Despite inconsistencies, Florida Gators rank as one of the best teams in the nation

Ever since Urban Meyer resigned from his position as the Florida Gators head coach in 2009, it's been an up-and-down tenure in Gainesville. They have gone through four coaches since with Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen, and Billy Napier having been at the helm.

Despite all of that, including multiple seasons with just four wins, something we hadn't seen since before Steve Spurrier took over 35 years ago, the Gators have remained consistent. The Athletic's Stewart Mandel put together the top 25 teams over the first 25 years of the century, and he ranked the Gators at 10th.

This one surprised me, given the Gators peaked in 2009 under Urban Meyer. But believe it or not, five coaches — Steve Spurrier (who left in 2001), Meyer, Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen — notched at least one 10-win season. Meyer won two national titles in three years and Mullen went to three consecutive New Year’s Six bowls.

When you look at the Gators over the last decade, being 10th might feel a little low when you consider they have two national titles and nine BCS/New Year's Six bowl games. However, only two teams in front of them have ranked less in those categories:

• BCS/New Year's Six appearances: LSU (7), USC (8), Texas (7)
• National Championships: Oregon (0), Texas (1)

10th feels very reasonable considering how down the program was over for a period after Meyer left the Gators. Even so, every coach this century before Napier (other than Ron Zook) has had a 10-win season for the Gators. 

Right now, the Gators are in a great position to take the next step and rise up the ranks the next time we see one of these lists.