Florida has sailed through the first two weeks of the Jon Sumrall era, but Sports Illustrated isn’t quite sold on the program’s transformation just yet. Despite UF posting a combined 118 points in its first two matchups, College sports writer Bryan Fischer isn’t putting them in the College Football Playoff conversation just yet.
SI projects Florida to face SMU in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 30.
Five SEC teams made the outlet’s predicted 12-team playoff field, including Texas, LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M and Ole Miss. While the Gators are overlooked right now, there will be plenty of opportunities to change that perception. Fischer also has Alabama facing Penn State in the Citrus Bowl, Oklahoma taking on Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl and Tennessee playing Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
The Gators host No. 9 Ole Miss on Sept. 26 before facing projected playoff teams Texas and Georgia later this season. But to flip to the notion of mediocrity covering the Orange and Blue, Sumrall and his squad must upend Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium, a place Florida hasn’t won at since 1999. Securing a win in the opening game of the SEC schedule should produce a fair amount of optimism around the team moving forward.
Coming off a 4-8 season, a bowl appearance wouldn’t be anything to scoff at for Gator Nation, but the talent on this roster suggests it’s capable of something special if Sumrall really has changed the identity in Gainesville. Nevertheless, a bowl berth means at least six wins, which would be a sign of progress that fans can latch onto.
Florida did what it was supposed to do in its tune-up games. Saturday night’s matchup against Alex Golesh and the Tigers marks the first indication of whether Florida’s ceiling is merely bowl eligibility or something greater.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: SI projects Florida Gators bowl destination after 2-0 start
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