Florida Gators' playoff chances after Week 3: Can Billy Napier make the CFP playoff after Texas A&M humiliation?
The Florida Gators have not been able to get going this season as they have faltered to 1-2 (0-1 in SEC) this season after they lost 33-20 at home on Saturday against the Texas A&M Aggies. The team is continuing to fight to turn their season around.
However, people have started speculating about the Gators' chances of making the College Football Playoff. Let's take a look at their remaining schedule and discuss their chances.
What is the remaining schedule for the Florida Gators?
- 9/21: at Mississippi State Bulldogs
- 10/5: vs UCF Knights
- 10/12: at Tennessee Volunteers
- 10/19: vs Kentucky Wildcats
- 11/2: vs Georgia Bulldogs
- 11/9: at Texas Longhorns
- 11/16: vs LSU Tigers
- 11/23: vs Ole Miss Rebels
- 11/30: at Florida State Seminoles
Will the Florida Gators make the College Football Playoff?
The College Football Playoff is expanded to 12 teams this season for the first time but it does not appear that the Florida Gators will make it unless a drastic turnaround.
They are 0-1 in the conference and winning the SEC would give them an automatic berth. However, looking at that schedule, it seems extremely difficult to expect the Gators to win enough conference games to be one of the two teams in the SEC Championship Game.
Outside of the conference champions, there are seven at-large bids available for teams. With the Florida Gators not getting consideration in the most recent AP Poll, it is difficult to believe they will turn the ship around.
It is not often a team would go from not receiving a single vote in the Week 3 AP Poll to being able to climb up the poll in the subsequent weeks and make one of the top 12 programs.
Quarterback Graham Mertz has not had a good season with a 30.1 QBR right now and that is a big factor in the lack of offense. However, the building of the roster by Billy Napier has not been great so it is difficult to blame at Mertz's feet solely.
Instead of making the College Football Playoff, it appears that the University of Florida is getting prepared to make a change at the top of the program as the temperature continues to rise on the seat of coach Billy Napier. A coaching change in theory can give the players an added boost but that is not typical in college sports and more in professional sports.
An unbelievable run to the CFP is not out of the question, but to expect that to happen is unlikely after their start.