Top Ranked Alabama Squeaks by Florida in College Football

Eleventh Ranked Florida hosted #1 Alabama in a key early season SEC football game on September 18th, with the Gators being a 14 ½ point underdog to the defending national champion Crimson Tide. That seems like a pretty big spread for a game between two highly ranked teams, but after the 1st quarter it was looking like the oddsmakers were correct.

Alabama took a 21-3 lead in the first quarter behind three Bryce Young touchdown passes. It was 21-9 at halftime on a Florida touchdown run and a missed extra point. Florida closed in a little more in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Alabama 14-7 to make it 28-23. The Crimson Tide increase the lead to eight at 31-23 on a 24 yard field goal in the 4th quarter, but the Gators scored on a 17 yard run by Dameon Pierce with 3:10 left to make in 31-29. Florida went for the two point conversion but was stopped short. After the kickoff, the Crimson Tide controlled the ball until punting with just 10 seconds left. Florida could only get one play off before the game ended.

Alabama remains at #1 in the AP Poll, and Florida held on to the #11 spot. There were some upsets of ranked teams of note. #13 UCLA lost to Fresno State 40-37. The Bruins dropped to 24th, while previously unranked Fresno State entered the Top 25 at #22. Fifteenth ranked Virginia Tech lost to West Virginia 27-21, and dropped all the way out of the poll. #23 BYU beat #19 Arizona State 27-17; the Cougars moved up to #15 while the Sun Devils dropped out. #24 Miami gave up three touchdowns in the fourth quarter in its 38-17 loss to Michigan State. The previously unranked Spartans took over the #20 slot in the rankings while Miami dropped out.