Florida’s surge into ESPN’s top 10 came fast and loud.
After a statement win over previously unbeaten Ole Miss in Week 4, the Gators climbed eight spots to No. 7 in ESPN’s power rankings on Monday morning. The jump reflects just how much Florida changed the conversation with a 52-28 rout in the Swamp.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach pointed to a Florida team that has looked dangerous from the start, especially on offense. He wrote:
“Lane Kiffin might have been Florida’s first choice to replace Billy Napier following the 2025 season, but former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall sure looks like the right pick after four games. The Gators blasted Ole Miss 52-28 in the Swamp on Saturday, piling up 498 yards of offense, including 302 rushing.
Tailback Jadan Baugh ran for 142 yards with three touchdowns, and he already has tallied 11 scores this season. Duke Clark ran for 126 yards and a TD.
The Gators put up 40 points or more in each of their first four games for the time since 2001, when Steve Spurrier’s high-flying offense was still rolling. The Gators have work to do on defense, as they gave up 67 points in their first two SEC games, against Auburn and Ole Miss.
But there’s plenty of reason to be excited after September.”
Florida is 4-0 and suddenly has real College Football Playoff buzz around it, with Aaron Philo and Jadan Baugh driving an offense that has been explosive in every game so far in the 2026 campaign.
Baugh has been the headliner. Through four games, he has piled up 600 yards and 11 touchdowns, both of which lead the SEC.
The next test comes in Week 5, when Florida hits the road to face Mizzou.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Has Earned A Ranking Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Mississippi States fast start has turned what looked like a solid opening month into a real ranking conversation. The Bulldogs are 4-0 and already 2-0 in SEC play, with a win over No. 25 Missouri helping push them up to No. 16 in the AP Poll, and sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor has been one of the biggest reasons for the surge. Taylor has thrown for 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns, tying for the national lead in passing scores and giving Mississippi State the kind of offensive punch that can make voters take notice.
The debate now is whether the Bulldogs have done enough to climb higher despite the company they still have to keep in the schedule. Teams ahead of them have stumbled, which only sharpens the argument around Mississippi States place in the poll, but the next stretch will say plenty about how serious this start really is. No. 7 Alabama is looming, and LSU is not far behind, leaving the Bulldogs with a chance to turn an early ranking into something much more difficult to dismiss. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Has A Heisman Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The late-September Heisman conversation had a few familiar faces in it, but Ole Miss had its own reason to pay attention. Across the weekend, standout performances from quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers around the country kept the race crowded, with individual game breakthroughs and efficient stat lines nudging certain players into the spotlight as the season starts to settle into its next stretch.
For Rebels fans, the issue is less about the national debate itself and more about what it says about where Ole Miss fits in that race. The review of the weekend's biggest efforts, along with a look ahead to upcoming matchups for some of those players, underscores how quickly the conversation can shift once October football gets rolling. Ole Miss can still make noise, but the path to having a true Heisman contender is starting to feel like a problem fans can't ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Trinidad Chambliss Gives Ole Miss Hope Despite One Ugly Warning Sign
Ole Miss left the loss to Florida with a sharp reminder of how quickly a game can get away from it when the defense cannot slow the run. The Gators piled up more than 300 rushing yards, turning the afternoon into a long one for the Rebels and exposing a problem that will need fixing if this team wants to hold up in SEC play.
Trinidad Chambliss still gave Ole Miss a reason to keep looking forward, though, because the quarterback handled a heavy load and produced one of the better individual outings of the day. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 298 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and added 44 rushing yards with two scores, giving the Rebels a clear offensive centerpiece even in a loss that raised more questions than answers. [Read more 🡒]