It’s not just the wind and rain that have us downcast here on the Pigskinned Peninsula .
Perhaps seeking a Hurricane Milton diversion, you come here to talk some football, take your mind off the worrisome weather and perhaps, however briefly, cheer up a bit.
Nope, not here. We’re having none of it. Not these days.
It used to be, this was a pleasant exercise. Seems so long ago.
Florida’s undefeated team has tried its best, two straight weeks , to quit being undefeated. Is there a category set aside for “worst unbeatens?”
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Just two other state schools are above .500, both at 3-2, and both seemingly destined for below .500 by month’s end, and probably sooner.
But you’ve stuck around this far, so hang in there a little longer, get through this dreadful list, then get back to bigger concerns. Also, with things changing by the hour, the three statewide games scheduled for this weekend might be eventually postponed.
Rank & File: Hurricanes still on top, Gators inch up, Knights tumble
The weekly ranking of Florida’s seven big-league college football programs, based on results versus expectations, current trends, and hidden messages in Jim Cantore’s latest forecasts.
1 . Miami Hurricanes (6-0)
Last week: (ranked 1) Beat Cal, 39-38. This week: Off. At Louisville Oct. 19. What’s up: “Cardiac Cam” Ward is looking like quite a thrill ride — up, down, up again. UM fans are right to worry about a Canes team that tried to lose to mediocre teams the past two weeks, but keep in mind, in recent years the Canes would’ve succeeded in pulling off the loss. Yet another questionable (to put it lightly) penalty review helped again.
2. Florida Gators (3-2)
Last week: (4) Beat UCF, 24-13. This week: At Tennessee. What’s up: This sums up the state of the state, doesn’t it? Gators up to No. 2? Well, look around. Bad, huh? Vols are coming home after an upset loss at Arkansas, and students of human nature know this might not be a good thing for the Gators. The pick: Vols, 34, Gators 20.
3. FIU Panthers (2-3)
Last week (3), which was actually Tuesday: Lost to Liberty, 31-24. Up next: At UTEP next Wednesday (Oct. 16). What’s up: The Panthers were 16-point underdogs and took Liberty to overtime Tuesday night as Conference USA began its month of midweek offerings. UTEP’s Miners are a CUSA cellar dweller, an FIU win next week feels promising, so why not jinx it? The pick: Panthers 32, Miners 14.
4. FAU Owls (2-3)
Last week: (6) beat Wagner, 41-10. This week: North Texas at home. What’s up: Compared to last week’s FCS offering, the upcoming weekly dose of American Athletic Conference opponents looks like Murderers’ Row for the Owls. Wins will be hard-won from here on out. The pick: Mean Green 42, Owls 17.
5. USF Bulls (2-3)
Last week: (5) Off. This week: Memphis at home. What’s up : As of now, this one has been pushed back from Friday to Saturday. Hopefully that sticks. Injured QB Byrum Brown might be ready to play, but it won’t help much. The pick: Tigers 40, Bulls 20.
6 . UCF Knights (3-2)
Last week: (2) Lost to Florida, 24-13. This week: Cincinnati at home. What’s up: The Knights are the latest victim here of the “results versus expectations” clause. And this week's result feels like it’ll tell the difference between a season with four wins or maybe seven or eight. Too much roster upheaval for my taste. The pick: Bearcats 38, Knights 16.
Last week: (7) Lost to Clemson, 29-13. This week: Off. What’s up: There are decent schools out there who assume this is just a fluke caused by bad roster decisions, and they would still consider Mike Norvell a good get as head coach. Given what he did before 2024, you can’t disagree. Norvell might want to unmute his phone, because this thing at FSU is tethered to an anchor.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Miami football is the Hurricane talk you like; Gators jump in Florida football rankings
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