State of Florida post week 12 Power Rankings Florida and South Florida bowl eligible
![Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) is sacked during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes in the second half. Miami defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2833,h_1593,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F200%2F01jdmp4szn0m5tqcnw4b.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) is sacked during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes in the second half. Miami defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
Miami should move up in the week 14 College Football Playoff rankings after being Wake Forest on Saturday and wins by Florida and South Florida to become bowl eligible highlight the State of Florida power rankings. No other Florida teams have the opportunity to become bowl eligible in the final week of the season.
Miami will be the top ranked team in Florida since Florida State dropped out of the polls after starting 0-2. The 42-17 Miami win at Florida to open the season made a statement. Miami started 9-0 before losing 28-23 at Georgia Tech on November 9. Miami rebounded with a 42-14 win versus Wake Forest on Saturday.
Florida won consecutive games at home versus ranked teams with victories over LSU and Mississippi. The Gators wins made them bowl eligible. Losses to LSU and Mississippi would have dropped Florida to 4-7 and put Billy Napier's job in serious jeopardy. Florida is finally trending up under Napier.
South Florida won 63-30 over Tulsa. The score was not as close as indicated. Tulsa outscored South Florida 23-14 in the fourth quarter. South Florida finishes the regular season at Rice. The ESPN Football Power Index projects South Florida with a 61.4 percent chance to win on Saturday.
Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
1 | Miami | 10-1 |
2 | Florida | 6-5 |
3 | South Florida | 6-5 |
4 | Central Florida | 4-7 |
5 | Florida International | 3-8 |
6 | Florida Atlantic | 2-9 |
7 | Florida State | 2-9 |
After starting 3-0, Central Florida has lost seven of its last eight games. The only win for Central Florida over its last eight games was over 4-7 Arizona who has lost six of its last seven games. The FPI projects Central Florida with a 68.6 percent chance to beat 4-7 Utah in its final 2024 game on Saturday.
FIU lost its last two games by a combined four points. Wins in those games would have put FIU in a position to qualify for a bowl game with a win over Middle Tennessee State on Saturday. The FPI gives FIU a 77.0 percent chance to end the season with a win over MTSU on Saturday in Miami.
FAU lost 39-27 to Charlotte on Saturday after firing head coach Tom Herman last week. FAU travels to Tulsa who will be led by former North Carolina All-American wide receiver Ryan Switzer as interim coach in the season finale. Tulsa is 3-8. FAU has a 58.6 percent chance to win at Tulsa and end a six game losing streak.
Florida State ended a six-game losing streak by beating FCS Charleston Southern on Saturday. Florida is given an 82.9 percent chance to win at Florida State on Saturday. The Gators and Seminoles will have a 7:00 PM Eastern Time Kickoff on ESPN2. Most of that should be attributable to the surge by Florida.
Miami is carrying the torch for the State of Florida during the 2024 season. Florida has brought some more pride to the Sunshine State with its two-game winning streak. South Florida will have an opportunity to win a postseason game. The other four programs have a long way to go to improve from where they are in 2024.
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