Florida gets an 8-spot wake-up call in new AP Top 25, but the rebound starts now

The Florida Gators took an expected tumble, dropping to No. 16 in the latest AP Poll after a 45-17 shellacking at the hands of Missouri. The Tigers, meanwhile, had to defend their No. 25 ranking last week and predictably moved up 11 spots to No. 14 heading into Week 6.

It's another strange week in the polls when it seemed like some losses were more harshly graded than others. None of this means a hill of beans to Jon Sumrall, who didn't understand why the Gators were ranked going into Week 4 against Ole Miss and thought the oddsmakers were idiots for making Florida the favorite in that game.

Florida did beat Ole Miss handily and shot up to No. 8, but the joy was short-lived in Gainesville because Missouri did what it has done to the Gators on many occasions at Folsom Field — send them back to Florida as a defeated team. Once you add it all up, No. 16 feels like a fair spot for Florida, albeit a few slots higher than I predicted. 

Here is your AP Poll after Week 5

1. Texas Longhorns, 4-0 (61 1st-place votes)
2. Georgia Bulldogs, 5-0 (6)
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 5-0
4. Miami Hurricanes, 5-0 (2)
5. Ohio State Buckeyes, 4-1
6. Alabama Crimson Tide, 5-0
7. Indiana Hoosiers, 5-0 (1)
8. BYU Cougars, 4-0
9. Ole Miss Rebels, 3-1
10. LSU Tigers, 4-1
11. Texas Tech Red Raiders, 5-0
12. Utah Utes, 4-0
13. Oregon Ducks, 3-1
14. Missouri Tigers, 4-1
15. Tennessee Volunteers, 4-1
16. Florida Gators, 4-1
17. Mississippi State Bulldogs, 4-1
18. Oklahoma State Cowboys, 3-1
19. USC Trojans, 5-1
20. Iowa Hawkeyes, 4-1
21. UCLA Bruins, 4-0
22. Houston Cougars, 4-1
23. Boise State Broncos, 4-1
24. SMU Mustangs, 4-1
25. Pittsburgh Panthers, 5-0

Will Alabama and Georgia be playing for No. 1?

Texas feels like a placeholder at No. 1. I have no doubt the Longhorns will beat Oklahoma in Week 6 and I question if the Sooners will even score a point with that pathetic offense, but the Alabama-Georgia game feels like the real story. As much as I hate to admit it, Georgia is very good and Alabama is really good on offense and will forever get the benefit of the doubt with pollsters. 

Assuming Florida can get past South Carolina next weekend, which is certainly not a guarantee after what we saw against Missouri, the Gators will almost certainly play consecutive Top 5 opponents to close out the month. Even if the Bulldogs lose in Tuscaloosa, they will remain in the Top 5. But if Alabama wins, Florida could lose out the chance to knock off a top-ranked Texas team. 

As for the rest of the conference, Ole Miss stayed put after a bye week and LSU jumped a spot with a blowout win over mighty McNeese State (we're really scheduling these games in October?). Tennessee rounds out the Top 15 and Mississippi State dropped only one spot after losing by five scores at home to Alabama. That seems generous. If you're looking for Kentucky in the polls, the Wildcats have departed to make way for undefeated Pittsburgh. 

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