It’s been a crazy ride this college football season, and the chaos is bound to continue with the home stretch nearing. Florida football enters the final month of its season as the poster child of chaotic success.
With a season full of scoring, back and forth games, a massive fight and a two-week COVID-19 layoff already in the books, how much more can happen for this team? Well, hopefully a lot. For starters, the Gators enter the home stretch of the season against a slate of teams that offer quarterback Kyle Trask the opportunity to become the program’s first Heisman winner since Tim Tebow in 2007.
Trask enters the back-nine having accounted for almost 2,200 yards of offense and a 28:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, accounting for more scoring than any other QB in the nation. The Gators next four opponents are a combined 7-17 on the season. Beginning with a winless Vanderbilt this Saturday, the Gators will meet Kentucky, travel to Tennessee and finish off the season at home against LSU.
The toughest test of the four might be underrated Kentucky, who play hard every week but nonetheless field a talent deficient roster. Tennessee looked promising early on before dropping four straight, and the defending champs completely fell of the map, allowing over 40 points in more than half their games this season.
While it’s foolish to write off four contests before they happen (the games are played for a reason), what can be ascertained is that Trask is well positioned to do what SEC teams have long complained Big 12 QBs get to do: run up his stats against inferior, outmatched defenses.
Barring a massive fall-off, Trask is virtually a lock to be a Heisman finalist and has to be considered the favorite to win at this point. Other contenders include BYU’s Zach Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Notre Dame’s Ian Book. Preseason favorite Trevor Lawrence has now missed multiple games due to COVID, including his team’s biggest game of the season against Book and the Irish.
For the team as a whole, winning these final games is paramount to its position come bowl season. Winning out would land the Gators in the conference title game, likely against Alabama. Winning that game would very likely land the Gators in the College Football Playoff for the very first time. Even with a loss against the Crimson Tide, Florida would be a lock for a New Year’s Six game.
The Gators have done an excellent job to battle back after a loss to Texas A&M and subsequent Covid outbreak derailed their season. The defense has begun to round into form after failing to make a single stop in the A&M game, keeping games out of reach while the explosive offense does its thing. The Gators actually allowed more points to Arkansas last Saturday than they did to Georgia the week prior.
The Gators seem to have learned to do what they need to win each week. Continue to take care of business, and this team has a real chance to find itself in the Playoff. Next stop is in Nashville, where the Gators take on the winless Commodores Saturday at noon ET.
Photo courtesy of FloridaGators.com
