The Florida Gators celebrated a major boost in the Associated Press Top 25 poll on Saturday, climbing 13 spots to sit at No. 8. The jump marks the program’s highest ranking since the 2020 season and its first appearance in the top ten since 2021.
Dominant win over Ole Miss
Florida’s 52‑28 triumph over No. 4 Ole Miss was the catalyst for the rise. The Gators scored six rushing touchdowns, with running back Jadan Baugh accounting for three and adding 142 rushing yards. Duke Clark contributed 126 yards on the ground and a score, while quarterback Aaron Philo threw for 196 yards and a touchdown on 16‑of‑23 passing.
Florida outscored the Rebels 21‑7 in the fourth quarter, sealing the victory. Coach Jon Sumrall praised his team, saying, “I didn’t come here for us to be average.”
AP Top 25 snapshot
The latest poll places Texas, Georgia and Notre Dame in the top three, with Miami at No. 4 and Ohio State at No. 5. Indiana, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and BYU round out the top ten. The Rebels dropped five spots after the loss.
Other SEC powerhouses saw setbacks this weekend. Texas A&M fell to No. 23 after a 31‑21 loss to Kentucky, while Oklahoma dropped out of the Top 25 following defeats to Michigan and a narrow win over New Mexico.
Implications for the season
Florida’s surge into the top ten underscores its growing momentum heading into the conference schedule. The Gators will look to build on this performance as they aim for a strong showing in the SEC and a potential College Football Playoff berth.
Fans can follow live updates and projections as the season progresses.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
