The Florida Gators received eight votes in the AP Top 25 this week, which made the Gators the team with the 32nd most votes.
That wouldn’t be bad, except for this: It leaves them 11th in their own conference.
The SEC had a record 10 teams ranked in the AP Top 25, meaning 40 percent of the ranked teams in America play in the conference. The SEC has Alabama (2), Auburn (6), Georgia (10), LSU (14), Texas A&M (16), Ole Miss (17), Arkansas (18), Missouri (21), Tennessee (23) and Mississippi State (25).
Oh, it won’t hold up once the teams start beating each other. But what it does is suggest that if any of the teams can put together a special season, it won’t be underrated at the end. For instance, if Jim McElwain’s Gators make a run, it would be at the expense of several rated teams. Six are on the Gators’ schedule.
The ACC doesn’t have nearly as many teams ranked, but they are bunched together. FSU is ranked 11th, Clemson 12th and Georgia Tech 15th.
FSU is at home against South Florida this weekend. Florida is at home against Western Carolina.
