Florida moves up in way-too-early college football rankings for 2026

The college football spring practice season is now well in the rearview mirror as the summer months quickly approach, which means it is time to update those way-too-early rankings.

Sports Illustrated's Bryan Fischer did just that recently, and his latest offering bumped up the Florida Gators one spot to No. 19 in the nation. This bullish outlook might come as a surprise to many, but optimism reigns supreme as the Orange and Blue looks to turn the page on a disappointing Billy Napier era and embrace the nascent tenure of Jon Sumrall.

"If you’re looking for a surprise turnaround in the SEC, the Gators will be a trendy pick," Fisher begins. "The quarterback battle was inconclusive in the spring between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr., but there’s a host of quality skill position players they can rely on early before settling things under center. The offensive line is a bit of a question mark and a chief concern, but this should be a solid step forward in coach Jon Sumrall’s debut campaign."

The No. 19 ranking puts Florida between the No. 18 Penn State Nittany Lions and No. 20 Washington Huskies. Below is a look at how the full top-25 rankings shake out.

College Football Way-Too-Early Top 25 Rankings

1. Notre Dame
2. Oregon
3. Ohio State
4. Miami
5. Georgia
6. Texas
7. Indiana
8. LSU
9. Michigan
10. Oklahoma
11. BYU
12. Texas A&M
13. Texas Tech
14. USC
15. Alabama
16. Ole Miss
17. SMU
18. Penn State
19. Florida
20. Washington
21. Missouri
22. Boise State
23. Tennessee
24. Utah