Florida Gators fall out of AP Top 25 after loss to South Carolina; Miami rises to No. 3

OBBM Network Editorial Staff

October 11, 2026

Florida Gators Fall Out Of Ap Top 25 After Loss To South Carolina Miami Rises To

Florida’s football fortunes took a sharp turn on Saturday night when the Gators were beaten 39‑18 by the South Carolina Gamecocks. The loss knocked the 4‑2 Gators out of the Associated Press Top 25, ending a brief surge that followed their upset of LSU two weeks earlier.

Gators’ recent setbacks

After the LSU victory, Florida was briefly hailed as a rising force in the SEC. The optimism was short‑lived. In the most recent game, South Carolina controlled the tempo and forced the Gators into a lopsided defeat. Head Coach Jon Sumrall said the team must return to “complementary football” and “stay on schedule.” He added that the upcoming three‑week stretch will be especially demanding, with games against 7th‑ranked Texas, No. 1 Georgia, and Oklahoma – a team that earned votes after a walk‑off field‑goal win over Texas.

Miami’s climb up the rankings

While Florida stumbled, the University of Miami seized the moment. The Hurricanes delivered a near‑80‑point performance, crushing the Clemson Tigers 41‑13 to improve to 5‑0 in ACC play. The decisive win propelled Miami to the No. 3 spot in the latest AP Top 25, behind Georgia and Notre Dame.

Miami’s offense, described by analysts as a “Category 5” attack, will now travel to Tallahassee to face the Florida State Seminoles, adding another high‑profile rivalry to the schedule.

What the new rankings look like

The updated AP Top 25 for October 11, 2026 reads as follows:

1. Georgia
2. Notre Dame
3. Miami (Fla.)
4. Ohio State
5. Indiana
6. Alabama
7. Texas
8. BYU
9. Ole Miss
10. Texas Tech
11. Utah
12. UCLA
13. Missouri
14. Tennessee
15. Kentucky
16. Mississippi State
17. Iowa
18. Oklahoma State
19. USC
20. Houston
21. Wake Forest
22. LSU
23. Boise State
24. SMU
25. Northwestern

Florida’s removal from the list underscores the volatility of college football rankings, especially in a conference as competitive as the SEC. The Gators now face a critical stretch of games that will determine whether they can climb back into the top tier.

Miami, on the other hand, will look to maintain its momentum and solidify its place among the nation’s elite programs. The upcoming clash with Florida State offers a chance to further showcase the Hurricanes’ potent offense and keep the ACC race tight.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.