Florida football: Kansas State beating Oklahoma just helps Gators

It wasn’t necessarily a wild day in college football, but even though Florida football was idle, they may be on the move come Sunday.

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts was productive, but the Oklahoma Sooners’ inability to recover an onside kick only helps Florida football.

The No. 5 Sooners fell to Kansas State, 48-41 Saturday in Manhattan.

And, while No. 7 Florida was idle, their opportunity to move a notch higher in the polls ahead of next Saturday’s square-off with No. 10 Georgia, in Jacksonville.

Barring any odd thinking by AP voters, because the Gators were off this week, they could jump a notch or two when the polls come out Sunday.

Oklahoma’s loss also helps with Florida’s run toward the postseason.

Right now, you have Clemson and Ohio State as near locks for the four-team playoff. The problem is there is a whole host of teams battling for the third and fourth spots.

You have to think the winner of the SEC Championship game will be in — whether that be Florida football, Alabama, LSU, Georgia or even Missouri.

If Florida wins out wins the SEC title game, they are in. If they reach the championship game and lose — without getting blown out — you can make a case for the Gators still making the playoffs just on the strength of their schedule.

In that scenario, the committee will be hard-pressed to take two teams from the same conference. However, you can make the argument that the other Power 5 conferences don’t really have two teams who seem quality enough to be in the discussion.

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In the Pac-12, you have a conference where Oregon has the best shot, but no one else after that. However, their loss to Auburn in the season-opener drops them out of contention, in my opinion.

In the Big 12, after Oklahoma lost to K-State Saturday, it would be tough to consider the Sooners for a playoff berth, even if they win out — simply because their strength of schedule is pretty weak. Oklahoma State took care of No. 23 Iowa State and No. 15 Texas lost to TCU, meaning there is really no team worthy of the playoffs from the Big 12.

Ohio State owns the Big 10, even if Michigan beats Notre Dame — they are leading as I write this — and Wisconsin now has two losses and is out of the conversation as well. Although, you have to think if Notre Dame loses at the Big House, that only helps Florida football as well.

Clemson is ruling the roost in the ACC and there is no other team coming anywhere close. Not Virginia, not Florida State, not Miami, not anyone. And Clemson is the only team from the ACC that should even be in the conversation.

Then you come to the SEC and Florida football.

Now, keep in mind, this all is reliant on Florida winning out and reaching the SEC championship game in Atlanta, which is certainly possible despite the fact that national media doesn’t see the Gators getting out of Jacksonville with a win.

If the Gators take care of their remaining schedule — and there is little outside of a road trip to Columbia, Missouri to suggest they can’t — I think you have to have them in the discussion for the the semifinals.

If nothing else, if there is a conference getting two teams in the playoffs, it only seems natural that it be the Southeastern Conference.

Remember, No. 7 Florida football will take on No. 10 Georgia Saturday in Jacksonville. Oh, and thanks Kansas State for the help!