There is still incentive for the Gators against Florida State

Jadan Baugh needs 96 yards to reach 1,000 (Photo by Chris Spears)

The Florida Gators (3-8) will attempt to salvage whatever dignity remains of a football season gone south Saturday (4:30 p.m., ESPN2) when Florida State (5-6) rolls into Gainesville, needing a win to make a bowl game.  

It is up to interim coach Billy Gonzales to sell the Gators on incentives. Even though this is a rivalry game that shouldn’t require incentives for the Gators to be emotionally prepared, the Gators had that beat down look about them last Saturday night when Tennessee essentially ran the clock out rather than put a 50-point whomping on UF.

There is no greater incentive for the Gators than the imminent coaching change. For those willing to stick it out for the new head guy whether it’s Lane Kiffin or someone else, this game should be considered an audition. The same goes for those who aren’t willing to wait for the new guy. The portal awaits along with NIL money. Nothing diminishes value like the look of a player giving a half-hearted effort, especially in a game that has the emotions and traditions like one of the top in-state rivalries in all of college football.

Hire the right coach and it could encourage many of the talented players on Florida’s roster to remain rather than see if the grass grows greener somewhere else. Injuries and bad coaching decisions have doomed the Gators to a losing record. There is a lot of talent on hand.

Another incentive is Jadan Baugh, who has run for 904 yards and six touchdowns. Florida hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor ran for 1,035 yards in 2015. He will be going against an FSU run defense that gives up 125.91 yards per game and just 3.33 yards per carry.

A Florida win would also damage Alabama’s College Football Playoff chances. FSU beat Bama in the season opener. Beating FSU would ensure a losing season for the Seminoles, therefore weakening Alabama’s resume.

MATT HAYES ON THE LANE KIFFIN SITUATION

Matt Hayes, the Jacksonville-based college football expert who writes a national column for USA Today weighed in on the Lane Kiffin situation at Ole Miss, noting that “Ole Miss, longtime afterthought in the SEC, is willfully torpedoing what could be the greatest season in school history.” Florida wants Lane to coach the Gators. LSU wants him in Baton Rouge. Ole Miss wants Kiffin to say whether he stays or goes after Friday’s Egg Bowl game against Mississippi State.  

Hayes writes, “Ole Miss wants to move on like a jilted lover if Kiffin decides he’s moving onto LSU or Florida. But why?  Why would Ole Miss willfully prohibit Kiffin, who gives the Rebels the best chance at advancing deep in the playoff, from coaching the team? And give it to quarterbacks coach Joe Judge, whose last tenure as head coach included 10 wins in two seasons with the New York Giants.”

Hayes makes a valid point. Barring a loss to Mississippi State, Ole Miss is a mortal lock to make the playoff. Ole Miss is good enough to win games in the playoff and that would be enticing for whoever it is that follows Kiffin – in the event that he leaves Oxford, of course. Minus Lane as the head coach, Ole Miss could flame out early.

This is a dilemma, for sure, but by demanding an answer Friday, Ole Miss may have already pushed Lane out the door.

College Football Playoff top 25: 1. Ohio State 11-0; 2. Indiana 11-0; 3. Texas A&M 11-0; 4. Georgia 10-1; 5. Texas Tech 10-1; 6. Oregon 10-1; 7. Ole Miss 10-1; 8. Oklahoma 9-2; 9. Notre Dame 9-2; 10. Alabama 9-2; 11. BYU 10-1; 12. Miami 9-2; 13. Utah 9-2; 14. Vanderbilt 9-2; 15. Michigan 9-2; 16. Texas 8-3; 17. Southern California 8-3; 18. Virginia 9-2; 19. Tennessee 8-3; 20. Arizona State 8-3; 21. SMU 8-3; 22. Pittsburgh 8-3; 23. Georgia Tech 9-2; 24. Tulane 9-2; 25. Arizona 8-3

If the playoff were held today:

First round games

No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Texas Tech

No. 11 Miami at No. 6 Oregon

No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Ole Miss

No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma

Second round games

Tulane-Texas Tech winner vs. No. 4 Georgia

Miami-Oregon winner vs. No. 3 Texas A&M

Alabama-Ole Miss winner vs. No. 2 Indiana

Notre Dame-Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State

RESUME CHECK

1. Ohio State (11-0): Only one win against a ranked team, No. 16 Texas, in game one.

2. Indiana (11-0): A win over No. 5 Oregon, only ranked team on the schedule.

3. Texas A&M (11-0): A road win over No. 9 Notre Dame. No other ranked opponents.

4. Georgia (10-1): Ranked wins over No. 19 Tennessee, No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 16 Texas, a loss to No. 10 Alabama.

5. Oregon (10-1): A loss to No. 2 Indiana and a win over No. 17 Southern Cal.

6. Texas Tech (10-1): Wins over No. 13 Utah and No. 11 BYU.

7. Ole Miss (10-1): Wins over No. 24 Tulane and No. 8 Oklahoma, loss on the road to No. 4 Georgia.

8. Oklahoma (9-2): Wins over No. 15 Michigan, roadies over No. 18 Tennessee and No. 10 Alabama. Losses to No. 16 Texas and No. 7 Ole Miss.

9. Notre Dame (9-2): Losses to No. 12 Miami and No. 3 Texas A&M. Win over No. 22 Pittsburgh.

10. Alabama (9-2): Wins over No. 14 Vanderbilt and No. 18 Tennessee; losses to unranked Florida State and No. 8 Oklahoma.

11. BYU (10-1): Win over No. 13 Utah, loss to No. 5 Texas Tech.

12. Tulane (9-2): Group of Five highest ranked at No. 22. Loss to No. 7 Ole Miss

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY

Recycled list

James Franklin, Virginia Tech: Didn’t take long for him to be gainfully employed once again.

Extinct Species List

Billy Napier, Florida: He is in the short list at Colorado State and the probable next head coach. He was the assistant head coach and QB coach at CSU for Jim McElwain way back in 2013.

Brian Kelly, LSU: Kelly has lawyered up and is going scorched earth against LSU, claiming LSU is making it difficult if not impossible to get another job. This is all LSU needs. They owe Kelly $54.4 million and if he takes this to court damages could be astronomical. If Lane Kiffin takes this job, you have to question his sanity along with Jimmy Sexton’s.

Hugh Freeze, Auburn: Look for Hugh to hit the recycle bin soon at a Group of Five location. Meanwhile, if DJ Durkin springs the upset on Alabama, he could have the interim tag removed.

Sam Pittman, Arkansas: If Dabo Swinney wants the job, it’s his. If he doesn’t South Florida’s Alex Golesh could be the guy.

James Franklin, Penn State: He took a negotiated buyout so he could take the VaTech job. Meanwhile, Penn State players want interim Terry Smith to get the job.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: There are reports that North Texas coach Eric Morris will be the replacement. What happens if North Texas wins the American Conference championship and then is the highest ranked Group of Five team?

Brent Pry, Virginia Tech: He was replaced by his old boss at Penn State, James Franklin.

DeShaun Foster, UCLA: James Madison HBC Bob Chesney is the favorite. Dan Mullen has said no. Jed Fisch is on the short list but he’s got a better job at Washington.

Jay Norvell, Colorado State: The names to watch are Billy Napier and Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford, a CSU alum.

Trent Bray, Oregon State: The Beavers are already in negotiations with fired Cal coach Justin Wilcox.

Justin Wilcox, California: He may be in the recycle bin next week.

Trent Dilfer, UAB: The name gaining traction is Casey Woods, Rhett Lashlee’s offensive coordinator at SMU.

On Life Support

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin: He may have bought a year by beating Illinois. Beat Minnesota this week and he’s almost certain to get a year to make good.

Mark Stoops, Kentucky: Just when it seemed he was off the hook, the Wildcats got their doors blown off by Vandy. He desperately needs to beat Louisville.

Dell McGee, Georgia State: He should get the axe after losing to Old Dominion Saturday, the ninth straight loss.

Jonathan Smith, Michigan State: He’s lost eight in a row and goes for No. 9 against Maryland Saturday. It will be an upset if he gets another year.

Endangered Species List

Derek Mason, Middle Tennessee: He would be on the Extinct Species List if they could afford to fire him.

Shane Beamer, South Carolina: He will be back next year but he better win or he will be a goner.

Joe Moorhead, Akron: He won three of his last four to finish 5-7. He’ll get another year but he will be on the hot seat. Again.

Sonny Cumbie, Louisiana Tech: He’s 6-5. If he beats Missouri State Saturday he probably gets to lead the Bulldogs into life in the Sun Belt next year.

Jay Sawvel, Wyoming: They are used to winning. He’s had two straight losers. It’s dicey if he gets another year.

HEISMAN TROPHY CANDIDATES

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana: His numbers are brilliant – 30 TDP, 5 rushing TDs – but they’re against only one ranked team (Oregon). His comeuppance could be Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt: He might be the most deserving candidate, but he’s from Vandy and Vandy has never had anyone on the Heisman podium. The numbers are outstanding – 2,924 passing yards for 26 TDs, 661 rushing yards for six more – but if Vandy doesn’t make the playoff getting to the podium in NYC might be it.

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: He has run for 1,306 yards and 17 touchdowns while catching 26 passes for 274 yards and three more TDs. What will hurt are his numbers in the losses to Miami and Texas A&M – a combined 33 carries for 127 yards and one TD.

Julian Sayin, Ohio State: He’s completing 79.4 percent of his passes and has thrown for 27 touchdowns. He plays Michigan this weekend. Lose and his chances crash and burn.

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M: The Aggies are unbeaten. Win Friday against Texas and then the SEC championship game and he’s in NYC. Play brilliantly and Mendoza and Sayin lose a game and he could be the Aggies first Heisman winner since John David Crow in 1957. He has thrown for 25, run for eight.