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Florida Football Ranked No. 23 In 2012 Preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll

By Andy Hutchins
April 7, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Mike Gillislee (23) runs after catching a pass during the first half of the Florida-Spring Game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-US PRESSWIRE
April 7, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Mike Gillislee (23) runs after catching a pass during the first half of the Florida-Spring Game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-US PRESSWIRE

The Florida Gators enter the 2012 college football season coming off a down year in 2011, and they will need to climb the polls in 2012 to have a chance of playing for a national title. But the Gators won't start outside the top 25: The preseason USA TODAY Coaches' Poll is out today, and Florida ends up at No. 23 in it.

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Florida's also going to have chances aplenty to knock off some higher-rated teams in 2012, it seems. LSU takes the No. 1 spot, Florida State is No. 6, Georgia is No. 7, and South Carolina is No. 9, giving Florida four opponents in the top 10 of this poll, likely the most of any school in the country.

Fortunately for the Gators, their schedule doesn't include any other opponents ranked in this preseason top 25, though it's not impossible that Texas A&M, currently in the first five out, could be ranked when the Gators visit College Station on September 8, or that Tennesse could rise by the time Florida heads to Knoxville.

Do you think No. 23 is a fair ranking for Florida? Are you worried about the Gators' top-heavy schedule? Let us know in the comments.