In some ways, Florida\u2019s 2025 season was almost as predicted. For what it\u2019s worth, Florida finished ranked No. 37 in FPI <\/a>in 2025.<\/p>\n So while being ranked No. 18 may seem like SEC bias, let\u2019s use Florida\u2019s season finale last year against FSU as a litmus test. As we all know, the Gators had Jadan Baugh run wild<\/a> over the Seminoles, dashing FSU\u2019s hopes of a bowl game. That was the same FSU squad that took 11-3 Virginia to OT and smashed 9-4 Wake Forest. There was also their win over Alabama, though that wound up being more of a fluke than reality.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not crazy to state that if Florida had the schedule Wake Forest had in 2025, the Gators could have gone 9-4 and Billy Napier would still be here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Likewise, the USF loss that pretty much sealed Napier\u2019s fate didn\u2019t turn out as attrious as it seemed. USF went on to win nine games and finished No. 25 in FPI.<\/p>\n The point of all of this isn\u2019t to pretend that Florida deserves anyone\u2019s pity or even that No. 18 is at all the endgame goal in Gainesville. It\u2019s a reminder that Florida isn\u2019t that far from climbing back up the mountain, and with just a hint of competence from Jon Sumrall, don\u2019t be surprised if the Gators sneak up on people in 2026.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
Add us as a preferred source on Google