The initial College Football Playoff rankings have been released, and Florida was not included among the top 25.
Shocked, shocked I say... Well not that shocked.
Florida is 4-4 on the season and is in need of a minor miracle just to make a bowl game in 2024. And when looking at these three teams who are currently in a position to go dancing, the excuses for Billy Napier and crew don't carry much weight.
Miami
Coming in at number four in the country, the vibes are high in Miami. As we all know, the Hurricanes smacked the Gators to open the season and have ridden that wave to an undefeated start (even if they have had the help of ACC refs).
The problem for Florida is when one goes back and looks at all the preseason narratives for Miami. Mario Cristobal was on the hot seat and entered the year with a losing record as coach of the Hurricanes. He was hired at the same time as Napier and, according to the 247 Talent Composite, had a roster that was a tick below Florida's.
Yet it is Miami who has figured things out while Florida keeps expecting pats on the back for playing teams close.
Tennessee
Ranked 7th in the country, the Volunteers will probably feel safe to make the postseason as long as they finish 3-1 to close out the year.
This is the same Tennessee squad Florida beat last year and should have beaten this year. This is a Tennessee squad that, in 2023, only beat two Power Five teams that finished with a winning record (Texas A&M and Kentucky). This is the same Tennessee squad that has a Talent Composite ranked five spots lower than Florida's.
Yet this is a Tennessee squad that has figured it out in 2024 while the Gators have not.
Indiana
Yes, their strength of schedule is awful, but they have also yet to win a game by less than 14 points. And this is a team that had nine combined wins over their previous three seasons and is now 9-0 in 2024.
As a reference point for why Florida has no excuses, Indiana has a Talent Composite of 57th and the Hoosier beat Nebraska, ranked 23rd in Talent Composite, 56-7. Florida had to grind out an 11-point win over 33rd-ranked UCF.