By Franz Beard
A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:
PRE-SPRING POSITION REVIEW: THE QUARTERBACKS
Typically, the unknown factor at the quarterback position in college football is that kid who emerges as the No. 1 in the spring but has never taken a snap in a real game. In the case of the Florida Gators and new HBC Billy Napier, the unknown factor is last year’s starter, Emory Jones. Back in December before Florida’s Gasparilla Bowl game with UCF, Jones said he was going to transfer. Well, the bowl game has come and gone and Jones not only didn’t transfer out, but he's enrolled in school and participating in spring practice.
That raises the question what happens to the quarterback room if Jones has a lights out spring and decides Billy Napier can teach him how to step into a throw instead of heaving it off his back foot? Would Napier gamble that EJ is his guy and take a chance that Anthony Richardson would leave for a place where he can start? What about Ohio State transfer Jack Miller III? He didn’t exactly leave Columbus for someplace where he might have to beat out last year’s starter and Richardson, too? And how about Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Jalen Kitna. They didn’t sniff the field last year. Will one or both decide to do the big adios after the spring?
Here are the five QBs on the UF roster heading into the spring:
Emory Jones (6-2, 201, RJR): Expectations are that he’ll go through spring, graduate in May and then transfer out. But what if he doesn’t? And if he stays, will it be at QB or will he learn to catch the ball and play in the slot?
Anthony Richardson (6-4, 237, RSO): From a pure talent standpoint there are few quarterbacks in the country equal to Richardson. He has never stayed healthy and he has yet to show he can play under control, but healthy and under control? Oh my.
Jack Miller III (6-3, 215, RFR): He transferred in from Ohio State where there was an incumbent Heisman finalist and a loaded QB room. He has the big arm and serious accuracy. He didn’t transfer to Florida to sit. He’s very motivated.
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (6-2, 228, RFR): He took a redshirt in 2021 so we have yet to see him under fire but people who saw him at practice say he’s got a live arm, great wheels and a knack for making big plays.
Jalen Kitna (6-4, 205, RFR): He’s very, very young and still growing into his body. He came to UF as a skinny 180-pounder but he’s added 25 pounds of muscle. He has the arm and the pedigree as dad Jon was a 16-year NFL QB.
Assessing the situation: I am of the opinion that Jones will ride off into the sunset, college degree in hand, looking for a fresh start and a chance to be somebody’s winning QB. I think Richardson and Miller are going to go toe-to-toe for the No. 1 job. I’m of the opinion that either Del Rio-Wilson or Kitna will be in the portal in late April.
GATORS MOVE UP TO NO. 17; KNOCK OFF AUBURN, 83-77
Kelly Rae Finley still has a hungry team on her hands. On the day the Gators (19-6, 9-3 SEC) moved up to 17th in the latest Associated Press women’s top 25 poll, UF scored its sixth SEC road win of the season, knocking off Auburn, 83-77, to remain tied for third place with No. 11 LSU in the SEC standings.
The Gators held a 71-57 lead with 5:57 to go in the game when Auburn on a 17-7 run to narrow the game to four (78-74) with 18 seconds remaining. The Tigers tried to extend the game by fouling but the Gators hit 5-6 free throws the rest of the way, sealing the win when Zippy Broughton hit both her shots with five seconds to go.
The game was won at the foul line where the Gators converted 23-28 shots including 14-18 in the second half.
Broughton led the way for the Gators with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Kristina Moore came off the bench to score 15 while Jordyn Merritt had 13, Kiki Smith 12 and Nina Rickards 10.
SEC Basketball
Monday’s game: NO. 17 FLORIDA (19-6, 9-3 SEC) 83, Auburn (9-14, 1-11 SEC) 77
Thursday’s games: Arkansas (16-8, 6-5 SEC) at FLORIDA (19-6, 9-3 SEC); Auburn (9-14, 1-11 SEC) at No. 1 South Carolina (23-1, 11-1 SEC); No. 11 LSU (21-4, 9-3 SEC) at Mississippi State (15-8, 6-5 SEC); No. 12 Tennessee (21-4, 10-2 SEC) at Alabama (12-11, 3-9 SEC); Missouri (16-9, 5-7 SEC) at No. 21 Georgia (17-7, 6-6 SEC); Vanderbilt (12-14, 3-9 SEC) at Kentucky (10-11, 3-8 SEC); Texas A&M (14-10, 4-8 SEC) at Ole Miss (18-6, 6-5 SEC)
The Associated Press Top 25: 1. South Carolina 23-1; 2. Stanford 21-3; 3. Louisville 22-2; 4. North Carolina State 23-3; 5. Indiana 18-3; 6. Iowa State 21-3; 7. Baylor 19-5; 8. Arizona 18-4; 9. Michigan 20-4; 10. UConn 17-5; 11. LSU 21-4; 12. Tennessee 21-4; 13. Maryland 18-6; 14. Texas 17-6; 15. Oklahoma 20-4; 16. Georgia Tech 19-6; 17. FLORIDA 18-6; 18. Ohio State 18-4; 19. Notre Dame 19-6; 20. BYU 21-2; 21. Georgia 17-7; 22. Iowa 16-6; 23. Virginia Tech 19-6; 24. North Carolina 19-5; 25. Florida Gulf Coast 22-2
MUST WIN SITUATION FOR UF AT TEXAS A&M
There is no margin for error for Mike White and the Gators, who face Texas A&M in College Station tonight (7 p.m., SEC Network). Winning won’t cement the Gators’ chances to make the NCAA Tournament, but a loss could all but doom them. Florida comes into the game with the No. 49 in the NCAA Net Rankings, just inside Quad 1, while the Aggies are No. 73. Winning won’t boost the Gators in the Net Rankings, but losing would be a Quad 2 loss, and with just six games left on the schedule and only a 1-6 record in Quad 1 games, that could be a torpedo to Florida’s chances to avoid the Nobody’s Interested Tournament.
SEC Basketball
Tuesday’s games: FLORIDA (16-9, 6-6 SEC) at Texas A&M (15-10, 4-8 SEC); South Carolina (14-10, 5-7 SEC) at Ole Miss (12-13, 3-9 SEC); No. 5 Kentucky (21-4, 10-2 SEC) at No. 19 Tennessee (18-6, 9-3 SEC); Arkansas (19-6, 8-4 SEC) at Missouri (10-14, 4-7 SEC)
Wednesday’s games: Georgia (6-19, 1-11 SEC) at LSU (18-7, 6-6 SEC); Mississippi State (14-10, 5-6 SEC) at Alabama (16-9, 6-6 SEC); Vanderbilt (13-11, 5-7 SEC) at No. 1 Auburn (23-2, 11-1 SEC)
The Associated Press Top 25: 1. Gonzaga 21-2; 2. Auburn 23-2; 3. Arizona 22-2; 4. Kentucky 21-4; 5. Purdue 22-4; 6. Kansas 20-4; 7. Baylor 21-4; 8. Providence 21-2; 9. Duke 21-4; 10. Villanova 19-6; 11. Texas Tech 19-6; 12. Illinois 18-6; 13. UCLA 17-5; 14. Houston 20-4; 15. Wisconsin 19-5; 16. Tennessee 18-6; 17. Southern Cal 21-4; 18. Ohio State 15-6; 19. Michigan State 18-6; 20. Texas 18-7; 21. Murray State 24-2; 22. Wyoming 21-3; 23. Arkansas 19-6; 24. UConn 17-7; 25. Alabama 16-9
The Coaches Top 25: 1. Gonzaga 21-2; 2. Auburn 23-2; 3. Kentucky 21-4; 4. Arizona 22-2; 5. Duke 21-4; 6. Kansas 20-4; 7. Purdue 22-4; 8. Baylor 21-4; 9. Providence 21-2; 10. Villanova 19-6; 11. Texas Tech 19-6; 12. Illinois 18-6; 13. Tennessee 18-6; 14. UCLA 17-5; 15. Houston 20-4; 16. Wisconsin 19-5; 17. Southern Cal 21-4; 18. Ohio State 15-6; 19. Michigan State 18-6; 20. Texas 18-7; 21. Murray State 24-2; 22. Wyoming 21-3; 24. (Tie) UConn 17-7 and Arkansas 19-6
GATOR GYMNASTS CLIMB TO NO. 2
Florida’s 198.150-197.825 win over LSU moved the Gators up two spots to No. 2 in the weekly Collegiate Gymnastics Rankings.
Collegiate Gymnastics Association Top 25 (by average score): 1. Michigan 197.963; 2. FLORIDA 197.638; 3. Oklahoma 197.604; 4. Utah 197.496; 5. LSU 197.400; 6. Minnesota 197.313; 7. Auburn 197.250; 8. Alabama 197.154; 9. California 196.960; 10. Kentucky 196.880; 11. Missouri 196.850; 12. Denver 196.800; 13. Oregon State 196.755; 14. Michigan State 196.611; 15. UCLA 196.410; 16. Arkansas 196.370; 17. Iowa 196.268; 18. Stanford 196.230; 19. BYU 196.221; 20. Arizona State 196.160; 21. Utah State 196.142; 23. Southern Utah 195.871; 24. Boise State 195.783; 25. Western Michigan 195.720
UF SOFTBALL UP TO NO. 3 IN D1SOFTBALL.COM POLL
Lexie Delbrey, who came within a seventh-inning single of pitching a no game in her collegiate debut against 16th-ranked Michigan, was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week. Delbrey struck out five and walked two as the Gators knocked off Michigan 4-0 as part of a perfect 4-0 weekend in the USF-Rawlings Invitational in Tampa.
The Gators, now ranked third in the D1Softball.com poll, will face Jacksonville on the road tonight before returning to Gainesville for their home opener against JU Wednesday evening.
D1Softball.com Top 25: 1. Oklahoma 5-0; 2. Alabama 4-0; 3. FLORIDA 4-0; 4. UCLA 4-1; 5. Florida State 4-0; 6. Washington 5-0; 7. Oklahoma State 4-1; 8. Virginia Tech 5-0; 9. Arkansas 3-2; 10. Texas 4-1; 11. Oregon 0-0; 12. Duke 4-1; 13. Clemson 3-1; 14. Missouri 3-2; 15. Tennessee 4-0; 16. Arizona 3-1; 17. Michigan 3-2; 18. Kentucky 4-1; 19. Georgia 5-1; 20. Louisiana 5-0; 21. Northwestern 4-1; 22. Arizona State 3-2; 23. LSU 4-2; 24. UCF 3-1; 25. Illinois 4-1
OTHER UF SPORTS …
Freshman Emma LoPinto, who scored six goals in her collegiate debut in Florida’s 22-7 win over Kennesaw State, was named American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week. The Gators (1-0), meanwhile, remained No. 7 nationally in the Inside Lacrosse poll.
Inside Lacrosse Top 25: 1. Boston College 1-0; 2. North Carolina 1-0; 3. Syracuse 2-0; 4. Stony Brook 0-0; 5. Northwestern 0-1; 6. Duke 2-0; 7. FLORIDA 1-0; 8. Maryland 1-0; 9. Loyola 0-0; 10. Virginia 2-0; 11. Michigan 2-0; 12. Notre Dame 1-1; 13. James Madison 0-1; 14. Stanford 1-1; 15. Denver 1-0; 16. Princeton 0-0; 17. Rutgers 1-0; 18. Jacksonville 1-0; 19. Drexel 1-0; 20. Pennsylvania 0-0; 21. Johns Hopkins 1-0; 22. Temple 1-0; 23. UConn 0-0; 24. UMass 1-0; 25. Penn State 0-0
The Florida women are No. 2 nationally in the latest US Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association poll while the UF men are ranked No. 9.
USTFCCCA Women’s Top 25: 1. Texas; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Arkansas; 4. LSU; 5. Kentucky; 6. Texas Tech; 7. BYU; 8. Texas A&M; 9. Ole Miss; 10. Virginia Tech; 11. North Carolina State; 12. Oregon; 13. Washington; 14. Ohio State; 15. Tennessee; 16. Notre Dame; 17. Oklahoma State; 18. Nebraska; 19. South Carolina; 20. Colorado; 21. Penn State; 22. Binghamton; 23. Alabama; 24. Florida State; 25. Colorado State
USTFCCA Men’s Top 25: 1. North Carolina A&T; 2. Georgia; 3. Texas; 4. Texas Tech; 5. Arkansas; 6. Iowa; 7. Oregon; 8. Kentucky; 9. FLORIDA; 10. Tennessee; 11. Northern Arizona; 12. Florida State; 13. Alabama; 14. Notre Dame; 15. Nebraska; 16. Ole Miss; 17. Princeton; 18. Michigan State; 19. Stanford; 20. LSU; 21. Clemson; 22. Grand Canyon; 23. Washington; 24. Indiana; 25. Arizona State
ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Writing in Saturday Down South, Matt Hayes points out the hypocrisy of Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher and his feigned outrage that the Aggies might have used NIL money to lure the top recruiting class in the country to College Station, hardly the garden spot of the earth. Hayes says that instead of acting angry, Fisher should have said, “Yes, the idea of our student-athletes being able to earn off their NIL through our vast alumni helped us – and it’s only going to get better.”
In the Lone Star state there is a saying that only God and the Longhorns have more money than the Aggies. Because of NIL, what the Aggies used to do that got them on probation so many times in the past is now legal. Jimbo should – and probably does behind closed doors – tell kids this is where the money is, so come join us.
We may not like it, but that is where college sports are today.
A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:
PRE-SPRING POSITION REVIEW: THE QUARTERBACKS
Typically, the unknown factor at the quarterback position in college football is that kid who emerges as the No. 1 in the spring but has never taken a snap in a real game. In the case of the Florida Gators and new HBC Billy Napier, the unknown factor is last year’s starter, Emory Jones. Back in December before Florida’s Gasparilla Bowl game with UCF, Jones said he was going to transfer. Well, the bowl game has come and gone and Jones not only didn’t transfer out, but he's enrolled in school and participating in spring practice.
That raises the question what happens to the quarterback room if Jones has a lights out spring and decides Billy Napier can teach him how to step into a throw instead of heaving it off his back foot? Would Napier gamble that EJ is his guy and take a chance that Anthony Richardson would leave for a place where he can start? What about Ohio State transfer Jack Miller III? He didn’t exactly leave Columbus for someplace where he might have to beat out last year’s starter and Richardson, too? And how about Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Jalen Kitna. They didn’t sniff the field last year. Will one or both decide to do the big adios after the spring?
Here are the five QBs on the UF roster heading into the spring:
Emory Jones (6-2, 201, RJR): Expectations are that he’ll go through spring, graduate in May and then transfer out. But what if he doesn’t? And if he stays, will it be at QB or will he learn to catch the ball and play in the slot?
Anthony Richardson (6-4, 237, RSO): From a pure talent standpoint there are few quarterbacks in the country equal to Richardson. He has never stayed healthy and he has yet to show he can play under control, but healthy and under control? Oh my.
Jack Miller III (6-3, 215, RFR): He transferred in from Ohio State where there was an incumbent Heisman finalist and a loaded QB room. He has the big arm and serious accuracy. He didn’t transfer to Florida to sit. He’s very motivated.
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (6-2, 228, RFR): He took a redshirt in 2021 so we have yet to see him under fire but people who saw him at practice say he’s got a live arm, great wheels and a knack for making big plays.
Jalen Kitna (6-4, 205, RFR): He’s very, very young and still growing into his body. He came to UF as a skinny 180-pounder but he’s added 25 pounds of muscle. He has the arm and the pedigree as dad Jon was a 16-year NFL QB.
Assessing the situation: I am of the opinion that Jones will ride off into the sunset, college degree in hand, looking for a fresh start and a chance to be somebody’s winning QB. I think Richardson and Miller are going to go toe-to-toe for the No. 1 job. I’m of the opinion that either Del Rio-Wilson or Kitna will be in the portal in late April.
GATORS MOVE UP TO NO. 17; KNOCK OFF AUBURN, 83-77
Kelly Rae Finley still has a hungry team on her hands. On the day the Gators (19-6, 9-3 SEC) moved up to 17th in the latest Associated Press women’s top 25 poll, UF scored its sixth SEC road win of the season, knocking off Auburn, 83-77, to remain tied for third place with No. 11 LSU in the SEC standings.
The Gators held a 71-57 lead with 5:57 to go in the game when Auburn on a 17-7 run to narrow the game to four (78-74) with 18 seconds remaining. The Tigers tried to extend the game by fouling but the Gators hit 5-6 free throws the rest of the way, sealing the win when Zippy Broughton hit both her shots with five seconds to go.
The game was won at the foul line where the Gators converted 23-28 shots including 14-18 in the second half.
Broughton led the way for the Gators with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Kristina Moore came off the bench to score 15 while Jordyn Merritt had 13, Kiki Smith 12 and Nina Rickards 10.
SEC Basketball
Monday’s game: NO. 17 FLORIDA (19-6, 9-3 SEC) 83, Auburn (9-14, 1-11 SEC) 77
Thursday’s games: Arkansas (16-8, 6-5 SEC) at FLORIDA (19-6, 9-3 SEC); Auburn (9-14, 1-11 SEC) at No. 1 South Carolina (23-1, 11-1 SEC); No. 11 LSU (21-4, 9-3 SEC) at Mississippi State (15-8, 6-5 SEC); No. 12 Tennessee (21-4, 10-2 SEC) at Alabama (12-11, 3-9 SEC); Missouri (16-9, 5-7 SEC) at No. 21 Georgia (17-7, 6-6 SEC); Vanderbilt (12-14, 3-9 SEC) at Kentucky (10-11, 3-8 SEC); Texas A&M (14-10, 4-8 SEC) at Ole Miss (18-6, 6-5 SEC)
The Associated Press Top 25: 1. South Carolina 23-1; 2. Stanford 21-3; 3. Louisville 22-2; 4. North Carolina State 23-3; 5. Indiana 18-3; 6. Iowa State 21-3; 7. Baylor 19-5; 8. Arizona 18-4; 9. Michigan 20-4; 10. UConn 17-5; 11. LSU 21-4; 12. Tennessee 21-4; 13. Maryland 18-6; 14. Texas 17-6; 15. Oklahoma 20-4; 16. Georgia Tech 19-6; 17. FLORIDA 18-6; 18. Ohio State 18-4; 19. Notre Dame 19-6; 20. BYU 21-2; 21. Georgia 17-7; 22. Iowa 16-6; 23. Virginia Tech 19-6; 24. North Carolina 19-5; 25. Florida Gulf Coast 22-2
MUST WIN SITUATION FOR UF AT TEXAS A&M
There is no margin for error for Mike White and the Gators, who face Texas A&M in College Station tonight (7 p.m., SEC Network). Winning won’t cement the Gators’ chances to make the NCAA Tournament, but a loss could all but doom them. Florida comes into the game with the No. 49 in the NCAA Net Rankings, just inside Quad 1, while the Aggies are No. 73. Winning won’t boost the Gators in the Net Rankings, but losing would be a Quad 2 loss, and with just six games left on the schedule and only a 1-6 record in Quad 1 games, that could be a torpedo to Florida’s chances to avoid the Nobody’s Interested Tournament.
SEC Basketball
Tuesday’s games: FLORIDA (16-9, 6-6 SEC) at Texas A&M (15-10, 4-8 SEC); South Carolina (14-10, 5-7 SEC) at Ole Miss (12-13, 3-9 SEC); No. 5 Kentucky (21-4, 10-2 SEC) at No. 19 Tennessee (18-6, 9-3 SEC); Arkansas (19-6, 8-4 SEC) at Missouri (10-14, 4-7 SEC)
Wednesday’s games: Georgia (6-19, 1-11 SEC) at LSU (18-7, 6-6 SEC); Mississippi State (14-10, 5-6 SEC) at Alabama (16-9, 6-6 SEC); Vanderbilt (13-11, 5-7 SEC) at No. 1 Auburn (23-2, 11-1 SEC)
The Associated Press Top 25: 1. Gonzaga 21-2; 2. Auburn 23-2; 3. Arizona 22-2; 4. Kentucky 21-4; 5. Purdue 22-4; 6. Kansas 20-4; 7. Baylor 21-4; 8. Providence 21-2; 9. Duke 21-4; 10. Villanova 19-6; 11. Texas Tech 19-6; 12. Illinois 18-6; 13. UCLA 17-5; 14. Houston 20-4; 15. Wisconsin 19-5; 16. Tennessee 18-6; 17. Southern Cal 21-4; 18. Ohio State 15-6; 19. Michigan State 18-6; 20. Texas 18-7; 21. Murray State 24-2; 22. Wyoming 21-3; 23. Arkansas 19-6; 24. UConn 17-7; 25. Alabama 16-9
The Coaches Top 25: 1. Gonzaga 21-2; 2. Auburn 23-2; 3. Kentucky 21-4; 4. Arizona 22-2; 5. Duke 21-4; 6. Kansas 20-4; 7. Purdue 22-4; 8. Baylor 21-4; 9. Providence 21-2; 10. Villanova 19-6; 11. Texas Tech 19-6; 12. Illinois 18-6; 13. Tennessee 18-6; 14. UCLA 17-5; 15. Houston 20-4; 16. Wisconsin 19-5; 17. Southern Cal 21-4; 18. Ohio State 15-6; 19. Michigan State 18-6; 20. Texas 18-7; 21. Murray State 24-2; 22. Wyoming 21-3; 24. (Tie) UConn 17-7 and Arkansas 19-6
GATOR GYMNASTS CLIMB TO NO. 2
Florida’s 198.150-197.825 win over LSU moved the Gators up two spots to No. 2 in the weekly Collegiate Gymnastics Rankings.
Collegiate Gymnastics Association Top 25 (by average score): 1. Michigan 197.963; 2. FLORIDA 197.638; 3. Oklahoma 197.604; 4. Utah 197.496; 5. LSU 197.400; 6. Minnesota 197.313; 7. Auburn 197.250; 8. Alabama 197.154; 9. California 196.960; 10. Kentucky 196.880; 11. Missouri 196.850; 12. Denver 196.800; 13. Oregon State 196.755; 14. Michigan State 196.611; 15. UCLA 196.410; 16. Arkansas 196.370; 17. Iowa 196.268; 18. Stanford 196.230; 19. BYU 196.221; 20. Arizona State 196.160; 21. Utah State 196.142; 23. Southern Utah 195.871; 24. Boise State 195.783; 25. Western Michigan 195.720
UF SOFTBALL UP TO NO. 3 IN D1SOFTBALL.COM POLL
Lexie Delbrey, who came within a seventh-inning single of pitching a no game in her collegiate debut against 16th-ranked Michigan, was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week. Delbrey struck out five and walked two as the Gators knocked off Michigan 4-0 as part of a perfect 4-0 weekend in the USF-Rawlings Invitational in Tampa.
The Gators, now ranked third in the D1Softball.com poll, will face Jacksonville on the road tonight before returning to Gainesville for their home opener against JU Wednesday evening.
D1Softball.com Top 25: 1. Oklahoma 5-0; 2. Alabama 4-0; 3. FLORIDA 4-0; 4. UCLA 4-1; 5. Florida State 4-0; 6. Washington 5-0; 7. Oklahoma State 4-1; 8. Virginia Tech 5-0; 9. Arkansas 3-2; 10. Texas 4-1; 11. Oregon 0-0; 12. Duke 4-1; 13. Clemson 3-1; 14. Missouri 3-2; 15. Tennessee 4-0; 16. Arizona 3-1; 17. Michigan 3-2; 18. Kentucky 4-1; 19. Georgia 5-1; 20. Louisiana 5-0; 21. Northwestern 4-1; 22. Arizona State 3-2; 23. LSU 4-2; 24. UCF 3-1; 25. Illinois 4-1
OTHER UF SPORTS …
Freshman Emma LoPinto, who scored six goals in her collegiate debut in Florida’s 22-7 win over Kennesaw State, was named American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week. The Gators (1-0), meanwhile, remained No. 7 nationally in the Inside Lacrosse poll.
Inside Lacrosse Top 25: 1. Boston College 1-0; 2. North Carolina 1-0; 3. Syracuse 2-0; 4. Stony Brook 0-0; 5. Northwestern 0-1; 6. Duke 2-0; 7. FLORIDA 1-0; 8. Maryland 1-0; 9. Loyola 0-0; 10. Virginia 2-0; 11. Michigan 2-0; 12. Notre Dame 1-1; 13. James Madison 0-1; 14. Stanford 1-1; 15. Denver 1-0; 16. Princeton 0-0; 17. Rutgers 1-0; 18. Jacksonville 1-0; 19. Drexel 1-0; 20. Pennsylvania 0-0; 21. Johns Hopkins 1-0; 22. Temple 1-0; 23. UConn 0-0; 24. UMass 1-0; 25. Penn State 0-0
The Florida women are No. 2 nationally in the latest US Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association poll while the UF men are ranked No. 9.
USTFCCCA Women’s Top 25: 1. Texas; 2. FLORIDA; 3. Arkansas; 4. LSU; 5. Kentucky; 6. Texas Tech; 7. BYU; 8. Texas A&M; 9. Ole Miss; 10. Virginia Tech; 11. North Carolina State; 12. Oregon; 13. Washington; 14. Ohio State; 15. Tennessee; 16. Notre Dame; 17. Oklahoma State; 18. Nebraska; 19. South Carolina; 20. Colorado; 21. Penn State; 22. Binghamton; 23. Alabama; 24. Florida State; 25. Colorado State
USTFCCA Men’s Top 25: 1. North Carolina A&T; 2. Georgia; 3. Texas; 4. Texas Tech; 5. Arkansas; 6. Iowa; 7. Oregon; 8. Kentucky; 9. FLORIDA; 10. Tennessee; 11. Northern Arizona; 12. Florida State; 13. Alabama; 14. Notre Dame; 15. Nebraska; 16. Ole Miss; 17. Princeton; 18. Michigan State; 19. Stanford; 20. LSU; 21. Clemson; 22. Grand Canyon; 23. Washington; 24. Indiana; 25. Arizona State
ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Writing in Saturday Down South, Matt Hayes points out the hypocrisy of Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher and his feigned outrage that the Aggies might have used NIL money to lure the top recruiting class in the country to College Station, hardly the garden spot of the earth. Hayes says that instead of acting angry, Fisher should have said, “Yes, the idea of our student-athletes being able to earn off their NIL through our vast alumni helped us – and it’s only going to get better.”
In the Lone Star state there is a saying that only God and the Longhorns have more money than the Aggies. Because of NIL, what the Aggies used to do that got them on probation so many times in the past is now legal. Jimbo should – and probably does behind closed doors – tell kids this is where the money is, so come join us.
We may not like it, but that is where college sports are today.
