Florida’s trip through Week 9 ended with another rough number attached to it.
After the Gators’ 27-8 loss to Georgia in Atlanta, ESPN’s latest SP+ update sent Florida tumbling to No. 44 in the overall rankings. Bill Connelly’s metric gave the Gators an 8.2 rating, a 13-place drop from last week and a 2.4-point slide from the previous mark.
The damage showed up in ESPN’s other major model, too. Florida fell five spots in the Football Power Index to No. 22.
The offense took the biggest hit in the SP+ breakdown. Florida’s offensive rating dropped two points to 31.5, leaving the Gators at No. 33 nationally and down nine spots from the prior update.
The defense actually moved up one place to No. 49, though its rating dipped one point to 23.9. Special teams remained a bright spot, climbing one spot to No. 2 in the country while staying at 0.6.
Georgia’s win also helped keep the SEC crowded near the top of the SP+ board. The league again placed seven teams in the top 25 for the fourth straight week, with Georgia leading the way at No.
- LSU checked in at No.
4, Texas at No. 7 and Alabama at No. 8, while Tennessee landed at No. 11, Ole Miss at No. 13 and Missouri at No.
At the top of the national list, Georgia sits first with a 28.1 SP+ rating, followed by Ohio State, Notre Dame, LSU and Miami. Indiana, Texas, Alabama, Utah and Texas Tech round out the top 10. Florida’s drop leaves it well outside that group after the latest update, with the Gators now trying to steady themselves after a lopsided result against their biggest rival.
In Other News...
Florida Could Pull Off A Huge Recruiting Surprise Here
A major recruiting decision is coming into focus for one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2028 class, and Florida has managed to stay in the thick of it. Brysen Wright has trimmed his list to Florida, Texas and Miami, with an announcement set for Nov. 5, after taking unofficial visits to all three programs. For the Gators, simply being in the final group for a national-caliber receiver says plenty about the pitch they have made early in the process.
Miami is viewed as the clear favorite in the prediction game, but Florida remains a finalist and has a real chance to make this interesting. Wrights status as a highly ranked prospect gives this race extra weight, especially with three prominent programs still in the mix and a decision date now on the calendar. The Gators will be watching closely to see whether they can turn a strong position into a surprise win. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Bowl Push Comes Down To Three Urgent Fixes Vs Oklahoma
Floridas path to bowl eligibility heads into a critical stretch against Oklahoma, and the Gators have a short list of issues that need cleaning up if they want to keep their season alive. The offense has been uneven, the defense has had its own lapses, and the Sooners bring enough volatility of their own to make this feel like a game Florida can still control if it gets the basics right.
The first order of business is settling the quarterback rotation, because the Gators cannot afford more uncertainty at the games most important spot. Florida also needs a more productive day from Jadan Baugh on the ground and a steadier pass rush to keep Oklahoma from finding rhythm, but the bigger question is whether the Gators can put those pieces together at the same time when the stakes are this high. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Is Still Waiting On Vernell Brown III For One Reason
Floridas receiving room has had to keep moving without Vernell Brown III, and the wait has stretched longer than the Gators likely hoped. Brown has now missed four games after a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, and coach Jon Sumrall said the sophomore had a non-surgical procedure as part of the process.
Even with the uncertainty, Brown has stayed around the program as a vocal presence and continues working his way back. The issue now is less about whether he still matters to Florida and more about when, or even if, the Gators will get him back this season. [Read more 🡒]