![Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) and Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier watch during spring football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 6, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_4448,h_2502/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01k2f33fk3nhy0nm0ew2.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) and Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier watch during spring football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 6, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
The AP Top 25 poll is out, and it paints a picture of just how hard Florida's schedule is in 2025. While the Gators are ranked 15th, Florida has to face seven opponents ranked in the top 25, including four in the top ten.
But not all top 25 opponents are created equal, and we are going to take a look at who is properly ranked, and who is getting by on name recognition alone.
No. 1 Texas - Fair Enough
Texas being ranked No. 1 is a byproduct of voters thinking that Arch Manning is going to take college football by storm.
Maybe he will, maybe he won't, but Texas was also a top-five team with Quinn Ewers at QB. So even if you don't think Texas is No. 1, they are at least a top-five squad nationally.
No. 5 Georgia - Fair Enough
The Bulldogs are the defending SEC champions, but a loss to Notre Dame in the playoffs soured the feeling around Athens.
And while Georgia moved on from Carson Beck, Gunner Stockton is more unproven than Manning.
Georgia is at No. 5 because of the supporting cast, so for now, it's fair.
No. 9 LSU - Too High
Loading up in the transfer portal is the only reason LSU was able to snake back into the top ten, because the Tigers haven't actually finished a season in the top ten since their national title back in 2019.
Plus, Garrett Nussmeier has to prove he is more than a checkdown king.
No. 10 Miami - Too High
Something, something 41-17.
But the Hurricanes crashed and burned to close out 2024, and we would be stunned if they get the same level of production from Beck that they got from Cam Ward.
No. 19 Texas A&M - Too Low
The Aggies were a sneaky team last year and were just one game away from making it to the SEC title game.
Marcel Reed is one of the more under-the-radar guys in the SEC, and this is a squad who could be a dark horse if things break correctly.
No. 21 Ole Miss - Mystery Box
To be honest, we have no clue whether Ole Miss is properly ranked or whether they are way too low in the polls.
The Rebels once again loaded up in the transfer portal and have 32 new players via the portal.
No. 24 Tennessee - Too High
It's wild to say a playoff team needs to be unranked to start the following year, but it is hard to envision the Volunteers replicating their 2025 success.
Nico Iamaleava bailed during the spring, and the QB situation for the Vols isn't great heading into the fall.