Athlon ranks Florida Gators No. 11 nationally in preseason rankings
- Franz Beard
- Jun 4, 2025
- 8 min read
Athlon’s preseason college football magazine hit the news stands Tuesday. When it comes to the Florida Gators, Athlon ranks the Gators No. 11 nationally and No. 5 in the SEC. That would lead you to believe they think Billy Napier has turned the corner at the University of Florida.
Well, maybe. It’s a bit of a paradox that the Gators would be ranked so highly and yet Athlon still has him on the coaching hot seat. Per Athlon, Florida’s quarterback room of DJ Lagway, backups Harrison Bailey and Aidan Warner plus early enrollee freshman Tramell Jones No. 4 in the country. The running backs room of Jadan Baugh, Ja’Kobi Jackson, Treyaun Webb, KD Daniels and Chad Gasper Jr. ranks ninth. Florida’s starting offensive line of Austin Barber and Bryce Lovett at the tackles, Knijeah Harris and Damieon George Jr. at the guards and All-America center Jake Slaughter as the No. 5 group in the country. The offense alone should be an indicator that Napier has the Gators on solid ground. If the defense, which came on strong once Ron Roberts moved up into the booth in the last month of the season, comes through, the Gators might be a lot better than fifth in the SEC.
Before delving into the Athlon rankings, it should be noted that it wasn’t until year four of his tenure at Clemson that Dabo Swinney got off the hot seat. Since that 19-15 start in his first three years, Dabo is 161-32 with two national championships to his credit. Dabo has done it without No. 1 recruiting classes by bringing in talent that fits his system and developing it.
According to 247Sports, Florida’s 2025 recruiting class ranked seventh, the first Napier class to crack the top ten. Yet, Florida has accumulated and developed the kind of talent that can compete for the SEC championship and one of 12 spots in the College Football Playoff in Napier’s fourth year.
ATHLON SEC: 1. Texas; 2. Georgia; 3. LSU; 4. Alabama; 5. FLORIDA; 6. South Carolina; 7. Ole Miss; 8. Texas A&M; 9. Oklahoma; 10. Tennessee; 11. Auburn; 12. Missouri; 13. Arkansas; 14. Vanderbilt; 15. Kentucky; 16. Mississippi State
My Opinion
1. Texas: Everybody is blinking loopy over Arch Manning to the point that some near to the program think if Arch had been the starting QB and not Quinn Ewers the Longhorns might have won the national championship. Four new starters on the O-line and for the defense to be as good as last year several transfers will have to come through.
2. Georgia: The QB is Gunner Stockton. There are four new starters on the O-line and the wide receivers are vastly overrated. There are only three returning starters on defense. The schedule, however, is favorable since Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas have to visit Athens. The Bulldogs won’t be as good as the record would try to tell you.
3. LSU: Behind what was billed as the best offensive line in the nation a year ago, Florida sacked Garrett Nussmeier eight times. There are four new starters on the O-line. LSU averaged all of 116 rushing yards per game a year ago. Brian Kelly has lost 11 games in three years with elite talent including the best college QB in the country two of those years. The Tigers open at Clemson with Florida coming in two weeks later and a roadie to Ole Miss two weeks after that. And they still have to go to Alabama.
4. Alabama: Bama has great wide receivers but is there anyone capable of getting them the ball? Ty Simpson will get the first call at QB so big questions there. The defense is going to have to carry the day for Kalen DeBoer, who will find out what wrath is all about if the Crimson Tide don’t make the College Football Playoff. With the exception of the Iron Bowl, all the tough games are in Tuscaloosa.
5. FLORIDA: The Gators are going to be able to score on anyone. DJ Lagway has the best O-line in the SEC led by the nation’s best center in Jake Slaughter. The running backs are exceptional and the wide receivers could be spectacular. If the Gators can rush the passer effectively the defense will be outstanding. If the Gators win those back-to-back roadies at LSU and Miami, they could be formidable. The Gators get Texas in The Swamp.
6. South Carolina: Everybody is in love with QB LaNorris Sellers but he doesn’t have a running game, a so-so O-line and questionable wide receivers. The Gamecocks lost way too many studs from an extraordinary defense. It’s hard to see them much better than 7-5.
7. Ole Miss: The master of the transfer portal is at it again. Lane Kiffin makes up for a lack of outstanding prep talent in the state by having a great eye for portal talent. The defense might be better than last year. The offense will be very good if Austin Simmons can turn into a real dual threat at QB. With the exception of a roadie to Georgia, all the tough games are in Oxford.
8. Texas A&M: The Aggies return a lot of starters (15; 7 offense, 8 defense) from a team that won eight games and should have won more. Improvement will have to come from quarterback Marcel Reed if the Aggies are to threaten for the SEC championship. Roadies at Notre Dame, LSU, Missouri and Texas will define the season.
9. Oklahoma: Beware the Sooners, who landed the best transfer QB that nobody has heard of in John Mateer from Washington State. He’s a stud who finally can play with exceptional talent. Brent Venables is taking over the defense and he brought in Mateer’s offensive coordinator from Wazzoo. The four games of November (at Tennessee, at Alabama, Missouri and LSU) will determine if they are contenders ir pretenders.
10. Tennessee: When Nico Iamaleava bolted over NIL money it was addition by subtraction. The team will be better off from a culture standpoint, but can the Vols win with former App State QB Joey Aguilar running the show? Defense will have to play big for the Vols to win more than seven games. Georgia and Oklahoma are homers but the Vols have to go to Alabama and Florida. A 7-win season might be a real accomplishment.
11. Auburn: Hugh Freeze has a former 5-star QB in Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold. He’s got studs at wide receiver and three starters returning on the O-line. If Freeze can find two functional tackles, the offense will be fine. Too many questions on defense for this to be more than an 8-4 team. The Tigers get Georgia and Alabama at Jordan-Hare.
12. Missouri: Eli Drinkwitz keeps winning and nobody can understand why considering the Tigers don’t land a lot of studs on the recruiting trail. If Eli can turn former Penn State backup Beau Pribula into a capable QB, the Tigers are going to surprise a lot of people. If the Tigers win nine regular season games don’t be shocked. They could be one of the real SEC surprises.
13. Arkansas: The Razorbacks shocked everyone by making a bowl game a year ago. To win six regular season games this year a lot of transfers will have to come through, QB Taylen Green is really good, but the receivers are average at best and the O-line below par. The schedule is brutal.
14. Vanderbilt: It’s Vandy. History says the Commodores will revert back to their losing ways, but as long as Diego Pavia is the QB they’ll have a chance. There are four very winnable games on the schedule. Win those and they’ll only need to score two upsets in the other eight to be bowl eligible. Two straight bowl years at Vandy is akin to Alabama winning two national championships in a row.
15. Kentucky: The Wildcats lost eight games a year ago and that was with a better roster than they have now. Only six starters return and the QB is Zach Calzada, a 7th-year guy who started playing for Jimbo in Aggieland a long time ago. Another 8-loss season is in the works.
16: Mississippi State: The Bulldogs will be better this year. How could they be worse. This is a long term project, not a quick fix. Another painful year for a team whose QB will be Blake Shapen. Eight or nine losses on this schedule.
SEC UNIT RANKINGS
QUARTERBACKS: 1. Texas; 2. LSU; 3. South Carolina; 4. FLORIDA; 5. Vanderbilt; 6. Oklahoma; 7. Arkansas; 8. Ole Miss; 9. Georgia; 10. Texas A&M; 11. Alabama; 12. Auburn; 13. Mississippi State; 14. Missouri; 15. Tennessee; 16. Kentucky
RUNNING BACKS: 1. Texas; 2. Texas A&M; 3. Georgia; 4. FLORIDA; 5. Oklahoma; 6. Missouri; 7. Alabama; 8. LSU; 9. Tennessee; 10. Kentucky; 11. Ole Miss; 12. South Carolina; 13. Auburn; 14. Mississippi State; 15. Arkansas; 16. Vanderbilt
WIDE RECEIVERS: 1. Alabama; 2. Auburn; 3. LSU; 4. Texas; 5. Georgia; 6. Ole Miss; 7. FLORIDA; 8. Missouri; 9. Texas A&M; 10. Oklahoma; 11. Tennessee; 12. South Carolina; 13. Arkansas; 14. Mississippi State; 15. Vanderbilt; 16. Kentucky
OFFENSIVE LINE: 1. Texas A&M; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Alabama; 4. Texas; 5. Georgia; 6. Auburn; 7. LSU; 8. Tennessee; 9. Oklahoma; 10. Missouri; 11. Ole Miss; 13. Arkansas; 14. Kentucky; 15. Mississippi State; 16. Vanderbilt
DEFENSIVE LINE: 1. Texas; 2. Georgia; 3. Alabama; 4. Oklahoma; 5. Tennessee; 6. South Carolina; 7. LSU; 8. FLORIDA; 9. Ole Miss; 10. Auburn; 11. Missouri; 12. Texas A&M; 13. Vanderbilt; 14. Arkansas; 15. Kentucky; 16. Mississippi State
LINEBACKERS: 1. Texas; 2. Georgia; 3. Alabama; 4. LSU; 5. Ole Miss; 6. Texas A&M; 7. FLORIDA; 8. Missouri; 9. Tennessee; 10. Oklahoma; 11. Auburn; 12. Arkansas; 13. Vanderbilt; 14. South Carolina; 15. Kentucky; 16. Mississippi State
DEFENSIVE BACKS: 1. Texas; 2. Alabama; 3. Georgia; 4. Tennessee; 5. LSU; 6. South Carolina; 7. Missouri; 8. Auburn; 9. Oklahoma; 10. FLORIDA; 11. Vanderbilt; 12. Ole Miss; 13. Vanderbilt; 14. Kentucky; 15. Arkansas; 16. Mississippi State
ATHLON TOP 25
1. Texas; 2. Penn State; 3. Ohio State; 4. Georgia; 5. Clemson; 6. Notre Dame; 7. LSU; 8. Alabama; 9. Oregon; 10. Miami; 11. FLORIDA; 12. South Carolina; 13. Kansas State; 14. Arizona State; 15. Michigan; 16. Indiana; 17. Illinois; 18. Ole Miss; 19. Texas A&M; 20. Oklahoma; 21. Tennessee; 22. Texas Tech; 23. Iowa State; 24. SMU; 25. Boise State
My opinion: I would have Texas, Penn State and Clemson 1-2-3 with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Illinois filling out my top 10. LSU and Miami won’t crack the top 10 due to too many transfers and not enough team chemistry.
ATHLON NATIONAL UNIT RANKINGS
QUARTERBACKS: 1. Texas; 2. Clemson; 3. LSU; 4. South Carolina; 5. FLORIDA; 6. Penn State; 7. Ohio State; 8. Arizona State; 9. Miami; 10. Oregon
RUNNING BACKS: 1. Penn State; 2. Notre Dame; 3. Texas; 4. Texas A&M; 5. Oregon; 6. Georgia; 7. Louisville; 8. Baylor; 9. FLORIDA; 10. Michigan
WIDE RECEIVERS: 1. Ohio State; 2. Clemson; 3. Alabama; 4. Auburn; 5. LSU; 6. Texas; 7. Oregon; 8. Georgia; 9. Arizona State; 10. Penn State
OFFENSIVE LINE: 1. Notre Dame; 2. Penn State; 3. Texas A&M; 4. Miami; 5. FLORIDA; 6. Alabama; 7. Clemson; 8. Texas; 9. Ohio State; 10. Iowa
DEFENSIVE LINE: 1. Texas; 2. Clemson; 3. Penn State; 4. Georgia; 5. Alabama; 6. Notre Dame; 7. Ohio State; 8. Michigan; 9. Oklahoma; 10. Miami
LINEBACKERS: 1. Texas; 2. Georgia; 3. Ohio State; 4. Notre Dame; 5. Clemson; 6. Alabama; 7. Pittsburgh; 8. Oregon; 9. LSU; 10. Michigan
DEFENSIVE BACKS: 1. Texas; 2. Alabama; 3. Notre Dame; 4. Ohio State; 5. Penn State; 6. Georgia; 7. Clemson; 8. Tennessee; 9. Illinois; 10. LSU
Really good intel 'bout the state of 25 football, it's 'Show Time' for UT's Manning !
Gators look to be A 'Dark Horse' 'Thunderbolt' striking Fear, into those with
'AlliGator Mouth's' & 'Hummingbird @$$E$ !
Just like in baseball this year, injuries – or the lack thereof – will play a huge part in the story of our season.
Clearly Texas is loaded. My question about Arch is, if he is the greatest QB of all why couldn’t he eclipse Ewers for the starting job? As for Florida, the schedule is the same as last year’s, another SEC Murderers’ Row. This will be a deeper, more mature and better balanced Gator team, however, led by an incredible QB. And, by the way, Athlon badly underrates our linebackers and edge rushers.
I still think a lot of these pundits are sleeping on Florida.
Our biggest question continues to be DL and DB. Our QB, WR and RB rooms are exceptional in my not so humble opinion. I definitely think we are in the top 10 and in the playoff at the end of the season.