Power ranking the SEC after Media Days: Texas A&M football on the rise?

With fall camp imminent after the conclusion of SEC Media Days, it’s time for a final preseason power ranking—where does Texas A&M football land?

Jul 10, 2017; Hoover, AL, USA; The Southeastern Conference logo is shown on the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Winfrey Hotel during SEC media days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Winfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2017; Hoover, AL, USA; The Southeastern Conference logo is shown on the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Winfrey Hotel during SEC media days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Winfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports | Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
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Power ranking the SEC after Media Days: #10 Florida Gators

I was confident in this when I numbered everyone out to begin the outline of this article, but the longer I've thought about it... Am I talking myself into the Gators too much here? When I was writing about the overrated and underrated squads in the conference, I thought that I may have undersold UF on account of their schedule.

And, don't get me wrong, their schedule is an absolute bear. As I said previously, a few false moves, and this is a 1-11 team. Even bowl eligibility could be a scant possibility.

But you can't deny this is a talented squad. I think Gator fans, along with everyone who knows anything about the program, is just waiting for the other shoe to drop in the QB room. DJ Lagway looks like he is a bona fide star—much more so than Graham Mertz, anyway. LJ McCray brings some young talent along the defensive line.

The Gators absolutely have to start, at worst, 2-1. If they lose to both Miami and A&M, then things are headed in a bad direction, and at quite a high rate of speed. The most likely result of the back half of their schedule has got to be either merely one win or zero, so they need to pile up the victories early and often.

Schedule

Schedule