Detractors of preseason college football polls typically complain that the first rankings are like a beauty pageant.
They’ve got a point. Early rankings are often based on history, reputations and projections rather than actual substance.
The pollsters invariably miss on “surprise” teams that are omitted from the national preseason polls. The first month of the season typically reveals teams.
It’s kinda like announcing the five finalists in a pageant. Now that the first month of the season is completed, we can learn who did you miss, America.
So far, the candidates for “surprising” are five teams that started the season unranked. They include No. 16 Mississippi State (4-0 after going 5-8 last year), No. 19 Oklahoma State (3-1 after going 1-11), No. 23 UCLA (4-0 after going 3-9) and No. 24 Kentucky (3-1 after going 5-7).
But the team most deserving of the tiara as “most surprising” is No. 8 Florida (4-0), which finished 4-8 a year ago.
Not only are the Gators unbeaten under first-year coach Jon Sumrall, but they’ve beaten Auburn (3-1) and last week rolled over now-No. 9 Ole Miss, 55-28.
The Gators are ranked among the nation’s top five in scoring offense (second at 53.5 PPG) and total offense (fifth at 532.8 YPG). Last year, Florida ranked 104th in total offense and 111th in scoring.
They’re doing that damage largely behind running back Jadan Baugh, who is second in the nation in rushing, and transfer quarterback Aaron Philo, who passed for just 373 yards as a backup at Georgia Tech last season.
Philo has passed for 917 yards and seven touchdowns while completing 72.4 percent of his attempts.
Here’s the scary part for Florida’s remaining opponents.
“We still haven’t played our best football,” Sumrall said following the victory over Ole Miss. “Winning the game is exciting, and being 1-and-0 last week was great. I am on to the next (game) and how do we continue to improve.”
Well, they could be stingier on defense. The Gators have allowed 67 points in two SEC games.
Mainly, though, they just need to stay grounded. This week, the Gators travel to face No. 25 Missouri, the first of four currently ranked opponents remaining on their schedule.
“You can either humble yourself or somebody else is going to humble you,” Sumrall warned his team.
He added: “Nobody puts nothing up in the building on where you’re ranked between Week 4 and Week 5. The rankings don’t mean anything right now.”
Just like the preseason rankings didn’t mean.
Heisman watch (If my ballot was due today)
1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, QB: Don’t blame Chambliss for the Rebels’ 52-28 loss to Florida. He passed for 298 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 44 yards and two touchdowns. Through four games, Chambliss is fourth in the nation in passing. He’s thrown for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns.
2. Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State, QB: Last week, Taylor passed for 360 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-24 victory over Missouri. Taylor is now fourth in the nation in total offense with 1,377 yards. He’s passed for 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s rushed for 185 yards and a score.
3. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, WR: The nation’s leading receiver with 33 catches for 617 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith also leads the nation with 27 receptions that gained 10 yards or more. Last week, he caught 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-19 victory over Illinois.
4. Malachi Toney, Miami, WR: He’s third in the nation in receiving after catching six passes for 120 yards in a 52-3 victory over Central Michigan. Toney has 34 receptions for 564 yards and six touchdowns.
5. Jadan Baugh, Florida, RB: The nation’s second-leading rusher with 600 yards on 83 carries. He leads the nation with 11 rushing touchdowns. Baugh has rushed for at least 136 yards in all four games. Last week, he gained 142 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 52-28 victory over Ole Miss. He has six runs of 20 yards or more.
Games to watch
No. 7 Alabama at No. 16 Mississippi State: Is Mississippi State for real? This game provides the answer.
No. 5 Ohio State at No. 14 Iowa: The Buckeyes are the Big Ten’s second-highest scoring team. Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring defense.
No. 8 Florida at No. 25 Missouri: Florida looks to keep its offensive juggernaut going. Missouri looks to bounce back after a close loss at Mississippi State.
No. 24 Kentucky at South Carolina: Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer, who famously vowed South Carolina would reach the playoffs, really needs a win. Once, a team could count on winning vs. Kentucky. That’s no longer the case.
Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech: Unbeaten ACC teams out to show which one really could be a factor in the conference championship race.
