Florida's postseason outlook remains uncertain with three games left in the regular season, but CBS Sports is projecting the Gators to spend bowl season closer to home.
In his latest college football bowl projections, CBS Sports' Brad Crawford has Florida facing Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa.
The projection comes after Florida's 23-7 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, which dropped the Gators to 5-4 in Jon Sumrall's first season as head coach. Florida needs at least one more victory to reach the six-win threshold typically required for bowl eligibility.
The ReliaQuest Bowl is played at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and traditionally features an SEC team against a Big Ten opponent.
A matchup with Iowa would give
Florida another opportunity to face a Power Four opponent after navigating a difficult SEC schedule. The Hawkeyes have enjoyed a strong season, including a 24-10 road victory over Northwestern in Week 10.
Crawford's projection differs from the latest outlook published by USA TODAY Sports, which has Florida facing Arizona in the Las Vegas Bowl. The two predictions illustrate the range of potential postseason destinations still available to the Gators.
Florida needs a strong finish to the regular season
Florida's immediate concern, however, is securing bowl eligibility. The Gators travel to Kentucky on Saturday before closing the regular season against Tennessee and Florida State.
Kentucky enters the matchup at 7-2 following a 34-6 loss to Tennessee, presenting another challenge for a Florida team that has struggled to find consistency.
The Gators have appeared in bowl games in each of the past two seasons, but a third consecutive postseason appearance remains dependent on their results over the final three weeks.
For now, CBS Sports sees Florida returning to the postseason with a potential trip to Tampa and a matchup against a familiar Big Ten program.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: CBS Sports projects Florida's bowl destination after Week 10
