UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25

The preseason AP Top 25 is already creating plenty of debate, but history says voters will get plenty wrong.

Several teams outside the initial rankings have the roster, schedule and coaching stability to force their way into the national conversation.

That makes the most interesting question less about who is ranked now and more about which unranked college football teams could reach the AP Top 25 by the end of the season.

For Florida, that question is especially relevant.

The Gators enter 2026 outside the AP Top 25, but they received 51 votes — the second-highest total among unranked teams. Florida effectively sits at No. 27 in the voting.

With Jon Sumrall beginning his first season in Gainesville, the Gators have a legitimate opportunity to turn preseason skepticism into ranking momentum.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: WHY PRESEASON RANKINGS CAN BE WRONG

The AP preseason poll is based heavily on expectations.

The final poll is based on results.

That distinction matters.

The 2026 preseason poll has Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Oregon and Georgia. Nine SEC teams are ranked, including five inside the top 10.

But the rankings will change quickly once games begin.

An unranked team can climb rapidly by stacking wins, especially against opponents with strong preseason reputations.

Florida is positioned for exactly that type of opportunity.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: FLORIDA HAS THE CLEAREST SEC ARGUMENT

Florida’s case starts with the vote total.

The Gators were left outside the Top 25 but received 51 votes, making them one of the first teams outside the rankings.

That means voters are not dismissing Florida completely.

They are waiting for proof.

Sumrall’s challenge is turning that belief into results.

Florida is also entering a dramatically different era.

Sumrall is taking over after Florida finished 4-8 in 2025. The program has also undergone significant staff and roster changes, including new coordinators Buster Faulkner and Brad White.

The upside is obvious.

Florida has returning talent at several important positions, while a large group of transfers could dramatically change the team’s ceiling.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: FLORIDA’S SCHEDULE CREATES A FAST TRACK

The Gators do not need to wait until November to make an impression.

Their schedule provides multiple opportunities to change the national narrative.

Florida faces five preseason AP-ranked opponents:

• No. 9 Ole Miss
• No. 25 Missouri
• No. 20 Texas
• No. 3 Georgia
• No. 10 Oklahoma

That is a brutal schedule.

It is also an opportunity.

If Florida enters those games with a strong record, even one major upset could send the Gators flying up the rankings.

A win over a highly ranked SEC opponent would carry considerably more weight than simply piling up victories against unranked competition.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: THE JON SUMRALL FACTOR

This is where Florida’s situation becomes particularly fascinating.

Sumrall has already demonstrated that he can build winning teams.

He enters Gainesville with a 43-12 career record as a head coach from his time at Troy and Tulane.

But the SEC presents a different challenge.

Florida will need more than a coaching bounce.

It needs improved execution.

The Gators need quarterback play that survives SEC pressure. They need a defense capable of getting off the field. They need an offensive line that can consistently create favorable situations.

Most importantly, Florida cannot afford to waste opportunities against teams it should beat.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: THE EARLY-SEASON TEST

Florida’s first three FBS opponents are Florida Atlantic, Campbell and Auburn.

The Campbell matchup is against an FCS opponent and does not factor into AP Top 25 rankings in the same way as an FBS victory.

Auburn, however, could become significant.

The Tigers are also unranked but received votes in the preseason poll.

If Florida wins its opening games and then beats Auburn, the Gators could enter the heart of SEC play with substantial momentum.

That is when the AP voters would have to reconsider Florida.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: WHAT FLORIDA MUST DO

The formula is straightforward.

1. Start fast

Florida cannot afford another early-season collapse. A strong September would immediately change the conversation.

2. Win the games it should win

The Gators do not need to beat every ranked opponent.

They do need to avoid unnecessary losses.

3. Steal a ranked victory

A victory over Ole Miss, Missouri, Texas, Georgia or Oklahoma would provide the type of résumé boost voters notice.

4. Stay healthy

Florida’s roster has significant first-year contributors. Continuity will be critical.

5. Improve every week

The Gators cannot rely solely on preseason expectations. They must become visibly better as the season progresses.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: THE SEC MAKES THE PATH HARDER

Florida’s biggest problem may not be Florida.

It is the SEC.

Nine SEC teams opened the season ranked in the AP Top 25, making the conference the deepest league represented in the preseason poll.

That means Florida could play well and still face a difficult ranking climb.

But there is another side to that equation.

Beating ranked SEC opponents can also produce résumé-defining victories.

The Gators have several chances.

That is why their unranked status should not be viewed as a ceiling.

It is simply the starting point.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: WHY FLORIDA COULD CRASH THE POLL

Florida already has something many unranked teams do not.

National recognition.

The Gators received 51 preseason votes and were effectively the second-highest team outside the poll.

They also have one of the sport’s biggest brands, a demanding SEC schedule and a new head coach who enters with a strong winning record.

The ingredients are there.

The question is whether the new staff can turn them into victories.

If Florida starts 3-0 or 4-0, the Gators could immediately become one of the most discussed teams outside the Top 25.

If they knock off a ranked opponent, the conversation changes again.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: THE BIGGEST QUESTION

Can Florida survive the schedule long enough to build momentum?

That is the central issue.

The Gators do not need perfection.

They need credibility.

A strong start would give Sumrall breathing room. A ranked victory would give voters evidence. A sustained run through SEC play could turn Florida from an overlooked team into a legitimate Top 25 contender.

The AP Poll will eventually reward that.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: FAQ

Can an unranked college football team reach the AP Top 25?

Absolutely. Teams outside the preseason rankings can enter the poll quickly by winning games, especially against ranked opponents.

Is Florida likely to enter the AP Top 25 in 2026?

Florida has a realistic path. The Gators already received 51 preseason votes and face five preseason-ranked opponents.

What is Florida’s biggest obstacle to reaching the AP Top 25?

The SEC schedule is the biggest challenge. Florida faces five teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25.

Who is coaching Florida in 2026?

Jon Sumrall is beginning his first season as Florida’s head coach after arriving with a 43-12 career record as a head coach.

What would get Florida ranked fastest?

A strong opening record followed by a victory over a ranked SEC opponent would give the Gators the strongest immediate case.

UNRANKED COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT COULD REACH THE AP TOP 25: THE BOTTOM LINE

Florida is unranked, but the Gators are hardly invisible.

The 51 preseason votes show that voters are already watching.

Now Sumrall has to give them a reason to move Florida into the poll.

The schedule will provide plenty of opportunities.

The pressure will be enormous.

But if Florida can turn its talent, new coaching structure and ranked-opponent opportunities into wins, the Gators could become one of the season’s biggest AP Top 25 risers.

The race to identify the unranked college football teams that could reach the AP Top 25 starts with teams like Florida that already have voters watching.