Week 3 was another good week for Florida FBS teams, as the group went 6-1 combined for the second straight week. The only team to lose this week was FSU, and they are also the only team in the state with a losing record. Now, onto this week’s rankings.
1. Central Florida Knights (2-0, 1-0 AAC) (Last Week: 1)
Last week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (0-2) Postponed
Next opponent: vs Florida Atlantic Owls (2-1)
The Knights lost an opportunity to beat a power five team due to Hurricane Florence, but they still remain at number 1 in the rankings. UCF plays a good FAU team this week and has a chance to strengthen their hold on the number 1 spot with a win, but this is not a game that will be won easily.
2. Miami Hurricanes (2-1, 0-0 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: at Toledo Rockets (1-1) W 49-24
Next opponent: vs Florida International Golden Panthers (2-1)
Last week, the Hurricanes went on the road and were able to handle a pretty good Toledo team rather easily. With that being said, it was not enough to move Miami up to the number 1 spot in these rankings. Miami has a very weak schedule over the next few weeks which will make it difficult to pass UCF, assuming the Knights keep winning.
3. South Florida Bulls (3-0, 0-0 AAC) (Last Week: 3)
Last week: at Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1) W 25-19
Next opponent: vs East Carolina Pirates (1-1)
South Florida was able to continue their winning ways beating Illinois on the road. Anytime a Group of 5 team goes on the road and beats a Power 5 team, it is impressive. The Bulls did nothing but solidify their spot at number 3 in these rankings, but they will need a slip up from Miami or UCF is they are to move up into the top two.
4. Florida Atlantic Owls (2-1, 0-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: vs Bethune Cookman Wildcats (1-1) W 49-28
Next opponent: at Central Florida Knights (2-0)
Florida Atlantic was able to beat Bethune Cookman at home, but they did not look as dominant as they should have. The Owls stayed at the number 4 spot this week despite a poor performance, but they are only barely ahead of the Gators as of right now. FAU plays UCF this weekend and no matter what happens, it’s a pretty safe bet to say the Owls will not be ranked number 4 next week.
5. Florida Gators (2-1, 0-1 SEC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs Colorado State Rams (1-3) W 48-10
Next Opponent: at Tennessee Volunteers (2-1)
The Gators were able to beat Colorado State, but not without a few hiccups. If you look at the box score, you really have to wonder how UF won this game by so much. Florida lost the time of possession battle by over 17 minutes, had eight less first downs, and had more yards in penalties. The final score did not reflect how Florida played. That type of performance is not good enough to move you up in these rankings, which is why Florida remains at the number five spot.
6. Florida International Panthers (2-1, 1-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: vs Massachusetts Minutemen (1-2) W 63-24
Next Opponent: at Miami Hurricanes (2-1)
Florida International scored a school record for points last week in a 63-24 rout of UMass, which helped move them up out of the number seven spot for the first time this year. FIU has a golden opportunity to launch themselves up these rankings as they play the Hurricanes this weekend at Hard Rock Stadium.
7. Florida State Seminoles (1-2, 0-2 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: at Syracuse Orange (3-0) L 30-7
Next Opponent: vs Northern Illinois Huskies (1-2)
It just keeps getting worse for the folks up in Tallahassee. For the 3rd straight week, FSU has dropped in these rankings. The good news is that you cannot get worse than seven in these rankings, so that streak of falling in the rankings is going to end this week. FSU continues to not be able to block anybody and they will not win anything unless that problem is fixed. To make matter worse for the Seminoles, Samford lost at home last week to Mercer. The team who took FSU to the brink at their own stadium just lost at home to Mercer.
1. Central Florida Knights (2-0, 1-0 AAC) (Last Week: 1)
Last week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (0-2) Postponed
Next opponent: vs Florida Atlantic Owls (2-1)
The Knights lost an opportunity to beat a power five team due to Hurricane Florence, but they still remain at number 1 in the rankings. UCF plays a good FAU team this week and has a chance to strengthen their hold on the number 1 spot with a win, but this is not a game that will be won easily.
2. Miami Hurricanes (2-1, 0-0 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: at Toledo Rockets (1-1) W 49-24
Next opponent: vs Florida International Golden Panthers (2-1)
Last week, the Hurricanes went on the road and were able to handle a pretty good Toledo team rather easily. With that being said, it was not enough to move Miami up to the number 1 spot in these rankings. Miami has a very weak schedule over the next few weeks which will make it difficult to pass UCF, assuming the Knights keep winning.
3. South Florida Bulls (3-0, 0-0 AAC) (Last Week: 3)
Last week: at Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1) W 25-19
Next opponent: vs East Carolina Pirates (1-1)
South Florida was able to continue their winning ways beating Illinois on the road. Anytime a Group of 5 team goes on the road and beats a Power 5 team, it is impressive. The Bulls did nothing but solidify their spot at number 3 in these rankings, but they will need a slip up from Miami or UCF is they are to move up into the top two.
4. Florida Atlantic Owls (2-1, 0-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: vs Bethune Cookman Wildcats (1-1) W 49-28
Next opponent: at Central Florida Knights (2-0)
Florida Atlantic was able to beat Bethune Cookman at home, but they did not look as dominant as they should have. The Owls stayed at the number 4 spot this week despite a poor performance, but they are only barely ahead of the Gators as of right now. FAU plays UCF this weekend and no matter what happens, it’s a pretty safe bet to say the Owls will not be ranked number 4 next week.
5. Florida Gators (2-1, 0-1 SEC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs Colorado State Rams (1-3) W 48-10
Next Opponent: at Tennessee Volunteers (2-1)
The Gators were able to beat Colorado State, but not without a few hiccups. If you look at the box score, you really have to wonder how UF won this game by so much. Florida lost the time of possession battle by over 17 minutes, had eight less first downs, and had more yards in penalties. The final score did not reflect how Florida played. That type of performance is not good enough to move you up in these rankings, which is why Florida remains at the number five spot.
6. Florida International Panthers (2-1, 1-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: vs Massachusetts Minutemen (1-2) W 63-24
Next Opponent: at Miami Hurricanes (2-1)
Florida International scored a school record for points last week in a 63-24 rout of UMass, which helped move them up out of the number seven spot for the first time this year. FIU has a golden opportunity to launch themselves up these rankings as they play the Hurricanes this weekend at Hard Rock Stadium.
7. Florida State Seminoles (1-2, 0-2 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: at Syracuse Orange (3-0) L 30-7
Next Opponent: vs Northern Illinois Huskies (1-2)
It just keeps getting worse for the folks up in Tallahassee. For the 3rd straight week, FSU has dropped in these rankings. The good news is that you cannot get worse than seven in these rankings, so that streak of falling in the rankings is going to end this week. FSU continues to not be able to block anybody and they will not win anything unless that problem is fixed. To make matter worse for the Seminoles, Samford lost at home last week to Mercer. The team who took FSU to the brink at their own stadium just lost at home to Mercer.
