The Florida Gators have a really hard schedule, so a playoff berth is hard to envision. On the other hand, they have, as one insider put it, maybe the best quarterback in football, so that might make it easier to envision.
The Florida Gators have a very talented quarterback in DJ Lagway, who did have an underwhelming year as a true freshman last year. Assuming he does make the expected leap, the Gators could challenge for a playoff spot.
They were 25th on ESPN insider Heather Dinich's list of 32 possible playoff contenders, and the Gators' chances come down to Lagway, who she said might be better than Arch Manning, Cade Klubkin, and Drew Allar.
"Florida might have the best quarterback in the country in DJ Lagway, but it also has the most difficult schedule in the FBS. Again," she said. "The Gators are a long shot to win the SEC, and their chances of earning an at-large bid hinge on their ability to beat a lineup comprised mainly of top-25 teams."
Their biggest opportunity to impress the committee and make good on Lagway's talent en route to the playoff is on September 20 against Miami. If they can get a road rivalry win, that will go a long way, especially with the Hurricanes being ranked.
"It could increase in value if Miami wins the ACC and clinches a spot in the playoff as one of the committee's five highest-ranked conference champs," Hinich noted. "Even if Miami doesn't win the ACC, the head-to-head tiebreaker could be a factor in the room if both teams are competing for an at-large spot."
That could be the most crucial game for a fringe CFP contender that is likely to have a few losses since they play in the vaunted SEC.
Category: General Sports
