Sure, the football team had a down year and the loss to Louisville in the Elite 8 on the hardwood still stings, but keep those chins up, Gator fans, because you have it good. That is, according to the Sporting News, who named Florida the top football and basketball dual-sport school in the country, not just for the present but for the future as well. After the jump, their reasons behind ranking the Gators number one.
1. Florida
Football: It wasn't that long ago that Florida was the nation's elite program. Give Will Muschamp time to clean up the mess Urban Meyer left behind, and the Gators will again compete for national championships.
Basketball: There may not be a more underrated basketball program. The Gators have won at least 20 games the last 14 seasons. Back-to-back national titles in 2007-08 were backed up by back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2011-12.
The future: If football wins big again-and there's no reason to think it won't under Muschamp-no one touches this duo. There are too many advantages-recruiting, facilities, support-for both not to succeed.
One other SEC program made the list, Alabama. Florida fans will be happy to see that the Crimson Tide are six spots below the Gators on the list.
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