Power ranking the SEC after week 5: #15 - Florida
Florida remains here after an off week. This is a pivotal game for their season coming up, as UCF will come to town to face off against Napier’s squad. It’s one thing to lose to Miami or to Florida State, but to take a loss against UCF? That’s a bridge too far.
Yet, it seems clear that the Knights should be favored in this one. I really, really don’t like the matchup for the Gators here—a run defense that is extremely undisciplined against KJ Jefferson, RJ Harvey, and Gus Malzahn’s rushing scheme is a recipe for disaster.
I’m not sure the UCF defense is all that, so maybe DJ Lagway and/or Graham Mertz can make some hay themselves. It seems that the conclusion to Napier’s tenure has already been written, but if any game is a must-win for him, it’s this one. This is an in-state opponent that you simply cannot lose to.