Florida slides to No. 22 in AP poll; 24 in coaches’ poll

Week one is in the books, and so is the Florida Gators’ unpleasant 33-17 loss to Michigan. While that loss may have been uninspiring, the Gators apparently were not inexpert enough to get themselves booted from the polls.

This week’s Associated Press poll has Florida sitting at No. 22, falling five spots from their preseason ranking. In the newly released coaches’ poll, the Gators find themselves tumbling eight places from No. 16 to No. 24 after this weekend’s opener.

Michigan being ranked in the top-ten is surely helping Florida remain among the nation’s ranked teams, as are their preseason rankings, and, let’s face it - their national name brand.

Florida remains one of six SEC teams to make both polls. The Gators appear alongside Alabama (No. 1 in both polls), LSU (No. 12 in both polls), Auburn (No. 13 in both polls), Georgia (No. 15 in both polls), and Tennessee (No. 25 in AP, No. 22 in coaches’) - all teams which started their season with a win.

In fact, there is only one other team besides Florida to remain ranked in both polls despite dropping their opener - Florida State. The Seminoles were No. 3 in both preseason polls but slid to No. 9 in the coaches’ poll and No. 10 in the AP rankings after their loss to top-ranked Alabama on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide retained the top spot in both polls after their aforementioned victory, and are followed in each by Ohio State, Clemson, and Penn State. Oklahoma and USC take the fifth and six spots in alternating polls.

As of the present polling, the Gators are still scheduled to meet four ranked teams this season, after starting with No. 8 Michigan.

Do any of the rankings give you pause? Are you surprised that Florida is still ranked? Are you pleased about it? Angry? Apathetic? Sleepy? Tell us in the comments!