​The Florida Gators have started the 2026 season firing on all cylinders with a 2-0 record, but there is still much to be desired as they sit outside of the AP Top 25.Florida put up 66 points on Florida Atlantic in Week 1 before crushing Campbell, 52-3, in Week 2, showing plenty of offensive upside, with quarterback Aaron Philo and wide receiver Vernell Brown III continuing to make an impact as well.However, the biggest question surrounding Florida heading into Week 3 remains on the defensive side of the ball.Florida’s defense struggled at times against Florida Atlantic, allowing 396 total yards and 21 points in the season opener. While the unit responded with a much stronger performance against Campbell, there were still a few moments that showed the Gators have room to improve.Now, Florida gets its first real test to prove it belongs among the nation’s ranked teams.If Florida wants to make its case for the AP Top 25, the Gators will need to show they can slow down an Auburn offense that found its rhythm in Week 2.Auburn bounced back from a poor season opener against Baylor by dominating Southern Mississippi, 43-8. The Tigers totaled 343 rushing yards, with quarterback Byrum Brown playing a major role in the offensive turnaround. The Gators improved defensively against Campbell, forcing turnovers and consistently bringing pressure while doing a much better job of getting off the field on third down. But Auburn will provide a much different test than Florida’s first two opponents.A road win over Auburn would give Florida its first statement victory of the season and provide voters with something more substantial to evaluate than its performances against two noticeably inferior opponents.Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Gators could crack AP Top 25 with win over Auburn