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We are back with week two of the State of Florida college football power rankings. We have a lot to sort out after an opening weekend that saw Florida teams going a lackluster 3-4. Last week, Miami and Florida State were one and two, respectively, and it was not even close. After both teams were blown out in their openers, they both took a tumble in the rankings. While the top two last week were very far ahead, the top four this week are all very close and anyone inside that top four could jump to number one as soon as next week. With that being said, let's dive in.
1. Central Florida Knights (1-0, 1-0 AAC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: at UConn Huskies (0-1) – W 56-17
Next opponent: vs. South Carolina State Bulldogs (0-1)
Central Florida continued their winning ways that began last season. UCF QB McKenzie Milton shinned with nearly 350 passing yards and 5 passing touchdowns. Milton also ran the ball seven times for 50 yards. UCF had eight different players run the ball and three of them had a rushing touchdown. Tre Nixon led the way for receivers with five receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Pat Jasinski led the way on defense coming up with 10 tackles. Richie Grant also pitched in with four tackles and an interception. Connecticut is by no means an elite team, but this was a very impressive road victory by Central Florida. This win mixed with the weak performances by Miami and FSU was enough to move UCF into number one in our rankings.
2. Miami Hurricanes (0-1, 0-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: vs. #25 LSU Tigers (1-0) – L 33-17
Next opponent: vs. Savannah State Tigers (0-1)
Miami laid an egg in their highly anticipated opening game against LSU. Miami’s miserable performance was led by a miserable performance from starting QB Malik Rosier. Rosier completed just 15 of 35 attempts for 259 yards. Rosier also had one touchdown to go along with two interceptions. The QB play was not the only issue for Miami. The Hurricanes offensive line got pushed around with ease by LSU. Miami did end up gaining 46 more yards than LSU, but they dug themselves too big a hole early in the game and also had 11 penalties. Miami still has the most talented roster in the state and could easily move back up to number one on this list, but first they need to figure out the QB situation, the penalty issues, and the turnover problem.
3. Florida Gators (1-0, 0-0 SEC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: vs. Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0-1) – W 53-6
Next opponent: vs. Kentucky Wildcats (1-0)
The Dan Mullen era started with a win, but Florida did not blow me away, they simply did what they were supposed to against a glorified high school team. Although the competition was extremely weak, the Gators offense did look a lot better. Feleipe Franks completed 16 of 24 passes throwing for 219 yards and five touchdowns. The Gators had seven different players carry the ball multiple times. Dameon Pierce led the way with nine carries for 73 yards. As a team, Florida ran for 203 yards and one touchdown. The defense also did what they were supposed to giving up only six points, which came late in the game.
4. Florida State Seminoles (0-1, 0-1 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: vs. #20 Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0) – L 24-3
Next opponent: vs. Samford Bulldogs (1-0)
The Willie Taggart era did not get off to the start the Seminole fans were hoping for. With all the hype surrounding the new style of play Taggart was bring to the Florida State offense, I was not very impressed. Florida State’s biggest weakness on the offensive side of the ball was their offensive line. The running backs had no holes to run through and the receivers had no time to get open. Unless something changes drastically, this offensive line will weigh down the skill position talent that the Seminoles to have. On the defensive side of the ball, Florida State’s defensive backs looked like they didn’t belong. Virginia Tech has pretty good receivers, but in no way are they elite. Despite this, Virginia Tech was just throwing it up to their receivers in man coverage and they we dominating the FSU corners. Like Miami, FSU has more talent than UF and UCF but they will have to put it all together on the field if they want to move up in the rankings.
5. South Florida Bulls (1-0, 0-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: vs. Elon Phoenix (0-1) – W 34-14
Next Opponent: vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-0)
Blake Barnett threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Jaymon Thomas led the way for the defense with seven tackles. Elon is an extremely weak team and a 20 point win at home here for USF was not overly impressive. The Bulls were able to jump past FAU in these ranking since FAU got routed by Oklahoma, but if they was any chance of moving up any further in these ranking the Bulls must have more impressive victories.
6. Florida Atlantic Owls (0-1, 0-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: at #7 Oklahoma Sooners – L 63-14
Next Opponent: vs. Air Force Falcons (1-0)
The Owls opening game did not go as planned to say the least. FAU gave up 42 first half points on their way to a blowout loss to Oklahoma. FAU threw for less than 200 yards and ran for only about 100. On the defensive side of the ball, the Owls gave up over 300 yards passing and another 300 yards on the ground. Lane Kiffin’s squad is not good enough to go on the road and be competitive with an extremely talented Oklahoma team. The Owls do have games against UCF and FIU on their schedule so there is an opportunity for FAU to climb up these rankings.
7. Florida International Panthers (0-1, 0-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: vs. Indiana Hooisers (1-0) L 38-28
Next Opponent: vs. Old Dominion Monarchs (0-1)
Butch Davis and his squad lost a hard fought matchup against Indiana last weekend. Running back Anthony Jones was the star for the Golden Panthers as he ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns, averaging nearly six yards per carry. FIU still has the least talented roster in the State of Florida, but they could shoot up the rankings if they upset teams like Miami and FAU. Unless they are able to shock the world, the Golden Panthers should get comfortable at number seven on this list.
1. Central Florida Knights (1-0, 1-0 AAC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: at UConn Huskies (0-1) – W 56-17
Next opponent: vs. South Carolina State Bulldogs (0-1)
Central Florida continued their winning ways that began last season. UCF QB McKenzie Milton shinned with nearly 350 passing yards and 5 passing touchdowns. Milton also ran the ball seven times for 50 yards. UCF had eight different players run the ball and three of them had a rushing touchdown. Tre Nixon led the way for receivers with five receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Pat Jasinski led the way on defense coming up with 10 tackles. Richie Grant also pitched in with four tackles and an interception. Connecticut is by no means an elite team, but this was a very impressive road victory by Central Florida. This win mixed with the weak performances by Miami and FSU was enough to move UCF into number one in our rankings.
2. Miami Hurricanes (0-1, 0-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: vs. #25 LSU Tigers (1-0) – L 33-17
Next opponent: vs. Savannah State Tigers (0-1)
Miami laid an egg in their highly anticipated opening game against LSU. Miami’s miserable performance was led by a miserable performance from starting QB Malik Rosier. Rosier completed just 15 of 35 attempts for 259 yards. Rosier also had one touchdown to go along with two interceptions. The QB play was not the only issue for Miami. The Hurricanes offensive line got pushed around with ease by LSU. Miami did end up gaining 46 more yards than LSU, but they dug themselves too big a hole early in the game and also had 11 penalties. Miami still has the most talented roster in the state and could easily move back up to number one on this list, but first they need to figure out the QB situation, the penalty issues, and the turnover problem.
3. Florida Gators (1-0, 0-0 SEC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: vs. Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0-1) – W 53-6
Next opponent: vs. Kentucky Wildcats (1-0)
The Dan Mullen era started with a win, but Florida did not blow me away, they simply did what they were supposed to against a glorified high school team. Although the competition was extremely weak, the Gators offense did look a lot better. Feleipe Franks completed 16 of 24 passes throwing for 219 yards and five touchdowns. The Gators had seven different players carry the ball multiple times. Dameon Pierce led the way with nine carries for 73 yards. As a team, Florida ran for 203 yards and one touchdown. The defense also did what they were supposed to giving up only six points, which came late in the game.
4. Florida State Seminoles (0-1, 0-1 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: vs. #20 Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0) – L 24-3
Next opponent: vs. Samford Bulldogs (1-0)
The Willie Taggart era did not get off to the start the Seminole fans were hoping for. With all the hype surrounding the new style of play Taggart was bring to the Florida State offense, I was not very impressed. Florida State’s biggest weakness on the offensive side of the ball was their offensive line. The running backs had no holes to run through and the receivers had no time to get open. Unless something changes drastically, this offensive line will weigh down the skill position talent that the Seminoles to have. On the defensive side of the ball, Florida State’s defensive backs looked like they didn’t belong. Virginia Tech has pretty good receivers, but in no way are they elite. Despite this, Virginia Tech was just throwing it up to their receivers in man coverage and they we dominating the FSU corners. Like Miami, FSU has more talent than UF and UCF but they will have to put it all together on the field if they want to move up in the rankings.
5. South Florida Bulls (1-0, 0-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: vs. Elon Phoenix (0-1) – W 34-14
Next Opponent: vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-0)
Blake Barnett threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Jaymon Thomas led the way for the defense with seven tackles. Elon is an extremely weak team and a 20 point win at home here for USF was not overly impressive. The Bulls were able to jump past FAU in these ranking since FAU got routed by Oklahoma, but if they was any chance of moving up any further in these ranking the Bulls must have more impressive victories.
6. Florida Atlantic Owls (0-1, 0-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: at #7 Oklahoma Sooners – L 63-14
Next Opponent: vs. Air Force Falcons (1-0)
The Owls opening game did not go as planned to say the least. FAU gave up 42 first half points on their way to a blowout loss to Oklahoma. FAU threw for less than 200 yards and ran for only about 100. On the defensive side of the ball, the Owls gave up over 300 yards passing and another 300 yards on the ground. Lane Kiffin’s squad is not good enough to go on the road and be competitive with an extremely talented Oklahoma team. The Owls do have games against UCF and FIU on their schedule so there is an opportunity for FAU to climb up these rankings.
7. Florida International Panthers (0-1, 0-0 CUSA) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: vs. Indiana Hooisers (1-0) L 38-28
Next Opponent: vs. Old Dominion Monarchs (0-1)
Butch Davis and his squad lost a hard fought matchup against Indiana last weekend. Running back Anthony Jones was the star for the Golden Panthers as he ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns, averaging nearly six yards per carry. FIU still has the least talented roster in the State of Florida, but they could shoot up the rankings if they upset teams like Miami and FAU. Unless they are able to shock the world, the Golden Panthers should get comfortable at number seven on this list.
