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Phil Sears/Associated Press

FBS programs: Central Florida, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida State, Miami (Fla.), South Florida

2013 combined record: 48-40

If you're looking at how the quality over quantity concept can affect a state's ranking, use Florida as an example. The state is home to the defending national champion and two of the five BCS bowl game winners. But there are seven schools that are in FBS in the Sunshine State, and the majority of them caused some clouds to ruin Florida's clear sailing to a higher ranking.

First, the great ones: Florida State went 14-0 and won the national title, taking on all challengers—though some critics will still say that wasn't enough—to claim the school's first championship since the 1999 season. There was also Central Florida, probably the biggest surprise of 2013 with its 12-1 record and wins over Louisville in the regular season and Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl.

Also making a bowl game was Miami (Fla.), but by that point, the Hurricanes were just a shell of their former selves offensively and limped to a 9-4 record after a 7-0 start.

Then come the ranking crashers, starting with a 6-6 Florida Atlantic team that should be praised for ending on a four-game win streak but given only half credit for securing two wins against 2-10 teams and two more against 1-11 clubs.

Though not the worst in terms of records, the most disappointing of the Florida lot were the Gators themselves. Not only did they fail to reach a bowl game for the first time since 1990, but their 4-8 record was the school's worst since 1979.

Almost as disappointing was South Florida, which after five years of eight or more wins has now gone 10-26 the last three seasons, including 2-10 in 2013. And rounding out the list is Florida International, which wasn't even as good as its 1-11 record.