-2.
2. Florida Gators (6-2, 4-2 SEC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: at #7 Georgia Bulldogs (7-1) *Neutral site L 36-17
Next opponent: vs Missouri Tigers (4-4)
There was some good and some bad in this game for the Gators. The good was UF held up pretty well in the trenches against Georgia and the defense kept the game in play for a while. The goal line stand that the Gators had after a Feleipe Franks fumble was extremely impressive. And that brings us to the bad. Feleipe Franks played awful. Franks completed 13 of 21 passes for just 105 yards and had 1 touchdown and 1 interception. The running game did chip in 170 yards, but nobody can win when you are averaging just 4 yards per pass attempt.
3. South Florida Bulls (6-1, 3-1 AAC) (Last Week: 4)
Last week: at Houston Cougars (6-1) L 57-36
Next opponent: vs Tulane Green Wave (3-5)
There was just too much offense for USF to keep up against Houston. The Bulls did manage to fight off a quick 14-0 start by Houston and only be down 7 going into the final quarter, but the Cougars offense proved to be too much to handle. Houston QB D’Eriq King had a monster day for Houston, as he threw for 419 yards and 5 touchdown, and ran for 132 yards and 2 more touchdowns. He did, however, throw two interceptions that allowed USF to stay in the game. USF will need to shore up their defense if they are going to have any chance against UCF next month.
4. Miami Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last week: at Boston College Eagles (6-2) L 27-14
Next opponent: vs Duke Blue Devils (5-3)
It seems that the bye week had virtually no effect on the Hurricanes. Miami did have one drive where they threw in one motion play and one wildcat play and were able to get a touchdown, but overall the same problems continue to plague the Canes. The running game has no momentum, the receivers are blanketed almost every play, and the few plays that the receivers do get open, the QB can’t get them the ball. The good news? Miami returns to Hard Rock this week where they have not lost a regular season game in over two years.
5. Florida International Panthers (6-2, 3-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1-7) W 38-17
Next Opponent: vs Florida Atlantic Owls (3-5)
Finally, we reach a team who was able to win. It may have been against a team called the Hilltoppers, but a win is a win. James Morgan continues to play at a very high level as he threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over a single time. FIU’s running game also continues to play well, as they had another 200 yard rushing game.
6. Florida State Seminoles (4-4, 2-4 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs #2 Clemson Tigers (8-0) L 59-10
Next Opponent: at NC State Wolf Pack (5-2)
That was ugly. Florida State is coming off of their worst loss in school history and to make matters worse, they had multiple top recruiting targets on hand to see it. Clemson had more than twice as many yards of offense as FSU did, largely in part to FSU’s negative 21 rushing yards. Despite all of that, FSU fans are optimistic about the state of their program. Whatever helps them sleep at night, I suppose.
7. Florida Atlantic Owls (3-5, 1-3 CUSA) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5-2) L 21-13
Next Opponent: at FIU Golden Panthers (6-2)
Another week, another poor performance for FAU. The Owls managed to throw for just 121 yards with zero touchdowns and 1 interception. The running game did keep them in the game with 227 rushing yards, but the QB play was terrible. On top of everything, FAU played a very undisciplined game, committing 11 penalties for a total of 77 yards. A win over FIU would go a long way in changing the perception of this season for the Owls, but right now, that seems unlikely.
