The preseason version of the AP High 25 shall be launched on Monday, and forward of the AP’s first ballot of the 2026 marketing campaign, CBS Sports activities author Chip Patterson predicts that Florida soccer shall be among the many high colleges on the poll.
In Patterson’s projections, the Gators land at No. 22, between No. 21 Iowa and No. 23 Missouri.
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“The rent of Jon Sumrall was going to present some pop to Florida’s rating potential, as his success at Troy and Tulane has paved the trail for him to rise as one of many stars within the teaching trade. Now a ball coach who has received championships in two totally different conferences will get his crack on the huge time with a program that expects championship rivalry on the nationwide stage,” Patterson states.
“The Gators didn’t end inside the highest 25 of the Coaches Ballot, however after touchdown at No. 22 within the CBS Sports activities 138 we’re projecting the media bias continues to bend his manner with the AP voters. Florida did a great job of retaining some gifted items from final yr’s workforce whereas additionally supplementing via the portal to discipline a bunch that may make the Gators harmful to each SEC opponent.”
Final yr, Florida was ranked No. 15 within the opening salvo of the AP High 25, shifting as much as No. 13 after a 55-0 thrashing of LIU in Week 1. Nevertheless, issues shortly fell aside following an 18-16 house loss to USF in Week 2, which resulted within the Gators being dropped from the highest 25 — a standing that may stay for the remainder of the season.
This yr, Sumrall and Co. face FAU and Campbell at house within the first two video games earlier than hitting the highway to face Auburn to open up the SEC schedule. If Florida fails to prevail in its first two video games, issues might get ugly in Gainesville once more.
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The Orange and Blue are one among 10 SEC colleges to make the reduce, becoming a member of Texas (No. 3), Georgia (No. 6), Oklahoma (No. 8), Ole Miss (No. 9), Texas A&M (No. 10), LSU (No. 12), Alabama (No. 13), Tennessee (No. 18) and Missouri (No. 23) among the many projected high 25.
CBS Sports activities’ projected preseason AP High 25 rankings
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This text initially appeared on Gators Wire: Florida projected to crack first AP High 25 ballot of 2026 season