Florida is in uncharted territory.
After UF’s worst two-year stretch since 1988-1989, the Gators have enjoyed a streak of success the likes of which most current players haven’t experienced in their college careers.
After scoring 14 unanswered points to defeat then-No. 4 LSU on Saturday and snap the Tigers’ 18-game regular-season winning streak, UF leapfrogged six spots to No. 4 in the newest AP poll.
Whether the Gators can handle the national spotlight remains to be seen.
Florida, winners of five straight, travels to Nashville, Tenn., to take on Vanderbilt on Saturday in Vanderbilt Stadium.
“We’ll see Saturday night,” coach Will Muschamp said. “To this point, (we’ve done) very well as far as understanding and approaching each game the same. We’re not going to put in any more hours as coaches this week than we did a week ago. We’re not going to put any less, either. We’ll prepare very similar to what we’ve done this far in the season.”
Although his exuberant after-game antics in the locker room may suggest otherwise, Muschamp made sure to point out that Florida’s victory against LSU counted for only one.
While UF’s first win against a top-five opponent in Muschamp’s tenure created an unusual buzz, Florida has started preparations for win No. 6.
In 105 years of playing football, UF has reached 6-0 just seven times.
For the third time this season, Florida is facing a Southeastern Conference foe on the road. The Commodores aren’t the same team that has dropped the last 21 meetings against the Gators and has been outscored 199-74 in their last five matchups.
Vanderbilt, led by second-year coach James Franklin and redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Rodgers, couldn’t recover an onside kick down five points with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter against Florida last season.
The Commodores outscored the Gators 21-9 in the second half but couldn’t erase a 17-point halftime deficit, ultimately losing 26-21.
Last season’s five-point deficit was the closest game between the two teams since a 21-17 UF win in 2002.
“We have our work cut out for us at 6 o’clock there in Nashville,” Muschamp said. “Look forward to another opportunity to go out there and get better.”
Florida’s defense believes it isn’t the same football team that lost six of its last nine to close out 2011. UF showed against LSU on Saturday that it could contend with the physical heavyweights of the SEC who dominated the Gators last season.
Fullback Hunter Joyer said people still doubted Florida before its victory against LSU. He treated the matchup as a statement game.
Message received, but the Gators have turned their sights to a bigger prize than just beating the Tigers in the season’s fifth game.
“Like we’ve been saying all along, we have a more mature team this year,” quarterback Jeff Driskel said. “We’re not going to be satisfied. We know there are definitely corrections to be made and improvements to be made. We’re going to handle this week like any other week.”
The tables have turned in Gainesville.
Gone is the frustration of two sub-par seasons.
Now the Gators deal with the optimism and confidence that comes with being a top-five team. Florida’s first test as a member of the nation’s elite comes from a familiar opponent — one the Gators aren’t taking for granted.
Driskel isn’t treating this week differently than any other.
“Every SEC game is big,” Driskel said. “You can’t take anybody lightly because anybody can beat you. This league is full of players and full of athletes. [Vanderbilt is] going to be well-coached, and they’re going to be ready to go. We can’t take this week off or take it lightly. We’re going to prepare like we have been the whole year, and we’ll be ready to go come Saturday.”
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Coach Will Muschamp reacts to a replay on the Jumbotron during Florida’s 14-6 victory against LSU on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Muschamp and the Gators are attempting to go 6-0 for just the eighth time in school history.
