Author Chris Vannini dropped the Gators three spots from No. 51 last week to No. 54 after the loss to the Longhorns. That puts Florida between the No. 53 North Carolina Tar Heels and No. 55 Michigan State Spartans — the two schools that bookended them in last week’s re-rank.

The Texas Longhorns successfully defended their home field on Saturday from the Florida Gators, 49-17, as the two schools faced each other for the first time in 84 years. The loss kept the Orange and

Florida was forced to punt on its opening possession, and Texas capitalized with a seven-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that ended in a 29-yard pass from Quinn Ewers to Matthew Golden. The Gators fumbled on the ensuing possession, and Ewers found tight end Gunnar Helm for a 22-yard touchdown two plays later.