Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The first day of summer isn't officially until Friday, but on this final day of spring, the weather outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium today sure feels swampy.

Another certain sign of summer is the arrival of the traditional college football magazines on newsstands. I grabbed three recently to have handy for reference during the season, tossed them on my desk and then headed to Texas on back-to-back weekends for Gators baseball and the NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships.

I finally had time to take a glance at them this week and see what they have to say specifically about the Gators. It was fun to start thinking about football with the 2018-19 Gators athletic season in the rearview mirror.

If the preseason pundits are correct, it's going to be a good season for the Gators with a prominent bowl trip at the end.

Without further ado, here goes:
  Lindy's Sports

Gators ranked: No. 6

SEC: Second in East behind Georgia

Bowl projection: Sugar Bowl vs. Texas

Summary: In his first season, Dan Mullen proved he was the right man for the job. A program that has been maddeningly inconsistent in recent seasons has the momentum of a 10-win season and dominant Peach Bowl victory over Michigan. The two-step goal – knock Georgia off its perch in the SEC East and reach the College Football Playoff – is more reality than fantasy.

Noted number: 54 – Georgia's margin of victory while beating Florida in the past two seasons and going on to win the SEC East.

Quote of note: "Mullen did a helluva job with Feleipe Franks. Franks was very average before Dan got there. One thing about Mullen at Florida, he will have as good or better defenses than he had a Mississippi State, and he's not playing a West schedule. So if he can duplicate at Florida on offense what he did at State, he'll challenge for the East every year." – Anonymous opposing coach
  Street & Smith's

Gators ranked: No. 8

SEC: Second in East behind Georgia

Bowl projection: Orange Bowl vs. Notre Dame

Summary: Dan Mullen led the Gators to 10 wins in Year One, and that included victories against Michigan and LSU. Florida must close the gap with Georgia in the SEC East, and the schedule presents challenges outside the division against Miami, Auburn and LSU. Mullen will build on that success.

Noted number: 2 – Where Gators rank on list of programs primed for their first trip to the College Football Playoff, trailing only Texas.

Quote of note: "He is a terror coming off the edge because of his speed, agility, strength and body control." – Street & Smith's "Rating the SEC" writer on Gators defensive end Jabari Zuniga, who is listed as "best athlete" in the conference
  Athlon Sports

Gators ranked: No. 8

SEC: Second in East behind Georgia

Bowl projection: Orange Bowl vs. Syracuse

Summary: Gator fans had to love the last two games of the '18 season, when UF routed Florida State and Michigan to finish with 10 wins and let the SEC East know that Dan Mullen wasn't the best coach in Mississippi State history for nothing. The scary thing for everybody else in the conference is that Mullen is just starting his roll, and once he gets a few recruiting classes into the program, things could get really interesting.

Noted number: 1.0 – Yards Gators offense improved in 2018, from 5.2 yards per play to 6.2 ypg, fourth-highest among power conference teams.

Quote of note: "Dan Mullen did a really nice job with his Year 1. He got the culture back and got the locker room back. They're not nearly what they used to be, but you saw Florida football at times, especially down the stretch." – Anonymous opposing coach