Florida’s surge back into the national picture came fast and loud in Week 7.
After dropping two straight, the Gators walked into Austin and stunned Texas, 27-24, a result that may stand as the biggest win of the 2026 season so far. It was Florida’s first victory ever in Austin, and it also snapped a long wait for a road win over a top-10 opponent - the program’s first since 2012.
That win carried immediate weight in USA TODAY Sports’ latest re-rank of all 138 FBS teams. Paul Myerberg moved Florida up eight spots and back into the top 25 at No. 25, slotting the Gators between No.
24 Boise State and No. 26 Auburn.
Florida’s climb showed up in the national polls, too. The Gators are back in both major rankings at No. 24 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Top 25.
The SEC remains crowded near the top of the USA TODAY Sports re-rank, with nine teams inside the top 25. Georgia holds the No. 4 spot, while Ole Miss and Tennessee check in at No. 7 and No.
- Kentucky is No.
13, Alabama No. 16, Texas No.
17, LSU No. 21 and Missouri No. 22, with Florida closing out the group at No. 25.
Auburn sits just outside at No. 26, followed by Mississippi State at No. 27.
Florida now heads into a bye week before returning for the annual rivalry game against Georgia on Saturday, Oct. 31.
That one will be played in Atlanta and aired on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Florida's Win At Texas Just Changed The Gators' Postseason Outlook
Floridas win at Texas did more than add another quality result to the rsum, it nudged the Gators into a noticeably better position in ESPNs Football Power Index. After the Week 7 victory, Florida climbed six spots to No. 19, and the model now gives the Gators a projected regular-season finish of 7.7-4.3. It also improved their odds across the board, from running the table to reaching the College Football Playoff and even making a run at the conference title.
For a team still trying to turn a big road win into something bigger, that kind of movement matters. FPI rankings do not guarantee anything, but they do reflect how quickly the perception around Florida has shifted after beating Texas, and they help frame what comes next in a crowded postseason picture. The updated top 25 after Week 7 shows the Gators moving in the right direction, with the path forward looking a little clearer than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
London Montgomery Gave Florida The Spark It Desperately Needed
Florida had been searching for a jolt, and London Montgomery helped provide it in a tense 27-24 win over Texas. The senior running back and kick returner gave the Gators more than just steady touches on offense, finishing with four carries for 20 yards while also becoming a factor in the hidden-yardage battle that can swing a game like this.
His five kick returns produced 105 yards, and several of those chances set Florida up with much better field position than it had earlier in the game. For a team trying to find rhythm and keep drives alive, Montgomerys impact was felt in the kind of moments that do not always jump off the box score but can quietly change the direction of a night. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Made A Rivalry Weekend Even More Painful
Floridas upset of seventh-ranked Texas in Austin should have been the brightest SEC headline in the state, especially with freshman quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. making his first career start in a 27-24 win. Instead, rivalry weekend in Florida turned into a reminder of how crowded the spotlight can get when the states other programs are rolling too, with Miami climbing to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2002 after its double-overtime win over Florida State.
USF added to the same uneasy backdrop by handling Kent State 29-2 on homecoming and moving to 5-2, giving the Bulls another reason to feel good about their season. For the Gators, the bigger-picture sting is obvious: a signature road win should travel well, but when Miami is celebrating a historic ranking and the in-state conversation keeps drifting elsewhere, Floridas upset suddenly feels like one more part of a weekend that was hard to own outright. [Read more 🡒]