At the beginning of this college football season, there was hope in the air across the Sunshine State. As week one dawned on the horizon, nothing could damping the mood from Orlando to Coral Gambles, to Gainesville and Tallahassee, even to Tampa Bay, and Boca.
And then, kick-off happened.
All Texas, California, and Louisiana talent aside; if you ask me, Florida is still the most exciting place in College Football. A few short weeks ago, Miami was buzzing with Cristobal-mania. Florida State had just broken hearts across Lousiana state, in New Orleans. Florida had a dark-horse Heisman candidate, wearing #15. Even, UCF was making noise! On the HBCU conversation, FAMU was reigning (self-proclaimed) HBCU national champions ahead of the Orange Blossom Classic.
A suddenly, everything changed.
HOW DID WE FALL OFF
- In Week One, Miami led the state, sitting proudly at #16. Head Coach Mario Cristobal’s debut at Hardrock Stadium, had put his program in a great light. Meanwhile, FSU’s light competition (a routine dismantling of Duquesne, 47-7) was unnoticeable in comparison to Florida’s thrilling 29-26 win over #7 ranked Utah.
- On the backend of that incredible performance at home, Week Two witnessed the Florida Gators jump ahead to #12, with Miami (15) moving up a position. Unfortunately for the Gators, it wouldn’t survive Kentucky’s highly anticipated visit to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
- By Week Three, an undefeated Miami (13) was back in the lead position, with the Gators falling back. This week also saw FSU escape a harrowing visit to Louisville (the same Malik Cunningham-led Cardinals team that put the beatdown UCF in Orlando the week before), despite a very scary knee injury to starting quarterback Jordan Travis. UF had a frightening week as well, barely surviving a visit by Jeff Scott, Gerry Bohanon and the University of South Florida Bulls.
So far, so good..
- Week Four saw the Gators drop again (20) after a gut-wrenching 33-38 loss to former UCF Coach Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers, in a close contest. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes fell to the way to the bottom of the ranking (25) courtesy of an ill-fated visit to College Station, Texas.
Oh no..
- FSU being spared the previous week, benefited our state’s collective pride as Miami returned home to drop a humiliating stinker to lowly Middle Tennessee State. In Week Five, with UM reduced to a laughing stock on social media, and with UF settling for a consolation cupcake win (52-17, over Eastern Washington), Florida State arrived in the rankings, as the sole ranked school from the state. Ahead of a homecoming match-up with an undefeated Wake Forest.
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- And, by Week Six, FSU was out too.
