Mertz and Lagway are almost perfect, literally. The defense on the other hand…… By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com , Football Analyst -STARKVILLE, Miss. Davis-Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi (GatorBait photo) Florida came into the game with its leader on the hottest seat in the country, against a team that if you fail to count consistent cellar dweller Vanderbilt is the SEC’s worst. The Gators would be tasked to grab just their third road win of the Napier tenure and if history had shown anything, the Gators were not the best team when sleeping in someone else beds and eating breakfast around 7am Central tme. Mississippi State played with a tempo that scared many Florida insiders and former players. Would a loss in Starkville be the death blow on a coach that seat was hotter than his hiring prospect just three years ago?   What We Thought: Mississippi State had been pummeled at home against Toledo a week ago where it surrendered almost 450 yards of total offense to the team from the 419. An embarrassment to say the least — and to make matters worse, the Toledo defense surrendered just 66 yards rushing to the Bulldogs in a game that was never in doubt. Based upon this evidence, the jury was still out on a Florida defense that had allowed a redshirt freshman to come into The Swamp and dominate with his legs and arm to the tune of over 250 all-purpose yards — Texas A&M taking almost 500 total as a team. In the fourth week, the Gator defense would be facing a dual-threat quarterback and the offense would face a defense very vulnerable against the run. The Gators somehow had found ways to make their opponents look their best — a trend that was sure to continue in Starkville.  What We Got: The Bulldog offense gained 31 first downs against the Gators on Saturday. 31! Once again, the Florida defense that has been saved much of the blame for the teams futility was not great at times yesterday. Early in the contest Jeff Lebby’s crew seemed content to attack the Gators through the air and to their credit the Florida secondary was up to the task. After a couple of series the Bulldogs had an awakening and found that the best way to put the Gators in peril was to hit the defense square in the gut. The Bulldogs found success running into the teeth of the Gator defense for a season high 240 yards for 4.3 yards per carry. This would allow the Bulldogs to convert both on long and short yardage plays with most runs going right at the Gators’ front.   Luckily, the Florida offense found its footing early and stayed planted often and had its best game against a Power Four opponent this season. Graham Mertz had his best game of the season completing, 19 of 21 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. His partner in silencing the cowbells DJ Lagway was 7 for 7 for 76 yards in relief situations running plays more suited for his skill set. Florida’s offense looked more creative than previous weeks despite the opponent and the offense continues to move with confidence under Mertz. The run game was a nice complement to the success through the air, adding 226 yards on 36 carries for a 6.3 per carry average. Montrell Johnson, while not explosive, continues to be solid particularly in the passing game where he was key in stoning blitzing linebackers in pass protection. Maybe the best moment of the day was left tackle Austin Barber scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery, his first since Pop Warner. Austin Barber, Pup Howard, Graham Mertz postgame (GatorBait photo) The Skinny: To write too much would be to write a lie. Was this a good win? Yes and no. Yes, because the young men in the “organization” and others work extremely hard and this game is not for the weak -minded or -hearted and success is rooted in wins. No, because a win in Starkville will do very little to quiet the screams for a new leader of the crew. Billy Napier still looks like a coach who is trying to find a way to right a ship that may have been built with some irreparable flaws. You can tell that he genuinely cares for his players and they believe in what he is trying to do. The problem is the plan is not consistently good enough or the goods are not as robust as once thought to be. For all the talk of the offense there have been few times where they have been given the ball in plus territory or handed a turnover in the enemy’s backyard. Ron Roberts and his perceived protégé’ Austin Armstrong had both in the booth calling the defense but Roberts moved to the sideline. The unit still lacks fire and, most of all, the ability to stand up against physical football teams. The off week will not be as noisy as it could have been and perhaps Napier and company can focus on self examination after four samples and see if they need to change some of the ingredients. Next up comes the visit from another in-state foe that is already advertising its “arrival” on billboards in your backyard. Most would agree that the seat under Napier is no longer just hot but has disintegrated into toast. The off week allows for some soul searching and well needed evaluation — finding a left tackle and sticking with him (Austin Barber) and going live in three of the next five practices and find out who wants to play big boy football . Just my two cents.      Final Score: Florida 45 Mississippi State 28  (Prediction-Florida 27 Mississippi State 33)

Hayden Hansen celebrates a touchdown in Florida's win over Mississippi State (UAA Photo) The Gators (2-2, 1-1 SEC) got a 45-28 win over Mississippi State (1-3, 0-1 SEC) Saturday afternoon in Starkville, their first over a Division I team since last October when they took out South Carolina in Columbia. This was a win the Gators needed desperately, but did it move the needle at all for Billy Napier, hanging on to his job by a strand of dental floss?   Getting a win was a priority because it broke an 8-game losing streak against Division I teams dating back to last October 14, but it’s difficult to imagine that any of the boosters who have put together the $26 million it will take to buy out Napier’s contract will feel the urge to renege on his contribution pledge. Napier needed something decisive to convince anyone that given a little more time he can turn things around, but this was anything but decisive.     It was a win and as necessary as it was, it was far too reminiscent of at least ten of the past 29 games – enough offense to win but a defense that does a dandy impersonation of a sieve. If the defense had come out of witness protection a few times in the past Napier’s seat wouldn’t feel like it’s being heated by an acetylene torch.   Two seasons and four games into a third, there seems to be little if any improvement. Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. The Gators keep doing the same thing. The results remain the same.   Is that what we have here? Insanity? Have we abandoned the idea that the results are going to be better because there is someone new to coordinate the defense? Napier has hired three different coordinators, one for each season. Each one has come with the promise from the top that things are going to be better.   Promises, promises. Things aren’t better and only the most optimistic among us holds out hope that it's just a matter of time before we see the turnaround.   Here is what keeps happening. The defensive line keeps getting blown off the line of scrimmage, which is why the Gators keep giving up these chunk running plays. Opposing receivers run around unchecked in the secondary like banshees on Halloween. Tackles are missed all too frequently. Third down has become an adventure. Opposing quarterbacks rarely feel the heat from the rush and when they do, they tend to run for however many yards they need for a first down. The Gators are tied for last nationally in interceptions. And these are only the obvious problems.   Saturday, an overmatched Mississippi State team that will be fortunate to win two games this year, put up 28 points and generated 480 yards of offense – 240 on the ground, 240 through the air. The Bulldogs ran 90 plays, held the ball for nearly five minutes more than the Gators (32:24-27:36), had 15 big plays (7-155 passing, 8-125 rushing), put together five drives in which they held the ball for at least 11 plays and converted 11 third downs in 20 attempts.   Focus in on the rushing yardage. Mississippi State came into the game averaging just 97 yards on the ground and 3.29 per carry against a D1AA team, a mid-level team from the Big 12 and a team from the MAC. Yet these same Bulldogs ran through big holes and through countless UF defenders.   That is an entire laundry list of obvious mistakes. It makes you wonder was Third and Grantham ever this bad?   As he does every game, Napier offered explanations that sounded a lot like the ones he offered a week ago, three weeks ago, a year ago or two years ago.   "Well, look, we are what we are,” Napier said Saturday. “I don't have any other answer for you other than I think we're capable of better. I think we can play better. I think we can coach better.”   Yes, the Gators are what they are. Bad. Very bad. Are they capable of playing better? Do they have personnel capable of playing defense at a high level in the Southeastern Conference? Or is it a case that all the smoke and mirrors in the world are incapable of hiding the fact that Florida’s defensive personnel just aren’t good enough to compete and win in the SEC? Can the defense be coached better? Isn't it obvious?   What Napier said Saturday about Florida’s personnel on the defensive line of scrimmage was distressing.   “We got to get it fixed,” he said. “If you want to play really good defense, you got to be strong up the middle. It's discouraging because it's at the core of what you do. And I think we've got the personnel in there to be really good.”   That the Gators keep playing rotten defense is a reflection that they aren't strong up the middle, and yes, it is discouraging. If the personnel are capable of being really good, then why aren't they? Is the coaching that bad? Look at the three games this season against Division I opponents. Miami only ran for 144 yards but the Hurricanes threw for 385 because Florida’s defensive front couldn’t lay a finger on Cam Ward. A week ago, Texas A&M ran for 310 yards and didn’t give up a sack. Saturday the Gators were lit up for 240 rushing yards and it was so rare that they applied any pressure to two MSU quarterbacks.   Good D-lines stuff the run and pressure the passer. It doesn't take a card carying member of MENSA to see that the Gators do not have a good defensive line.   Over on the offensive side of the ball, Napier has good enough skill people to win games when the offensive line has a decent game. Saturday the O-line was good enough that the Gators put up six touchdowns and a field goal while generating 503 very efficient yards on just 60 plays. Graham Mertz had an exceptional day, hitting 19-21 of his passes for 201 yards and three TDs. He also ran for a TD. Freshman DJ Lagway made the most of his opportunities by completing 7-7 of his passes for 76 yards.   The Gators threw for 277 yards, ran for 226 and averaged 7.9 yards per play. The O-line didn’t give up a sack although they did allow a handful of pressures. The Gators converted six of their nine third downs and only had to punt the football twice. Six different people carried the football, 10 different receivers caught a pass.   Had the defense gotten off the field with any kind of regularity, the Gators probably could have lit up the scoreboard for 70 points.   It sounds impressive and to a certain degree it is, but let’s not fool ourselves here. A week ago Mississippi State gave up five touchdowns, two field goals and 41 points to Toledo from the Mid-American Conference. Mississippi State’s defense is a lot like Florida’s – not very good.   After the game, Napier offered this assessment:   “Okay, we won today, but we are very much a work in progress and this group can get so much better,” he said. “I mean, we got so many individual players, position groups and units on our team, that we're not even close to being who we can be and they know that. That's what I told them in the locker room. I think we saw flashes of it today, but we have to become a more consistent team, and I think that's going to be the emphasis here in the open date.   “And look, I just want to see a little more scrap, a little more fight, in particular on defense in some of these situations that we had today. We got multiple opportunities to get off the field, and I just think we got to challenge the leadership, and we have to get a little bit more out of them. I think ultimately that's what's going to be for us to have success in future we got to play complementary ball, and at some point we got to play really good defense.”   A work in progress. Needing more consistency. Complementary football. We’ve been hearing that since Napier arrived and except for a few rare occasions it’s something we’ve yet to see. The offense has shown up enough that Napier could be sitting at 20 or so wins for his time at Florida, but the defense hasn’t held up its end of the bargain. Napier with 20 wins would be hailed as a coach who has Florida back on track to be in championship hunts in the future.   Napier with 13 wins in 29 games and a 3-12 record away from Gainesville is simply a coach waiting for when he gets fired, not if. Saturday’s win over Mississippi State only delayed the inevitable. Florida will soon be searching for its seventh head coach since Steve Spurrier retired in 2001.   The strand of dental floss Billy Napier is holding on to will snap very soon.

Winning feels like a breath of fresh air on a scorching desert, but it doesn't erase the bitter taste of bad Kool-Aid. Despite Florida’s 45-28 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday, both teams are still facing significant challenges in the SEC. But the Gators have a steeper incline because of the brutal schedule, however they do get to enjoy the victory over an upcoming open date. It was a battle between two struggling programs to avoid the label "the worst team in the conference." Florida entered the game with a 1-2 record, two of them ugly losses, while Mississippi State was 1-2, fresh off a blowout loss to Toledo of the MAC. For Florida, this victory provided a much-needed boost, but it doesn’t erase the deeper concerns surrounding the program. Among them is a porous run defense which allowed the Bulldogs 240 yards rushing to the Bulldogs. On the flip side, Florida's offense feasted on a huge day, sparked by six-year veteran Graham Mertz, who passed for three touchdowns, rushed for another in leading the Gators to the SEC road victory and first Southeastern Conference win of the 2024 season. Mertz completed 19 of 21 passes (90.5 percent) for 201 yards, with all three of his TDs coming in the first half. Defense: A Resilient Goal-Line Stand The Gators' defense had their share of ups and downs but came through in the clutch, particularly with a critical fourth-quarter goal-line stand that halted any potential Mississippi State comeback. Florida’s defense has struggled in recent seasons, but this red-zone stop showcased their ability to make crucial plays under pressure. Despite giving up over 200 rushing yards, the defense tightened when needed most, helping to secure the win. This goal-line stand, one of their most impressive moments this season, was instrumental in keeping the Bulldogs at bay True freshman DJ Lagway is the favored quarterback as the future of Gator football, but Mertz is the present. Florida finished with 503 yards of total offense (226 rushing, 277 passing), Mertz, who was 15-for-16 for 147 yards in the first half, hit touchdowns to tight end Arlis Boardingham, wide receiver Marcus Burke and tight end Hayden Hansen to stake the Gators to a 21-7 lead. Mertz and Lagway combined to go 26-for-28 for 92.9 percent, which is believed to be a single-game team record.  Coach Billy Napier remains on shaky ground as fans grow increasingly frustrated with his leadership. This game was seen as a must-win for Napier, with many viewing it as a last-ditch effort to keep the from falling to the SEC’s basement. While the victory temporarily staves off disaster, the Gators still face an uphill battle in a season filled with inconsistency, especially with tougher SEC opponents on the horizon. Mississippi State, led by first-year head coach Jeff Lebby, has also struggled mightily, and has been one of the worst in the league. They entered the game with the worst run defense in the SEC, which Florida exploited. Although the Gators managed to capitalize on Mississippi State’s weaknesses, many still view Florida’s overall performance as uninspired and unconvincing given their long-term aspirations within the conference.

GatorBait has learned Spurrier and Meyer, while supporting Napier and his current program, have indicated a willingness to do "anything to help" -- including working in an advisory capacity if and when called upon during the transition. Standing at the podium for his Wednesday night midweek press conference, Billy Napier looked nothing like a football coach under siege. He answered questions as he normally does in an low, unemotional voice and while he spoke a lot of words, he really didn’t say much at all.   It has been this way since he arrived from Louisiana in December of 2021. Win or lose, play well or badly, Napier taps the fingers on his left hand against the podium rarely offering a glimpse of what’s going on inside. Judging by Florida’s losses to Miami and Texas A&M, Napier’s stomach has to be churning like a cement mixer, but it doesn’t show.   Despite the usual relatively calm exterior, Napier is in trouble. Deepest and darkest. Should the Gators lose today against Mississippi State in Starkville, it’s difficult to imagine Napier surviving past Monday. A win almost certainly buys him two weeks (UCF, October 5 at The Swamp) but several credible sources have indicated to GatorBait that any loss between now and Georgia (October 26) will result in a pink slip. The latest anybody GatorBait contacted expects Napier to be Florida’s head coach is the Georgia game.   Could Napier produce a miracle of parting the Red Sea proportions that could save his job? Anything is possible. Probable? Seriously, seriously doubtful.   With a new rumor manufactured on what seems to be an almost hourly basis since the Gators were clocked by Texas A&M last week in Gainesville, more than one source with intimate knowledge of what’s going on has told GatorBait that there are contingency plans being developed to move immediately into a transformation mode the minute Napier is given the word to clean out his desk.   Two things confirmed: (1) Boosters have the money for Napier’s rather sizeable ($26 million plus) buyout and (2) the contingency plan is to bring in a general manager and assistants to handle all things football while a coaching search begins.   More than one source has told GatorBait that boosters and the University Athletic Association Board of Trustees will be in charge of the coaching search. The same reliable sources have confirmed to Gator Bait that contingency decisions will be made quickly – perhaps even this weekend – in the event Napier can’t get past Mississippi State today.   With eight games remaining in the regular season after today it is almost certain there will be a protracted period in which an interim coach is in charge. Therefore, the concept of a GM and assistants holding things together while the search for the new coach goes has real merit.  GatorBait has been told the GM position may not be temporary and should continue after the new coach is in place. More and more college programs are taking on an NFL approach to handle the day-to-day workings of the program while dealing with recruiting in a very professional manner.   From the perspective of the Florida fan base, the obvious choice for the GM or advisory position would be either Steve Spurrier or Urban Meyer, the two most famous and successful coaches in Florida history. Is this even possible? Yes. The optics of either Spurrier or Meyer in charge would be off the charts but neither have indicated a willingness to take on the day-to-day workings of the job. GatorBait has learned Spurrier and Meyer, while supporting Napier and his current program, have indicated a willingness to do "anything to help" -- including working in an advisory capacity if and when called upon during the transition.   Here are the two legends and seven potential GM types that all have ties to the Florida program.   MAYBE THEY WOULDN’T BE GM, BUT THEY’RE WILLING TO HELP STEVE SPURRIER: The greatest name in Florida football history, Spurrier has a deep and abiding love for the program which he turned into a true national power, going 127-22-1 with a 1996 national championship and six Southeastern Conference titles. He currently works for the University of Florida, lives in Gainesville and has close ties to everyone in the athletic department. Why he would take the job: If Florida insisted and wouldn’t take no for an answer, he might give in but it would take a lot of convincing.   Why he wouldn’t take the job: He’s 79 years old and enjoys what he’s doing as an ambassador to UF. His football mind is sharp as ever, but the day-to-day aspects of the job are probably far more than he’d like to take on at this stage of life. However, if Florida said we need you in an advisory or consulting capacity to bring the program back to a championship level, then he would be all in.   URBAN MEYER: Meyer was 65-15 with national championships in 2006 and 2008 at Florida. From UF he went to Ohio State where he won the 2014 national championship. Meyer’s career record is 187-32. Currently, Meyer is a member of the Fox Big Noon Kickoff cast. Why he would take the job: Donkeys might fly first. Why he wouldn’t: He loves his Fox gig, living in Sarasota and the time he gets with his family. Coaching has taken a strain on his health and now that he’s not coaching anymore, he’s healthier than he’s been in years. However, Gator Bait has confirmed he’d pitch in and help in a consulting capacity.     SEVEN OTHER POSSIBILITIES BOB STOOPS: The defensive coordinator for Spurrier when the Gators won their first national championship in 1996, Stoops went on to become the head coach at Oklahoma where he compiled a 191-48 record with the 2000 national championship and 10 Big 12 championships. He still dabbles in coaching in the United Football League. Why he would take the job: He still has deep ties to the state and is best buds with both Spurrier and Meyer. In Gainesville he would be 90 minutes from his Crescent Beach condo. It’s not being a head coach but it’s football and helping rebuild the Florida football program. Why he wouldn’t: He’s 64 and has a very organized life. He gets his football fix in the spring and summer in the UFL.   MARK PANTONI: He’s the associate athletic director and general manager in charge of player personnel at Ohio State. Long recognized as the ultimate player personnel director, no one knows recruiting and roster management better. He is the brains behind Ohio State’s recruiting classes that typically rank among the top five nationally. Why he would take the job: He’s a Gator (2 degrees from UF), married to a Gator, and he got his start at UF working for Urban Meyer. It’s coming home to Florida (he’s from Sarasota). He was essential to two national championships at UF. Why he wouldn’t: He’s got it good in Columbus where he consistently brings incredible talent to Ohio State.   RYAN STAMPER: He’s in his fourth year with the Jacksonville Jaguars in their player personnel department. A former Florida linebacker for Urban Meyer who played for two national championship teams, Stamper played prep football at Jacksonville First Coast. He spent nine years at Ohio State as the director of player development. Why he would take the job: It’s Florida. He loves being a Gator and he’s ready for a GM type gig. He knows what it’s like to be a part of powerhouse programs both at UF and Ohio State. He has real presence and would command instant respect in the program. Why he wouldn’t: Stamper is an up and comer in the NFL. He’s young, highly intelligent and knows the pro personnel business inside out. In the pros you don’t have to deal with an out of control transfer portal and NIL with no rules.   CHARLIE STRONG: He coached at Florida for Charley Pell, Galen Hall, Steve Spurrier, Ron Zook and Urban Meyer. That’s a record no one will ever break. He was the defensive coordinator for both Zook and Meyer. As a head coach at Louisville, Texas and South Florida, Strong has a career record of 74-53. He’s currently retired. Why he would take the job: There is something about this place that keeps bringing him back. Charlie Strong is quite at home in Gainesville and his ties to high school football coaches in the state are legendary. Strong could go a long way toward keeping Florida’s commitments intact. Why he wouldn’t: He’s 64 years old, set financially and doesn’t need any more hassles in life.   STEVE SPURRIER JR.: The name says it all. Currently the offensive coordinator at Tulsa, Bubba is 53 years old and well respected as a wide receivers coach. He’s worked for his dad, Bob Stoops and Mike Leach among others. He has a bright football mind, deals well with people and he’s an excellent recruiter. Why he would take the job: Mom and dad live in Gainesville along with both his sisters. He’s got six kids (triplets, twins and a daughter) who the grandparents adore. It’s Florida where he got his start coaching as a grad assistant in 1994. Even though he played collegiately at Duke, his veins bleed orange and blue like all Spurriers. Why he wouldn’t: If he still has head coaching aspirations, he needs to prove himself as an offensive coordinator working for Kevin Wilson at Tulsa.   STEVE ADDAZIO: The offensive line coach for Meyer when the Gators won two national championships, Addazio has been the head coach at Temple, Boston College and Colorado State. He’s currently doing TV work with ESPN. A well known tough guy whose energy level is legendary – called “Vitamin A” when he was at Florida.   Why he would take the job: He loves Gainesville. His kids went to high school here. He’s the kind of no-nonsense guy who the Florida program seems to need these days. Great locker room guy and considering Florida’s need to make improvements on the O-line, not a bad guy to have around. Why he wouldn’t: He’s 65 years old and gets his football fix working in the booth with ESPN where he’s actually very good.   CHUCK HEATER: Heater coached the secondary for Meyer from 2005-10 and was the recruiting coordinator whose protégé was Mark Pantoni. A Michigan running back in his playing days, his coaching influences are Bo Schembechler, Earle Bruce, Lou Holtz, Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel and Meyer. Why he would take the job: If Meyer were to call him and suggest he come help Florida he would be on the next plane to Gainesville. The same thing if Pantoni or Stamper or Strong were to take the job at UF. He’s a tremendous evaluator of talent. Why he wouldn’t: He’s 71 and retired. Perhaps there is a time to leave football behind and watch it on TV.   RANKING FIVE POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS AS OF SEPTEMBER 20 The internet buzz is Florida is intent on hiring a power conference head coach with a consistent winning record.   1. LANE KIFFIN, OLE MISS: That ship probably sailed when Florida didn’t bother to interview him in December of 2021 when he would have crawled backward from Oxford to take the job. Ole Miss is No. 5 nationally and could win both the SEC and national championships. He isn’t going to leave Ole Miss with a championship on the line. He could be tied up until January 20.   2. JAMES FRANKLIN, PENN STATE: His buyout is only $2 million and he’s a proven winner both at Penn State and at Vanderbilt. He went to three straight bowl games and won 24 games in three years at Vandy. Nobody does that but Franklin did. Hire him and he brings former Gator All-SEC Phil Trautwein to coach the O-line and JaJuan Seider as his ace recruiter in South Florida. The Nittany Lions are currently ranked 10thnationally and they’ll have a shot at making the College Football Playoff if they go 10-2.   3. JEFF BROHM, LOUISVILLE: Yes, Louisville is his alma mater but he can coach and he’s a real offensive guru. He also has a $1 million buyout. Louisville might be more of a comfortable place to coach with less pressure, but it’s a basketball school first, last and always. He’s a very good recruiter who could be lights out with the talent in Florida to go with UF’s resources.   4. MATT CAMPBELL, IOWA STATE: Every time there is a coaching search, his name pops up, but eventually someone is going to lure him away from life among the Iowa cornfields to a place that has a chance to win championships on a regular basis. He’s only 44 years old, which is a real plus. He has never had a chance to recruit the caliber of athletes that he could land at Florida. That might be something that convinces him to put Ames, Iowa in his rearview. His buyout is approximately $7 million.   5. CHRIS KLIEMAN, KANSAS STATE: There is that old saying “winners win.” Klieman won four national championships in D1AA at North Dakota State and one Big 12 championship at Kansas State. At K-State he’s shown he can handle the pressure of succeeding a legend (Bill Snyder). The Wildcats have a very good chance to win the Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff. His teams score points and win at the line of scrimmage. He has a $6 million buyout.

Florida Gators Set to Face Mississippi State in First Road Game of the Season The Florida Gators will hit the road for their first away game of the 2024 season on Saturday, Sept. 21, when they take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. Fans unable to attend the game in person can follow the action through various broadcast options, including television, radio, and online streaming. TV Broadcast Information The game will be aired live on ESPN, with Dave Pasch providing play-by-play commentary, Dusty Dvoracek as the analyst, and Taylor McGregor reporting from the sidelines.For those unable to watch live, replays will be available on the SEC Network at the following times:- Monday, Sept. 23, at 10 p.m. ET- Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 3 a.m. ET Radio Coverage Fans can tune in to the Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD for live radio coverage, starting with pre-game programming at 9 a.m. ET.The broadcast team will include:- Sean Kelley (play-by-play)- Shane Matthews (analyst)- Tate Casey (sideline reporter)Additionally, the game will be available on SiriusXM channel 374, the SiriusXM app, ESPN Gainesville - WRUF, and The Varsity Network. Social Media and Online Updates For real-time updates during the game, fans are encouraged to follow Florida’s official social media accounts:- Twitter/X: @GatorsFB, @GatorsScott, @GatorsChris, @FloridaGators- Facebook: Facebook.com/GatorsFB- Instagram: @GatorsFB Fans looking for in-depth analysis and game recaps can visit FloridaGators.com for the following features:- Scott Carter’s Opening Kickoff- Chris Harry’s Quick Slant- Complete post-game stories and Quotes information on mobile ticketing, as well as available ticket plans for upcoming home games, can also be found on there.

With Billy Napier in lame-duck status, can Florida end its road struggles under the embattled coach? Mississippi State Offense   Key Players-#2 QB Blake Shapen (6-1 ,210, Sr.), #24 RB Keyvone Lee (6-0, 225, Sr.), #20 RB Johnnie Daniels (5-10, 200, Jr.) #21 RB Davon Booth (5-10, 205 Sr.), #3 WR Kevin Coleman Jr. (5-11, 180, Jr.) #6 WR Jordan Mosley (6-0, 195, Jr.), #7 WR Mario Craver (5-10, 170, Fr.) #18 TE Seydou Traore (6-4, 235, R-Jr.) # OT Makylan Pounders (6-5, 310, Jr./Memphis)   Matchups To Watch: Florida Defensive Backs v. Mississippi State Receivers, Blake Shapen v. Shemar James and Pup Howard   Offensively, Mississippi State is in transition. After Will Arnett scrapped the long beloved Air Raid, Mississippi State endured a year of inept offense which led to the exodus of several high profile players. Enter Jeff Lebby, who as head coach and offensive coordinator, offers a dynamic attack that helped programs like UCF, Ole Miss and Oklahoma rank in the Top-20 offensively. Baylor quarterback transfer Blake Shapen should help with the transition bringing over 5,000 yards and 30 touchdown from Waco to Starkville. Shapen, an All-Big 12 honorable mention a season ago, has been one of the few early bright spots for the Bulldogs, completing 70 percent of his passes for 834 yards, seven touchdowns and only one interception. While Shapen has been solid, the running game has mirrored the Gators, struggling to make an early impact. Mississippi State ranks last in the SEC in rushing averaging 98 yards rushing per game. Last week in a loss to the Toledo, the Bulldogs managed just 66 yards rushing on 27 attempts. Keyvone Lee, juco transfer Johnnie Daniels, and Utah State transfer Davon Booth have handled much of the rushing load this season, with Shapen a threat to come out the back door on zone reads. In the air, Shapen will target several receivers, including Kevin Coleman Jr., Jordan Mosley, and highly touted freshman Mario Craver. The trio has combined for 38 catches and 7 touchdowns with tight end Seydou Traore adding eight catches with career high 5 for 40 yards against Toledo. The offensive line is retooled with transfer Makylan Pounders coming over after being part of a solid group at Memphis.    For the fourth straight week, the Gators find themselves facing a dynamic quarterback with the ability to affect the game with both his legs and arm. Florida continues to put very little pressure on opposing quarterbacks and if given time Shapen has no problem putting the ball where it needs to go. He also has good pocket awareness and, despite being sacked 10 times in three games, has found success. Florida needs to find a way to make him uncomfortable with a totally new offensive line.  The running back group lacks a home run threat but the Gators have been average at best against the run and surrendered 333 yards rushing to a Texas A&M team that was limited up to that point. Only the Bulldogs rank lower in the SEC against the run than the Gators so you can call this a toss-up when judging either team's ability to stop the run.  Mississippi State Defense Key Players-#2 S Isaac Smith (6-0, 205, So.), #7 LB Stone Blanton (6-2, 230, Jr.) #3 S Brylan Lanier (6-1, 190, Jr.), # 44 LB Branden Jennings (6-3, 240 Jr.), #23 DL Treyvion Williams (6-4, 295 R-Fr.)   Matchups to Watch: Florida Offensive Line v. Running The Ball Against Anyone Halfway Decent, Graham Mertz v. Mississippi State Secondary   On defense, the Bulldogs return two starters and have struggled early under first year defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler, who comes to Starkville after serving as outside linebackers coach under Nick Saban at Alabama. Hutzler has dealt with injuries to returning safety Corey Ellington as well as defensive end De’Monte Russell which has put a strain on the Bulldogs defense. Safeties Isaac Smith and Brylan Lanier are physical willing tacklers. Linebacker Stone Blanton returned home to Mississippi after two seasons at South Carolina where he is currently second on the team in tackles. Branden Jennings is a Jacksonville native with athleticism and instincts. He brings plenty of college football experience as well after previous stops at Maryland, UCF and Hinds Community College.   Three of the Bulldogs’ five top five tacklers are safeties. That’s good for their individual stats, bad for the defense as whole. Hutzler’s unit is last in the SEC against the run and next to last in total defense. Florida has been looking to establish the run and has the perfect unit to finally find its footing. Like Florida, the Bulldog defense has struggled to generate turnovers with only two on the year. Pressure on the quarterback has also been limited with the defense only putting the quarterback down three times this year. With Florida possibly looking to steady the QB rotation the trip to Starkville could be an opportunity for Mertz, Johnson and company to put together a solid day and play the complimentary football the Gators have spoken of but rarely seen under Napier.  The Skinny: The Walking Dead is one of the most popular shows this century.  Unfortunately the state of the Billy Napier tenure at Florida has taken on the title of “Dead Man Walking.”The Gators have talked all week about eliminating distractions, enhancing the level of execution even laying out the importance of scout team in preparation. Not really a new concept. The problem is that when you hear their fearless leader speak, it turns into more of the same. What is always absent is term such as playmaker, aggressive, hitter, great route runner, heavy hitter, etc.; Instead we are bombarded by notions of good character as an indication of how well the offense will perform and the defense will defend this weekend. Mississippi State surrendered 49 points to a Toledo team that while picked to finish second in the MAC would put very little fear in most Power 5 teams. Meaning that this is a game that the Gators should have a solid chance of winning and get just their third road win under Billy Napier. The Gators unfortunately have made a living off of making inferior teams look like their best selves. While Florida will move the ball, the defense has shown no ability to stop anyone who plays outside of the Southern Conference. A loss here makes for an unusually interesting and difficult off week. Prediction: Florida Gators 27 Mississippi State 33

For the Gators to beat Mississippi State, the defense will have to come out of witness protection (Photo by Chris Spears) There is this longstanding joke that asks what do a tornado in Mississippi and a divorce have in common? You’ve probably heard the same joke applied to Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and other states. The answer is someone will lose a trailer. In the case of the Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (1-2, 0-0 SEC) Saturday (12 noon, ESPN) in Starkville, a Florida loss will have UF fans thinking an F5 has hit the program and it’s time for the divorce.   Both the Florida and Mississippi State fan bases have spent the week filling message boards with demands that their head football coaches should be relieved of their duties. If there is an advantage, at least from a fan base perspective, it’s with Mississippi State, which can at least rationalize that this is Jeff Lebby’s first year on the job and this is only his fourth game. If Lebby loses Saturday in a white knuckles affair, the Mississippi State fan base will think progress was made. A week ago the Bulldogs got blowtorched by Toledo from the Mighty MAC.   This is Florida coach Billy Napier’s third year and fans and boosters alike have grown weary of seeing the same kind of mistake-filled losses they’ve been seeing since he took over in 2022. They’re no longer buying into Napier’s explanations and word on the street is the big money boosters have raised the $26 million it will take to end the head coach’s gainful employment.   Lebby inherited a mess from previous coach Zach Arnett who was fired after going 5-7 in his only year on the job. After three years of Mike Leach’s heave it all over the ball yard Air Raid passing game, Arnett had the audacity to try to run the football. It didn’t work and fans demanded a change. Mississippi State fans can tolerate a loss if the offense puts points on the board and makes it interesting. What they refuse is boring and Arnett was boring.   Florida football has been same old, same old the last three years.  Too many games in which the defense didn’t show, perhaps because they were in witness protection. Too many games lost because of inconsistent offense or play calls that came straight out of “Football for Dummies.” To say the very least, Florida fans have grown weary.   Lebby isn’t from the Mike Leach coaching tree but he learned offense from Art Briles, Josh Heupel and Lane Kiffin so it’s bound to be more exciting than the product Arnett put on the field a year ago. That the Bulldogs throw it for 278 yards a game should be distressing to Florida fans, who have watched two Division I teams’ quarterbacks light it up with hardly a lick of pressure from the UF pass rush.   Defense has been in short supply for the Gators, who stuck it to D1AA Samford but have given up 1,017 yards and 74 points in games against Miami and Texas A&M. If Florida is to win this game, the defense has to generate a pass rush (only one sack against Miami; zero against A&M) and force some turnovers (one against Miami; zero against A&M).   The Gators might luck out in this one because Mississippi State’s offensive line is worse in pass protection than Florida’s. The Bulldogs have given up 10 sacks in three games, but if the Bulldogs can pass protect for Blake Shapen it’s going to be a miserable afternoon for the Gators.      The Gators head into this game 6-point favorites to win their first game against a Division I opponent since they beat South Carolina on the road last October 14. Beat Mississippi State in a blowout and Napier most likely keeps his job for at least another week. A loss or even a be still my beating heart win and Napier could get gang-gonged by the powers that be sooner and not later.   The formula to win should be relatively simple. Get the ball in the hands of playmakers. Even without Tre Wilson, who had a knee procedure that will keep him out a second game, Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway still have Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger to throw it to. The Gators will have to get more out of the running game than they’ve gotten either against Miami or Texas A&M. Some balance in the offense should make a difference.     Defensively, someone has to get pressure on Shapen and someone in the secondary needs to show that it’s not illegal to actually cover a receiver. Odds are it will all come down to the defense but hasn’t that been the case for 11 of the 16 losses the Gators have suffered since Billy Napier became the head coach?   Whoever loses Saturday will have fans screaming that it’s time for a cool change. StarkVegas will be a rocking place Saturday night if Mississippi State wins. If Florida wins, the UF fan base will simply think someone else lost the trailer and that it’s just a matter of time before an F5 hits the Gators. If the Gators lose, expect a press conference to announce a divorce Sunday or Monday.   SEC FOOTBALL Louisiana-Monroe (2-0) at No. 1 Texas (3-0): Arch Manning will get his first collegiate start at QB in a game the Longhorns are favored by 44.5 points. In the two games he’s played, Manning is 14-18 passing for 318 yards (17.7 per attempt) with five TDPs and zero interceptions. He’s also run the ball six times for 53 yards and two touchdowns. This is an important start, not so much because Manning is going to steal the job from injured starter Quinn Ewers because he’s not, but because Ewers has a history of getting hurt and missing games. If Ewers gets hurt again down the road, Steve Sarkisian will have a backup who has started games in the past. Texas wins in a dial-a-score game.   Georgia Southern (2-1) at No. 5 Ole Miss (3-0): This is a matchup of old buddies who were once head coaches at Southern Cal. Clay Helton was once Lane Kiffin’s quarterback coach at Southern Cal. This is a paycheck game for Georgia Southern which heaves the ball all over the yard but can’t seem to generate a running game. Doesn’t matter. Ole Miss leads the country in rushing defense and is tied for third in sacks. Georgia Southern’s defense is dead last in the Sun Belt, which doesn’t bode well trying to stop Kiffin’s offense, which is best in the country (692 yards per game). It’s the last game for the Ole Miss youngsters to play because SEC play begins next week. Ole Miss easily covers the 36.5-point spread.   No. 6 Tennessee (3-0, 0-0 SEC) at No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0 SEC): Everybody is going ga-ga over the Tennessee offense, which averages 639 yards and a nation-leading 63.7 points per game. Now Josh Heupel’s vaunted offense gets a test against a Brent Venables defense. Brent was the co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma back when Heupel played QB and was offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, so there is some familiarity here. At Clemson Venables dialed up the defense for a pair of national championship teams. Can he figure out how to daze and confuse Tennessee freshman QB Nico Iamaleava? Better yet, can Oklahoma’s inconsistent offense figure out a way to move the ball and score points on a Tennessee defense that ranks second nationally (160.7 yards per game)? The Vols are favored by 6.5 points, but could be on upset alert if they don’t come roaring out of the gate.   Vanderbilt (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at No. 7 Missouri (3-0, 0-0 SEC): Vandy’s bubble burst last week at Georgia State. If the Commodores can’t win on the road at a Sun Belt stadium how are they going to fare in a roadie against the nation’s No. 7 team? This week the Commodores have to face a Missouri team that is giving up just 180 yards per game defensively and offensively grinds out 203 rushing yards a game. A week ago Vandy struggled to stop Georgia State running the ball. Missouri is a 20-point favorite but don’t be surprised if Vandy keeps it close for three quarters.   UCLA (1-1) at No. 16 LSU (2-1): A week ago UCLA got its doors blown off by Indiana in its first game as a member of the Big Ten. The Big Ten will seem like Romper Room compared to Tiger Stadium even if it is a day game. Tiger fans are notoriously sober during day games so they aren’t nearly as loud or mean. Still, if UCLA can’t stop Indiana they aren’t going to have much luck against an LSU passing game that averages 302 yards and has generated 10 touchdown passes so far. LSU really isn’t that good, but the Tigers won’t have to be very good to win this one by more than the 22.5 points they’re favored. Fans will want to get this one over early so they can make up for lost drinking time.   Bowling Green (1-1) at No. 25 Texas A&M (2-1): A couple of weeks ago, Bowling Green had Penn State on the ropes in Happy Valley. Then they realized where they were and who they were playing and let Penn State win the game. Can the Falcons play the Aggies close in College Station? They’re 22.5-point road dogs, so the oddsmakers don’t think so. The Aggies could start Conner Weigman at QB, but why risk another injury to his shoulder in a non-conference game? Besides, the Aggies played very, very well last week with Marcel Reed running the show. The Aggies will do what they did last week against Florida, throw it sparingly and grind it between the tackles for a relatively easy win.   Arkansas (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at Auburn (2-1, 0-0 SEC): A week ago Arkansas struggled to eke out a win over UAB while Auburn did a tap dance on New Mexico behind the play of redshirt freshman QB Hank Brown. Arkansas is running the ball very well through three games (259 yards per) and throwing it even better (328 per game) so how will Auburn’s inconsistent defense stop the Hogs? For Auburn to win the game, the Tigers are going to have to throw it all over the ball yard while hoping they can get enough stops against the run to slow down the Arkansas offense and dual threat QB Taylen Greene. Auburn is a 2.5-point favorite but this is a game that can slip away from the Tigers if they can’t control the Arkansas running game.   Akron (1-2) at South Carolina (2-1): South Carolina knows it should have whacked LSU last week but let a winnable game get away. That won’t be a problem this week because Akron is one of the worst teams in the country. This is a good game to get the offense functioning well. The Gamecocks have an absolute stud running back in Raheim Sanders but they need a passing game from LaNorris Sellers.  The Gamecocks are 27.5-point favorites so this will be a rare occasion for fans to celebrate multiple touchdowns.   Ohio (2-1) at Kentucky (1-2): Brock Vandagriff was supposed to light it up for UK after spending three years apprenticing at Georgia. So far the Kentucky offense ranks 129thnationally and Vandagriff lives among the catfish when it comes to SEC quarterback rankings. The UK defense is fine, but that bad offense is going to make every game white knuckles unless they can figure out how to get Vandagriff untracked. Kentucky is a 20-point favorite,

How Did This Disaster Happen? We Are All To Blame.

'His nickname “Sun Belt Billy” was the moniker used by rival fans, who now seem rather astute, do they not?'

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning: For a head coach whose coaching head is reportedly on the block, Billy Napier said it was business as usual for the Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC) at his Monday press conference. Asked if he had discussions with the UF administration about his job status, Napier replied, “No, none.” And when asked if there is a pathway to a fourth season, it was a three-word reply, “Yeah, 100 percent.”   The Gators will be at Mississippi State Saturday (12 noon, ESPN), the bottom feeder game in the Southeastern Conference. The Bulldogs are 1-2 and coming off a 41-17 loss to Toledo from the Mid-American Conference that has their fans feeling hostility against first-year head coach Jeff Lebby. Since Lebby is three games into his first season, his job seems quite secure win or lose. Napier, on the other hand, is on shaky ground no matter what the Gators do.   Asked about assurances that he would be given adequate time to rebuild the program when he signed a 7-year deal that pays in excess of $7 million per year, Napier wouldn’t go into any specifics other than to say it’s a chance to improve and he doesn’t want to see any finger-pointing by his team.   “As a staff and throughout the organization, we have to do our part to model what we would expect from the players and want from the players and that for me is total focus on the next opportunity to improve,” Napier said. “We're going to put the game to bed today from Saturday (33-20 loss to Texas A&M), and then it's about doing my absolute best to prepare the team to play next Saturday. And we can't live in the should have, could have, would have, if, then, all that. I think ultimately we got an obligation to the players and our leadership at the university to do our best to play well this week.   “That's all we can control. Anything else is a waste of time. I think it's that way regardless. I mean, we been doing this for a long time. The ability to hit the reset button, sometimes you're trying to ignore the hype or the praise or the … sometimes you fall flat on your face and you're trying to … so your approach with the players the right mix of accountability and ownership. I think it's critical that we don't point fingers and we accept some responsibility and point out where there needs to be accountability. I think that's the key, especially with young people in a world that they live in currently.”   The Gators have played poorly in their two losses, particularly on the defensive side of the ball where it seems a replay of the past two seasons. The Gators currently rank dead last in the Southeastern Conference and 106th nationally, giving up 407.3 yards per game. In Napier’s first season at UF in 2022, the Gators finished 97th nationally in total defense. They were 71st a season ago.   It is still early. There are at least nine more opportunities to improve. Napier offered an if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always been what you’ve always done explanation for what’s next.   “That's where we have to have the right combination of player accountability and then as coaches we have to take some responsibility as well,” Napier said. “We have to adjust. I think if we continue to do the same things, then I think that would not be the smartest path.   “So I think as a defensive staff, I know there is direction there. There is ownership there. And, yeah, just a little bit different approach, tweak things. I think it's critical in times like these that you listen to the players a little bit. I think you got to give them some ownership. It's important that they believe in what's happening and taking place, and painting an objective picture for them.”   SEC FOOTBALL No. 4 Alabama (3-0): Safety Malachi Moore is recovering from a blow to the head suffered against Wisconsin. The week off should allow him to be ready to go next week when Georgia comes to Tuscaloosa. Saturday: Open   Arkansas (2-1): Corner Jaylon Braxton is considered likely to play against Auburn,  but safety Hudson Clark will miss the game … The Hogs are 3-point underdogs. Saturday: at Auburn (2-1)   Auburn (2-1): After his four touchdown pass performance against New Mexico, redshirt freshman QB Hank Brown is expected to get his second straight start against Arkansas … Auburn is a 3-point favorite. Saturday: Arkansas (2-1)   No. 2 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC): Georgia’s offensive line, touted in the preseason by some experts as the best in the country, has already given up 11 tackles for loss. Saturday: Open   Kentucky (1-2, 0-2 SEC): This is a contrast for you. The Kentucky defense ranks ninth nationally while the offense ranks 129th … Kentucky has been established as a 19.5-point favorite over Ohio Univeristy. Saturday: Ohio (2-1)   No. 16 LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC): The Tigers rank 91st nationally in total defense (380 yards per game) … The Tigers are 24.5-point favorites against UCLA. Saturday: UCLA (1-1)   Mississippi State (1-2): HBC Jeff Lebby is just three games into the MSU gig, yet fans are already calling for his firing after the Bulldogs were hosed by Toledo, 41-17  … The Bulldogs are 5.5-point underdogs against Florida. Saturday: FLORIDA (1-2)   No. 7 Missouri (3-0): Missouri’s defense, nicknamed “Death Row,” ranks fourth nationally overall (184 yards per game). The Tigers are seventh against the pass and 19th against the run … Mizzou is a 20.5-point favorite against Vandy. Saturday: Vanderbilt (2-1)   No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0): For the Sooners to slow down Tennessee’s high powered offense they will have to force turnovers. Through three games they’ve picked off four passes and recovered six fumbles to rank second nationally in turnover margin … The Sooners are 7-point underdogs at home against Tennessee. Saturday: No. 6 Tennessee (3-0)   No. 5 Ole Miss (3-0): Wake Forest is buying out of their return date with Ole Miss. The Rebels visited Wake Forest this past Saturday, but Wake Forest wants out of the rematch next season … The Rebels are 36-point favorites to beat Georgia Southern at home. Saturday: Georgia Southern (2-1) South Carolina (2-1, 1-1 SEC): Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who sprained an ankle against LSU, is expected to play Saturday … The Gamecocks are 27.5-point favorites.   Saturday: Akron (1-2)   No. 6 Tennessee (3-0): UT head coach Josh Heupel returns to familiar digs Saturday. In 2000 he quarterbacked Oklahoma to the national championship … Although the Vols lead the nation in scoring and rank second in total offense, they’re only a 7-point favorite on the road in Norman Saturday. Saturday: at No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0)   No. 1 Texas (3-0): Quinn Ewers is week-to-week. The healing process might go a bit faster with Arch Manning looking like his grandpa and two famous uncles … The Longhorns are 44.5-point favorites this week. Saturday: Louisiana-Monroe (2-0)   No. 25 Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0 SEC): QB Conner Weigman is reportedly week-to-week, so he could start Saturday … The Aggies are 23-point favorites against a Bowling Green team that had Penn State on the ropes in Happy Valley. Saturday: Bowling Green (1-1)   Vanderbilt (2-1): The Commodores are 10th in the SEC and 46th nationally in total defense (298 yards per game) … Vanderbilt is a 20.5-point road dog Saturday. Saturday at No. 7 Missouri   COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: WEEK TWO On Life Support Billy Napier, Florida: If the Gators had just been competitive against Texas A&M the administration might be a bit more benevolent. The Gators have an open date after Saturday’s game with Mississippi State and another one after the Kentucky game (before Georgia). One of those Mondays seems like bad juju day for Billy.   Stan Drayton, Temple: The Owls are 0-2. They can’t run the ball nor can they throw it. Other than that the offense is just peachy. A reverse run of the table (0-12) seems in the cards.   Sonnie Cumbie, Louisiana Tech: Cumbie is an Air Raid guy but the strength of his team is defense. Go figure on that one. He needs six wins. Desperately.   Joe Moorehead, Akron: The Zips have a paycheck game this week in Columbia against South Carolina. Moorhead won’t get fired Saturday and odds are he lasts until October … but not much longer than that.   Will Hall, Southern Miss: If the Golden Eagles lose Saturday to Jacksonville State it will be a very bad omen for a coach who should heed advice and avoid any long term real estate purchases in Hattiesburg.   Mike Bloomgren, Rice: The Owls are 1-2 and Saturday they play at Army, which averages 390 yards per game on the ground. A bad day at Black Rock for the Owls.   Endangered Species List Sam Pittman, Arkansas: The Razorbacks are 2-1, but the next seven games are against SEC opponents. Everybody likes Sam but he still has to win six games to remain gainfully employed.   Mike Houston, East Carolina: Houston, we have a problem! The Pirates are 1-2 and they’re paying Houston $2.52 million. Patience wears thin. The natives will be very restless if the Pirates lose at Liberty this week.   Clay Helton, Georgia Southern: The Eagles are 2-1. So far so good. Saturday they play Ole Miss in Oxford. In the immortal words of Scooby-Doo. Roops! Helton needs a minimum of four more wins, but five would save him for sure.   Jim McElwain, Central Michigan: Ole Yeller is 1-2 and a third straight losing season seems imminent. Patience is running thin in Mount Pleasant.   Don Brown, UMass: The Minutemen play Central Connecticut State this week and Wagner in five weeks. Those are the only winnable games on the schedule. The Minutemen are 4-23 since luring Brown back to coach. He was 43-19 there 16 years ago when they were D1AA.   Jim Mora Jr., UConn: These next three games will be critical – Florida Atlantic, Temple and Buffalo. They’re all at home and they are winnable. UConn desperately wants to join a conference. A winning record in football would help pull the trigger on a deal with the Big 12.   ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Less than a month after Tennessee finished 3-7 in the 2020 COVID season, head coach Jeremy Pruitt and his staff were fired after an internal investigation revealed recruiting violations. Pruitt, his wife and some members of his staff provided nearly $60,000 in cash inducements to recruits. An NCAA investigation followed with Tennessee fined $8 million and vacating 11 wins from 2019 and 2020. Pruitt was hit with a six-year show cause.   When fired, Pruitt was owed $12.6 million in buyout money, but because of the NCAA violations, Tennessee was off the hook for the entire amount.   It is worth mentioning the Pruitt case because the NCAA is currently investigating Billy Napier and the University of Florida for possible violations from the Jaden Rashada saga that involved a reported $13.5 million NIL deal that went south. Napier, booster Hugh Hathcock and former UF staffer Marcus Castro-Walker are currently in court proceedings, the three of them sued by Rashada and his father for $10 million.   Napier is in a precarious position because of this lawsuit. To settle could be construed as an admission of guilt. If he fights in court, he could lose if a jury or judge rules him complicit in a deal that broke NCAA rules. Even if found not guilty of personal involvement, there is the matter of Hathcock, Castro-Walker and a contract that could result in NCAA sanctions against Napier for lack of institutional control on his watch.   Is it in Napier’s contract that he could be dismissed with cause if there are NCAA violations? And, if fired with cause, would UF have to pay any of the $26 million in buyout money?   Things that make you go hmmmm.