Florida football’s postseason outlook is starting to come into focus heading into the final month of the regular season.
CBS Sports projects the Gators to face Nebraska in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, pairing "two recognizable brands" in a matchup that would be relatively easy for the majority of Florida fans to reach.
Brad Crawford noted that the destination made geographic sense and would give the Gators "a quality Big Ten opponent" to close the season. He also pointed out that Florida’s expectations had climbed considerably after the Gators beat Ole Miss and rose as high as No. 8 in the rankings earlier this season.
Florida enters the final stretch at 5-2 and ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25, with a marquee matchup against No. 3 Georgia up next
on Oct. 31. The CFP is still the goal, but it's going to take an upset win on Saturday to get back into the serious-contender spot.
The Gators have already shown they can handle ranked opponents, with wins over Ole Miss and Texas, but the rest of the schedule will determine whether Florida stays in the middle tier of the SEC bowl picture or climbs into a more prestigious postseason slot.
Nebraska would offer an interesting opponent if the projection holds. Matt Rhule’s program has continued to push toward more meaningful postseason opportunities after years spent outside the national conversation, and CBS Sports viewed Tampa as a worthwhile landing spot for the Huskers as well.
For Florida, the projection reflects where things stand now rather than where the ceiling might be. A strong finish could push the Gators higher, while a stumble through the final month could send them in the opposite direction.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: CBS Sports projects Florida to face Nebraska in bowl game
