![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, left shakes hands with Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal after the Hurricanes defeated the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_5600,h_3150/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/200/01jcxb0953bd2f0944pf.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, left shakes hands with Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal after the Hurricanes defeated the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
Central Florida, Florida State and Miami were on byes and Florida and South Florida earned their important fifth wins of the season in the week 12 Sunshine State football outlook. FIU was eliminated from bowl contention with a loss and FAU lost 18-15 to Temple in a battle of the Owls.
Florida beat number 21 LSU 21-16 on Saturday. The Gators improved to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the SEC. Florida is now one win away from bowl eligibility. Florida finishes the season versus Mississippi and at Florida State. The ESPN Football Power Index gives Florida an 85.1 percent chance to get to six wins.
South Florida earned an equally important win for them in a 59-24 victory at Charlotte. The Bulls are also 5-5 and one win away from qualifying for a bowl game. South Florida finishes the season versus Tulsa and at Rice. The FPI gives South Florida a 94.9 percent chance to earn its sixth win.
FIU lost a back-and-forth game to Jacksonville State 34-31, dropping them to 3-7 and eliminating them from bowl eligibility. Jacksonville State ran for 234 yards. FIU has a chance to finish the season strong at Kennesaw State on Saturday and versus Middle Tennessee State.
Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
1 | Miami | 9-1 |
2 | Florida | 5-5 |
3 | Central Florida | 4-6 |
4 | South Florida | 5-5 |
5 | Florida International | 3-6 |
6 | Florida Atlantic | 2-8 |
7 | Florida State | 1-9 |
Miami had the opportunity to get healthy, rest and examine what happened in their loss to Georgia Tech with a bye in week 12. Wake Forest is at Miami on Saturday and the Hurricanes finish the season at Syracuse on November 30. Miami moved up one spot to 10th in the FPI.
Central Florida finishes the regular season at West Virginia on Saturday and versus Utah on November 29 (the day after Thanksgiving). The Knights have to win out to become bowl eligible. The FPI projects Central Florida with a 39 percent chance to win out and have six wins.
Florida State has a 98 percent chance to beat Charleston Southern and end their six-game losing streak on Saturday. Florida has an 81.2 percent chance to beat FSU in the last game of the regular season for both teams on November 30 in Tallahassee. At least three Florida teams should qualify for a bowl game.