Florida ranked as top head-coaching vacancy in college football

There's a vibe around the Florida Gators when things are going well. 

It's a historic program that can trace its roots back to 1911. The Gators won a national championship and were elite in the Steve Spurrier era, and they won two titles and were elite under Urban Meyer. The Gators have boasted three Heisman Trophy quarterbacks: The aforementioned Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerfell (1996) and Tim Tebow (2007).

Heck, maybe there's just something about being down in "The Swamp," seemingly in the heart of SEC country.

Whatever it is, Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports took a shot at ranking all of the current head coach openings in college football, and he believes the Gators have the No. 1 most coveted vacancy.

He's not wrong, either. The Gators are looking to replace Billy Napier after he went 22-23 in three-and-a-half years of football. There are some really great opportunities out there right now, but the Gators offer their next coach a ton of perks.

"On paper, Florida is close to an ideal job," Jeyarajah wrote. "The Gators boast elite recruiting territory with easy access to the state of Florida, and rising talent bases in Georgia and the Carolinas. Napier helped develop their organization from a recruiting and fundraising perspective, building some of the most talented rosters in the SEC. However, nearly all of Florida's historic success came under Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer, two of the greatest coaches in history. Since then, the Gators have been a revolving door of mediocrity. This job is less turnkey than many may assume, but the championship ceiling is still (probably) there."

Florida boasts a tremendous opportunity for its next head coach

Florida's championship ceiling is absolutely still there. There's no doubt about it.

First of all, consider the brand. When it comes to college athletics in general, and not just college football, few have a bigger brand and have boasted as much athletic success as Florida. Since 2000, Florida has won two national championships in football and three in men's basketball.

Part of that is because Gainesville is right in the heart of one of the most talent-laden states in the country. Florida consistently produces some of the best high school athletes in the country, regardless of sport. What the Gators have that Miami or Florida State doesn't have is a place in the SEC, which, for football, is a huge draw for many of these top recruits.

Lastly, there's that championship history. Coaching at Florida is not unlike coaching at Alabama or Ohio State. The Gators have been down lately, but this is a fanbase that will absolutely "ride or die" with the right head coach.

You can't ask for a better opportunity. Even Penn State, which is looking to replace James Franklin, doesn't have the brand loyalty and championship pedigree that Florida does.

The Gators are legit. Now they just need to find a head coach who will remind them of that fact.