Florida Gators Crack Top 20 In AP Poll, Del Rio Likely Out Saturday At No. 14 Tennessee

defense allowed program low 53 yards of offense

ABOVE VIDEO: Highlights of the Florida Gators shutout win over North Texas. Next up, the Tennessee Volunteers. 

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – The Gators cracked the top 20 for the first time this season in the AP Top 25 poll released Sunday afternoon.

Florida (3-0) jumped four spots to No. 19 after a 32-0 victory over North Texas on Saturday night that included a historic defensive performance by the Gators. Florida limited the Mean Green to 53 yards of total offense, the fewest yards allowed in school history.

The Gators check in at No. 16 in the latest Amway Coaches Poll.

The victory did come with a price as starting quarterback Luke Del Rio suffered an apparent left knee injury and is expected to be out for this week’s SEC East showdown at Neyland Stadium against the No. 14-ranked Vols, who improved to 3-0 on Saturday with a 28-19 win over Ohio.

“It’s not looking great,” Florida head coach Jim McElwain said of Del Rio’s injury.

ABOVE VIDEO: Backup quarterback Austin Appleby took over for Florida after Luke Del Rio was knocked out of the game with a leg injury Saturday night against North Texas. Appleby called the hit “very dirty” and talked of his readiness to take over if Del Rio does indeed miss time.

Meanwhile, the Gators have won 11 consecutive games against Tennessee and are expected to start graduate transfer Austin Appleby, who replaced Del Rio on Saturday. Appleby played in 19 games at Purdue and started 11.

Alabama remains No. 1, followed by No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Louisville, a 63-20 winner against Florida State on Saturday, No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Clemson.

No. 25 Miami made the biggest jump in this week’s poll, moving up to 15. Eight teams from the Southeastern Conference are ranked.

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