LEXINGTON, KY—The stadium pulsed. Not a tremble, not a slight waver…but a noticeable pulse, mirroring the racing hearts of a sold out crowd in Kroger Field, beating with 35 years of angst and pent up frustration. For it was 1986 the last time Kentucky beat the Gators in Lexington. That was a 10-3 game. This one featured more offense, as football is apt to do so nowadays. But still leaned on the trenches like the game of years gone by. The trenches are where the Gators had made their bread and butter the first four games. But it’s what collapsed in Kentucky, as the No. 10 Florida Gators lost 20-13 to the Kentucky Wildcats (ranked No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll). In fact, it was an offensive collapse and defensive surrender, punctuated by special teams blunders and 115 yards in penalties for the Gators. Yes, you read that right. Florida racked up 15 penalties for 115 yards, surpassing what Kentucky gained in passing yards (74) and neared what they gained on the ground (137). In other words, a complete team loss for the No. 10 Florida Gators. "In the SEC, you're not gonna come in and make the mistakes that we made, and win a game," admitted Head Coach Dan Mullen after the loss. "That's a good football team. Top-25 team, you're playing a top-25 team on the road, here in the SEC, great crowd. You know, Mark [Stoop]'s built a program up, that, we know that, they're gonna be a top-25 team year-in-and-year-out now. "Then you give them credit, you know, they had great energy, their guys played hard, made plays at key times during the game. But, I mean, you're not gonna make all the mistakes we made in the course of a game and expect to win, you know, you're not gonna win in the SEC doing that." Both offenses traded punts on their respective opening drives, before the Gators found their footing. It began with the reemergence of Anthony Richardson. After two weeks out recover from a hamstring injury, the redshirt freshman phenom faked the entire Wildcats defense on a draw play that picked up 11-yards. Then, the Power 5’s best rushing offense found room in the air on a completely balanced drive. After targeting Trent Whittemore on the opening drive, Mullen had Emory Jones look for Xzavier Henderson twice for 29 yards and concluded with a screen to rarely used Ja’Quavion Fraziars. The receiver dove forward seven yards for his first career touchdown. Then Kentucky and Will Levis (6-15, 74 yards, one touchdown, six carries for 21 yards) began attacking the Gators in the flat, picking up chunk yardage with relative ease. From the 41-yard line, Wan’Dale Robinson took a handoff, picked through the initial line and cut upfield for the explosive touchdown. After a week in which the Gator defensive players bragged on the extra work they did on cleaning up missed tackles, Robinson bounced off Florida defenders like a pinball machine, in route to the score. After the score though, Florida’s defense buckled up, forcing the Wildcats into three punts to end the first half and another to start the half. But it was a decision on the front side of halftime that will be rightly questioned for a while. With all three timeouts, and receiving the ball with 1:56 to play till intermission, the Gators picked up 21 yards on four plays then rode out the clock to the locker room. “You're on the road, you're back to the wall, we're making some errors right there," explained Mullen. "You get out, you know, in order to kind of … you're looking at the clock, you got about 30 seconds, I think it was. We got the ball on our 30-yard line. On the road, you're like, you know. Like I said, I thought we were playing, we're doing some good things, let's just go kind of settle everybody down and not create a potential issue right there.” The rain began at halftime, when Florida was ahead 10-7 but seemed to be unsure of themselves. It had stopped by the time both teams returned to the playing field, but the mood was set. It was guaranteed to get strange. This game always is. It was guaranteed to be close. This game tends to be. And that’s what it became yet again. After forcing Kentucky into another punt, the Gators offense took the field and seemed to be moving productively enough. Then facing a manageable 3rd-and-3, committed a false start. There had been three such calls on the Gators in the first half. Noteworthy but not panic inducing. The first of the second half though was the last pebble needing loosening before the avalanche. Behind the sticks, Florida was forced to punt and before the game was complete, they’d accumulate eight false start penalties. Each in a more crucial situation than the last. One that negated a fourth down conversion in the fourth quarter, another that brought back the ball on third down and another in the redzone as the Gators were looking for the late tie. The last one was the knife in the gut, after Florida had gone from a first and goal at the 9-yard line, to a fourth and goal from the 8-yard line over the course of nine plays (including the penalties). "I'll get with [offensive line coach] John Hevesy, and we gotta get better, you know? I mean, that's, I didn't ... that's something we're gonna look at with a problem. But, give their crowd credit, they had a great crowd, they had a lot of energy, their guys played hard. But, you can't do that, that's a lack of mental toughness." To Mullen's point, there was a sold out crowd of 61,632 in attendance. And this was the Gators first true hostile road game since 2019. But there have been in louder stadiums and more intense situations. Eight false starts could be, as Mullen said, "a lack of mental toughness." It can also be a disconnect between quarterback and offensive-line, leading to the need to get with Hevesy. "We weren't locked in on offense at all times and I mean it got to us at one part of the game. So we just have to go to the drawing board and get better with that," admitted Jones, adding of his cadence, "definitely. I can be a lot louder. Part of that was my fault and my job, but we just have to go back to the drawing board and try to get better with that." It wasn’t just the false starts that were what brought down the Gators. There were only two penalties on defense, but one was arguably a game changer. After Florida corner Tre’Vez Johnson picked off Levis, he returned the ball to the Kentucky 16-yard line. The Gators would take over in the redzone. But a personal foul on Antonio Valentino brought the ball back to the 31-yard line instead. Workable, but not as easy. Richardson received three more snaps but after Dameon Pierce (eight carries, 54 yards) picked up a first down, it was called back for a holding penalty. On 3rd-and-13, Mullen called in a quarterback draw that picked up three yards. The edges weren’t there for the running backs all night—an area of the field they’d dominated before Lexington—and there wasn’t much up the middle either. Off tackle runs found space, but the quarterback draw become a favorite all night. Jones’ play there meant the Gators had to settle for a 48-yard field goal attempt. And seemed at odds with the conductor Dan Mullen, who typically knows how to make an offense sing. It begged the question, had the offense sputtered? Had Mullen been out-coached? “No, but 382 yards, I guess that's sputtering. I don't know. We had 382. They had 211 yards. I wouldn't think that would be the case. I think guys did some pretty good things right there, moving up and down. I think we got to really look at the penalties that we have and how to get ourselves in a better situation that way. I got to a better job coaching up the PAT/field-goal group. They’re a physical group. We outrushed them. We outpassed. We out-total gained them. The time of possession, we were better on third downs.” So just the penalties then? “I would say that's a decent part to it. I mean you can go a lot more. OK, special teams, you can't have a blocked kick. That was seven points. That's a 10-point swing right there. That's a big, big deal so we got to get that fixed. Third-down conversions I think would have been higher. We got ourselves in some third-and-long situations. We got to be better right there. Red zone, we got to a ball in the red zone. We have got to score touchdowns when we get down there.” The 48-yard field goal would’ve made it 13-7. Instead, it was blocked by Joshua Paschal (seven tackles, 2.5 for loss) and returned 76-yards by Trevin Wallace for a touchdown. The Gators blocked the ensuing point after attempt, but the damage from the nine point swing was done. "We get an interception and we got the ball in the red zone, starting right in tight to go take a big lead and we get a penalty," said Mullen, disbelief taking over his tone. "Then we get a first down on that drive and get a penalty. You guys are there. And then we just fall, let their guys run clean up the middle on a field goal block. Pretty easy to … I mean, you guys saw it all.” "It was very deflating," added defensive lineman Zach Carter (three tackles, one sack). "You can't, honestly you can't win games like that and have as many mistakes as we did." The defense held the Cats at bay as long as possible, but after a Jones’ interception (the first interception the Kentucky defense has nabbed all season) was returned to the UF 29-yard line, there was little fight left in the unit. The Wildcats scored five plays later, making it 20-10. Florida looked to mount a small comeback, moving downfield at a clipper pace before stalling at the 11-yard line. Jones actually converted a fourth down there to keep their chances moving, but a false start forced Mullen to settle for the field goal. If the Gators had scored the touchdown, all they would’ve needed on the next drive to tie the game would’ve been a field goal. Instead as the clock ticked down and security lined the walls in front of the student section, the rain started back and Florida couldn’t do much with an 11-play, 54 yard drive and 4:21 of game clock. They turned the ball over on downs, and Will Levis had just enough time to snap the ball in victory formation before the Kentucky students rushed the field. Then once again, the stadium pulsed. Fans jumped and the stands swayed, driven by the heart beat of every Kentucky fan in attendance and across the nation, while at the same time, the hearts of the Florida Gators broke, knowing at 1-2 in the SEC, and 1-1 in the SEC East, their hopes of a playoff in a year of parity are likely gone.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda. That’s the best way to describe what happened to 10th-ranked Florida (3-2, 1-2 SEC) in Lexington Saturday night. The Gators shoulda won the game, coulda won the game and woulda won the game except they shot themselves in the feet so many times they should be fitted for prosthetics this week. Give Kentucky (5-0, 3-0 SEC) credit for beating the Gators, 20-13, but it’s not like the Wildcats didn’t get numerous helping hands from the Gators, who were flagged for 15 penalties – eight false starts, two holds, one delay of game, one offside, one illegal block and two personal fouls – that resulted in 115 lost yards. Additionally, Jace Christmann had a field goal blocked that was returned 78 yards for a touchdown by Josh Paschal and Emory Jones threw an interception that was returned deep into Florida territory, giving the Wildcats a short field which they used to score the touchdown that won the game. In the second quarter with the score tied at 7-7, the Gators faced third-and-one at their own 21 but there were consecutive drive-killing false starts (numbers two and three) – one against Ethan White, the other against Malik Davis – that sapped the momentum at a time when the UF offense was looking very competent against the UK defense. Later in the quarter, a delay of game erased a 46-yard field goal by Christmann. Fortunately, despite the 5-yard march backwards, Christmann drilled a 51-yarder that gave the Gators a 10-7 lead and represented their last score until a 33-yard Christmann field goal in the fourth quarter. In the third quarter, the Gators had third and three from the UK 37 on a drive that looked quite promising after Jones completions of 11 yards to Justin Shorter and 10 to Jacob Copeland combined with a pass interference call on the Wildcats. A false start on Kingsley Eguakun turned four-down territory into a punt after Jones threw incomplete on third-and-eight from the UK 42. On Kentucky’s ensuing possession, Tre’Vez Johnson picked off a Will Levis pass at the UK 42 and returned it 26 yards to the 16 but an illegal block was called against Antonio Valentino, setting the ball back to the 31. Complicating matters was a holding call against Eguakun on third-and-three at the UK 24 that erased a 10-yard carry by Dameon Pierce. Instead of first down at the UK 14, the Gators were third-and-13 at the 24. Following a three-yard run by Jones on third down, Christmann was sent in to try a 48-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Josh Paschal. Trevin Wallace scooped up the loose ball and followed a convoy of blockers 78 yards for a TD that gave the Wildcats a 13-10 lead with 6:36 left. A false start by Stewart Reese on Florida’s next possession turned second-and-five into second-and-10. On Kentucky’s next possession, a personal foul call against Elijah Blades gave the Wildcats a first down near midfield. The Gators eventually stuffed UK on fourth-and-two on that drive at the Florida 34 when Brenton Cox Jr. got the first hit on Chris Rodriguez and Jeremiah Moon and Trey Dean III came in to clean things up. On the first play after that defensive stand, Jones and Xzavier Henderson connected for a nine-yard gain, but instead of second-and-one from the 44, there was a holding call on Ethan White that set the Gators back to the 25. One play later, Jones overshot his receiver and JJ Weaver intercepted, returning the ball to the Florida 29. Five plays later, the Wildcats scored on a nine-yard run by Rodriguez for what turned out to be the game-winning TD with 11:32 left in the game. Florida had a chance to cut Kentucky’s lead to three on the ensuing drive, methodically moving the ball down the field 10 plays to the UK 11, the big plays on the drive a 16-yard Jones-to-Copeland pass and a 16-yard run by Jones. After an eight-yard run by Malik Davis made it second-and-two from the 11, Jones threw an incomplete pass then was stuffed a yard short of the first down. On fourth-and-one, White committed another false start and this one forced Mullen to send in Christmann for a 33-yard field goal with 6:23 to go. Florida’s defense, which gave up only 224 yards the entire game, forced a three-and-out to set up what could have been a game-tying drive, but the penalties came back to haunt the Gators once again. Jones completed passes of 14 yards to Kemore Gamble and 18 and 11 yards to Copeland plus turned in a 10-yard run on a quarterback draw as the Gators moved to a first-and-goal at the UK nine. On third-and-goal from the five, there was a false start on Gouraige. UF was bailed out on the next snap, however, when Kentucky’s Octavious Oxendine was flagged for a face mask. After a four-yard loss on a pass from Jones to Copeland, a false start was called on Malik Davis that set the ball back to the 14. Jones ran for three, dumped a three-yard pass to Davis and then threw into triple coverage on fourth down to end Florida’s chances to win the game. The self-inflicted wounds essentially ended Florida’s chances of winning the SEC Eastern Division Saturday night. This was Florida’s second SEC loss, which means that both Georgia and Kentucky own the tiebreakers, meaning those two would have to lose three times while Florida goes unbeaten the rest of the way. Donkeys will fly first. This is a game the Gators could have won, would have won and should have won quite handily except every time they got something going, they shot themselves in the foot again. The Florida defense had its best game of the season and gave a winning effort. Kentucky only had one big play the entire game, a 41-yard touchdown pass from Will Levis to Wan’Dale Robinson in the first quarter, a screen pass in which UF missed three tackles. Other than that, the Florida defense pretty much stopped the Wildcats in their tracks. Take away that 41-yard pass play and the Florida defense held Kentucky to six completions and 46 yards through the air. Kentucky’s grind it out running game got 137 yards, 99 by Rodriguez, the SEC’s leading rusher, but Kentucky never could dominate the Gators and drive the ball consistently. In realistic terms, Kentucky earned one touchdown on the UF defense. The other two were due to a special teams mistake and a short field after an interception. It shouldn’t have come down to a white knuckles finish. Florida could have won this game by something like 28-7 if not for the two gift touchdowns and all the drive-killing penalties. The eight false starts have to be so frustrating in that it was more false starts than in the first four games combined. It makes you wonder, how is it the Gators could play with such discipline in giving Alabama a run for its money two weeks ago yet they couldn’t avoid the silly mistakes against Kentucky, a game they had to have? The Gators ran for only 173 yards. Some of that has to do with Kentucky’s defense but there were those false starts that turned what should have been easy third down conversions into third-and-long. The simple thing to do would be to point fingers at Mullen and O-line coach John Hevesy, but they aren’t the ones who jumped the count and killed the drives. A coach can call the greatest play in the world, but it’s still up to the team to execute. From what we saw the last two weeks against Alabama and Tennessee, we know the Gators can play with discipline. Something happened Saturday night that just isn’t going to be explained easily. The Gators can still salvage the season by getting to nine or ten wins, but if they’re going to do that, they can’t have another game like the one against Kentucky. Good teams don’t give games away and the only way to describe what happened Saturday night is the Gators gave the game away. It shouldn’t have happened.

LEXINGTON, KY—The No. 10 Florida Gators (3-1) are in the Bluegrass State to take on the Kentucky Wildcats (4-0) in a crucial SEC East matchup. The Wildcats are looking to play upsetter on a day that already saw a fellow Top 10 SEC team (No. 8 Arkansas) fall 35-0 to the Gators SEC East rival, No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs. We'll have live notes and observations for you here ahead of kickoff. Injury Updates: Kaiir Elam is here and warming up Anthony Richardson is here and warming up Ventrell Miller is still in a brace but is out of the sling Travel Roster: QB (3) 5 Emory Jones 11 Jalen Kitna 15 Anthony Richardson RB (5) 6 Nay'Quan Wright 20 Malik Davis 21 Lorenzo Lingard 23 Demarckus Bowman 27 Dameon Pierce WR (8) 0 Ja'Quavion Fraziars 1 Jacob Copeland 3 Xzavier Henderson 4 Justin Shorter 12 Rick Wells 14 Trent Whittemore 82 Ja'Markis Weston 86 Jordan Pouncey TE (3) 2 Kemore Gamble 9 Keon Zipperer 87 Jonathan Odom OL (11) 54 Gerald Mincey 56 Jean Delance 64 Riley Simonds 65 Kingsley Eguakun 67 Richie Leonard 70 Michael Tarquin 72 Josh Braun 73 Mark Pitts 74 Will Harrod 76 Richard Gouraige 77 Ethan White DL / BUCK (15) 1 Brenton Cox 6 Zach Carter 7 Jeremiah Moon 8 Kris Bogle 9 Gervon Dexter 18 Dante Zanders 21 Desmond Watson 33 Princely Umanmielen 44 Daquan Newkirk 52 Antwuan Powell 55 Antonio Valentino 57 Griffin McDowell 92 Jalen Lee 95 Tyrone Truesdale 99 Lloyd Summerall LB (6) 2 Amari Burney 11 Mohamoud Diabate 15 Derek Wingo 28 Ty'Ron Hopper 34 Lacedrick Brunson 51 Ventrell Miller (injured) DB (13) 0 Trey Dean 3 Jason Marshall 5 Kaiir Elam 13 Donovan McMillon 16 TreVez Johnson 19 Elijah Blades 22 Rashad Torrence 24 Avery Helm 25 Ethan Pouncey 27 Jadarrius Perkins 30 Diwun Black 32 Mordecai McDaniel 39 Fenley Graham Specialists (6) 26 Jeremy Crawshaw 37 Tyler Waxman 42 Rocco Underwood 45 Marco Ortiz 47 Jace Christmann 71 Chris Howard

By CARLTON REESE The Real Carlton Remember when the annual trip to Lexington was a visit to the theatre of the absurd? Bill Curry was such a super nice guy in the 1990s and even rolled out a quarterback named Pookie. Then in 1997, Mr. Curry exited stage left to make way the game’s own Marcel Marceau – that would be Hal Mumme playing the role of Bip the Clown. Mumme, with offensive coordinator Mike Leach, made his “Air Raid” offense famous with QB Tim Couch at the helm. All the while, Mumme seemed rather pleased to lose by four touchdowns if the box score showed his team outgained the other. Into the 2000s we were graced with two seasons of Guy Morriss, who introduced us all to the “Hefty Lefty” Jared Lorenzen. After a rare winning season in 2002, Morriss left for Baylor where he would never enjoy a winning season. Rich Brooks had a pretty good run with bowl appearances in each of his final four seasons at UK then gave way to Joker Phillips, who failed to keep that momentum going. Good thing for the Wildcats, because that meant bringing in Mark Stoops who has been the greatest thing to happen to Kentucky football since Bear Bryant walked the sidelines 60 years earlier. Under Stoops, the terms ‘Kentucky’ and ‘football’ do not juxtapose. He beat Florida once and we’ll likely never hear the end of it… unless he somehow beats UF again. Truth be told, the UK’s win in 2018 was no fluke, but four losses to the Gators during the span may have been. Outside of the Gators’ blowout win in 2016 and last year’s game in which UF led by just four at halftime,Stoops has his teams prepared for Florida like no one else. Always outmanned by a fairly wide margin, Kentucky under Stoops has looked like the better team against Florida more often than not. All this means nothing to Carlton The Doorman, whose algorithms don’t take into account Stoops’ obsession with beating Florida, perhaps the reason UK only beat a hapless South Carolina team by just six points last week. No, one must stick with the numbers no matter what,and those numbers say Florida by 13.5. Ergo, give Kentucky the 8.5 and take Florida. I fully expected at some point in my discussion with Carlton The Doorman he would be hitting me up for a loan. His vaunted road dogs that had been treating him so well came up with rabies last week. Quite proud of the Rutgers and N.C. State covers (“no brainers” I believe was the terminology espoused), his overall 3-6 record did not break the bank, but only gave hope as he claims to be a big believer in the numbers reverting to the mean. I suppose that is a statistician’s way of saying the law of averages is now working in his favor. So what do the algorithms tell us this week? If you like betting against Florida State, which definitely has the law of averages working in its favor, The Doorman says you’re in luck as Syracuse is a heavy favorite based on the numbers. Take Syracuse and 4.5 points. The system’s trend bets on home underdogs are 15-7 this year, so I’m told to lean in that direction. That would mean taking the points with the following teams: Oregon State (plus 2 over Washington); East Carolina (plus 4 over Tulane); Buffalo (plus 6 over W. Michigan); Rutgers (plus 15.5 over Ohio State); Akron (plus 9.5 over Ohio); Georgia Tech (plus 3.5 over Pitt). This week, the computer says: Georgia by 15 over Arkansas Missouri by 10 over Tennessee Alabama by 9.5 over Ole Miss Troy State by 3 over South Carolina Florida by 13.5 over Kentucky Texas A&M by 14.5 over Mississippi State Vanderbilt by 7.5 over Connecticut LSU by 1.5 over Auburn Miami by 10 over Virginia Syracuse by 26.5 over Florida State Clemson by 6.5 over Boston College Michigan by 6.5 over Wisconsin Penn State by 18 over Indiana UCLA by 12 over Arizona State Cincinnati by 6 over Notre Dame SMU by 29.5 over South Florida FAU by 20.5 over FIU Carlton The Doorman’s Top-10 Computer Rankings: 1. Alabama (110.5) 2. Georgia (108.5) 3. Ole Miss (98) 4. Oklahoma (96.5) 5. Iowa (96) 6. Cincinnati (95) 7. Penn State (92.5) 8. Ohio State (90) 9. Texas (85) 10. Arkansas (84.5)

There are but a few things I know for sure in this crazy mixed up life; my mama and Jesus will always love me, the fries at the bottom of the bag are the best and when it comes to quarterbacks, there’s no coach I would trust more than Dan Mullen. Coming into this season, we already knew Mullen was the quarterback guru, the “whisperer” if you will. But the past four weeks have solidified, in my opinion, his knack for perfectly managing the most important position on the field. For even as he introduced us to the next big thing with the Florida Gators—Anthony Richardson, and with him, discord—he also deftly handled Emory Jones’ transition to full-time starter. Perhaps it’s ironic or serendipitous or poetic in that way only sports can be, that this shift—nay reaffirmation—in mindset around Mullen’s handling of quarterbacks comes as the No. 10 Gators travel to Lexington to take on the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats, with a promise of the return of Anthony Richardson from a hamstring injury. For it was there, two years ago, that we saw one of the greatest legends in the game begin, and with it, one of Dan Mullen’s finest coaching jobs in his career. So before fully jumping in to Mullen’s work with the quarterbacks this 2021 season, let’s look back at how he navigated that time with Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. It’s important to understand that situation in order to fully appreciate what he’s doing now. Because it is also that situation that caused some of this distrust to begin with in early September. I think at times we like to use revisionist history to bend an argument to our will. I can’t in good conscience give credence to this argument that says Dan Mullen should be ridiculed for starting Emory Jones over Anthony Richardson. Said argument leans on this thought that Mullen has proven he can’t identify talent, by keeping Kyle Trask on the bench while playing Feleipe Franks. Kyle Trask was an incredible quarterback for the University of Florida and I truly believe he’ll have a long NFL career. He set records and was responsible for wins and saved a season that could have easily been lost. Those are indisputable facts. But before Feleipe Franks went down with a season ending leg injury that fateful night in Lexington, there wasn’t much to make anyone think—even the QB guru—that Kyle Trask had what it took to become a Heisman finalist. Saying so otherwise is romanticizing what really happened for the sake of a good story. There is so much that goes into playing quarterback—especially at a place like Florida—beyond just making a throw. We’ll get into that more below. But that is what set Trask and Franks apart. That’s not a knock on Kyle Trask. He’d never been in a position where he had to take on those extra responsibilities so it was still a learning process for him as well, one he eventually excelled at…but that wasn’t always the case. I tell this story a lot, because I think it perfectly encapsulates what Mullen saw in Franks and Trask when he was first making a decision between the two. Franks was always the first one in to the practice field. He’d lead the team across the road and around the O’Connell Center into the indoor facility for warm-up’s. One day, several minutes after Franks had entered the practice field, Trask and Jones brought up the rear of the team. Strength and Conditioning Coach Nick Savage told the two in no uncertain terms, quarterbacks were always the first on the field, never the last. The next day, Trask and Jones were at the front of the pack, a good 30 yards ahead of their nearest teammate coming from the locker room to the practice facility. When they were about 20 yards or so away, you started to hear the cleats behind them. As Trask and Jones neared the gate, the running picked up steam and just before the duo could pass through the entrance, Feleipe Franks came sprinting past them, glancing over his shoulder to make sure he’d slipped by them in time to still be the first player at practice. Feleipe had a knack for excelling when plays broke down. Trask had such pinpoint accuracy and poise that he often didn’t have to worry about plays breaking down. For an offensive play caller that could adjust to both, neither of those skills outweighed the others, so on the field, the competition was a wash. It was the extra stuff, in my opinion, the little things that make a starting quarterback a leader that won Franks the job. He was the heartbeat of that locker room and removing him unjustly would be like removing its soul. It took a while for Kyle Trask to learn how to fill that void. He was able to adjust quickly enough on the field, making mistakes at times but rarely the same mistake twice. But he had to learn how to lead that team and keep them fighting. We like to overlook the 2019 Orange Bowl game against Virginia when the Gators did everything they could to let the Cavaliers win that game, before Kaiir Elam finally said enough is enough and clinched it for the Gators with a late interception. But it was those sort of instances Trask had to learn from. He ended up doing so, leading to one of the most exciting offensive performances Florida football has seen in a season since Steve Spurrier was calling plays. That’s a huge credit to Kyle Trask and all he was able to take on, adapt to and become not only a field general but a true starting quarterback. An argument against Mullen’s ability to handle quarterbacks though, it is not. And we didn’t even touch on the complete transformation Mullen wrought in Franks, taking him from a lopsided touchdown to interception ratio under Jim McElwain, to a 30 touchdown, six interception performance in 2018. Or the fact that there did come a time the coach in fact elected to start Kyle Trask but a broken foot in practice ahead of the South Carolina game gave Franks a second chance. Ok now that that’s settled. As the Gators rolled to wins in their first two games this season, Mullen rotated redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson in for a few plays at a time. On his 22 touches, he threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 275 yards and two more scores on the ground. It was enough to start the outcries, the clamoring for the new guy. Ironically, it sounded remarkably similar to the cries for Emory Jones at times before this season. But Mullen remained adamant, Jones was and will remain the starter. He asked for patience—an unknown personality trait for many a college football fan—and promised a developing star with his redshirt junior. After the week one win against Florida Atlantic, Mullen noted Jones’ “decision-making and getting us through every part of the game” as aspects of the passers game that made the coach confident in him as a starter. “Obviously, when you look at what happened and with Anthony coming in, did some nice things. I mean, you know, you got to run the whole offense. And so I think and Anthony’s really growing with that and growing with situations. So I think he’ll continue to grow with situations as we move forward and Emory’s going to continue to grow.” Then, versus USF, Richardson was electric once again, tearing off an 80-yard touchdown run that exhibited elusiveness, speed and power. Admittedly, in the fours years I’ve watched Dan Mullen coach the Florida Gators, this game held the only moment I’ve really and truly questioned his decision with a quarterback. After Richardson threw a deep pass to Jacob Copeland to get to the seven-yard line, he had to exit the game since his helmet flew off. Jones’ entered for the next play…proceeded to stay in for the four straight plays, all goal-to-go in the redzone. The Gators came away with no points and Jones went back to the bench under a chorus of boo’s from his own fans. Still, after the win, Mullen yet again complimented Richardson but threw his support behind Emory as a starter. He wanted fans to understand he had a plan that included both guys; they just needed to trust him. “We have two quarterbacks that are pretty talented guys, can make plays happen out there on the field. But there's a lot of things. You got to read, there's a lot that the quarterback has to do, a lot of different reads that are out there on the field, so if that makes sense, I mean a lot. “And you're like, 'oh what a spectacular run.' The long touchdown was a great read. [Anthony] read it properly, broke a tackle, scored a touchdown...But I mean, there's, I mean, I don't know I mean, I have great appreciation, our fans, have great appreciation of, you know, watching things and watching great athletes out there on the field. And great guys make great plays out there on the field. “We're pretty fortunate, we have two quarterbacks right now that can make great plays out there on the field, play both of them. Both of them, I thought were pretty efficient in the first half. Both of them were so-so at times with different situations in the second half with things that go on. You know, it's a long season and we have young quarterbacks that I got to continue to grow and continue to develop into being really good football players.” I had a Mississippi State fan tell me recently that the only time State fans have ever clamored for the backup quarterback that he could remember was when Mullen was the coach. It was never a problem before that he could remember and hasn’t been a problem since. The “issue,” this fan believes, is how Mullen insists on showing just enough of the second guy to give fans and opponents a taste. That little taste makes fans greedy and want more and more and more. I think there’s definitely something to the thought that Mullen’s tactic with quarterbacks is what makes fans of his teams so much more familiar with the backup. But it’s also what saves them. Texas A&M fans, still reeling from their loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks, can attest to the downside of not having a competent and experienced backup. And perhaps it’s that word, backup, that is also causing confusion. The way Dan Mullen trains quarterbacks is unique, in that he evenly splits the reps amongst the first team offense with the top two passers. During spring practice and fall camp, he splits it amongst the entire QB unit. He doesn’t want a QB1 and a QB2. He wants QB1a and QB1b. But his usage of Richardson and the accelerated development for the sure-fire star is not what reaffirmed my faith in Mullen’s ability to handle quarterbacks. Instead it’s the development of Emory Jones. Each time Jones threw an interception in the first two games (four total), I heard the cry, “this is his fourth year in the system. How is he still making these mistakes?!” It’s the “still” that got me. Emory Jones wasn’t still making mistakes. He was making them for the first time. Four years in the system means he knows the playbook backwards and forwards, he knows the checks and the calls and the reads that Mullen is so high on as mentioned above. But that doesn’t always mean he knows how fast certain defensive backs close in or which defensive end has a nasty get off or what will happen when the crowd gets going and the blood starts pumping and all of a sudden the game is completely in your hands. There is no teacher like experience and that is what Emory Jones was learning the first three weeks. Now he is sixth in the SEC in completion percentage (not great but much better) and fifth in total rushing yards, the highest of any quarterback. “I’m definitely just warming up,” promised Jones after the Tennessee win last Saturday. “Everything I’m doing I’ve done before. All my teammates have seen me do all this and more for us. They are confident in me. They trust and believe in me. Like I said, I’m just trying to get better week to week and keep pushing these guys and keep this thing rolling.” Emory Jones is rolling and now he’ll get his guy back, Anthony Richardson, to help with a one-two punch. They’re a dynamic duo and both being worthy of staying on the field now is a good problem to have for the Florida Gators. It’s also a reminder that when it comes to Dan Mullen, we should still trust him with his quarterbacks.

A few months ago I went as far as to call the University of Florida the “Almost Everything School” because of the women’s basketball program’s record of being the black eye on UF’s campus that just couldn’t quite get it figured out. That was shortly after former head coach Cam Newbauer resigned from his post citing personal reasons. And now here we are. Now we look at the program as UF’s black eye, bloodied nose and fractured ribs. The Independent Florida Alligator, the newspaper covering the UF student body, released a report on Monday detailing alleged abuse that occurred within the women’s basketball program and how Florida’s athletic director Scott Stricklin knew about the toxic locker room culture but elected to extend Newbauer earlier this summer. And following the last straw of Newbauer’s tenure, whatever that may have been, Stricklin protected Newbauer by allowing him to resign rather than publicly reprimand and/or terminate the coach who has now openly been accused of verbally and emotionally abusing his student-athletes. I had no idea what I was saying when I called the women’s basketball program the black eye. All the while, it was much, much worse than consistent losing campaigns. According to the Alligator’s report, Newbauer would go nose-to-nose with players, searching for a reason to kick them out of practice. Other reports state he made micro-aggressive comments towards players for their appearance and even their race. Many of these accusations were brought to the UAA’s attention while Newbauer was still employed. But that didn’t stop the former Belmont women’s basketball coach from garnering an extension and glowing farewell from Stricklin when Newbauer left the program. Since the bombshell report, Stricklin has addressed the news. But he did so behind closed doors -- with just four male reporters. Of which the Independent Florida Alligator’s reporter Zach Huber, who broke the story, was excluded. However, in Stricklin’s opaque meeting, he took responsibility for keeping Newbauer around despite the troubling reports. "We as a department have a responsibility to provide our student-athletes leadership for their particular programs, their sports. We are going to provide them the best atmosphere possible, and we failed in this situation. And ultimately that's my responsibility for the culture of this department. I'll take full responsibility for that,” Stricklin said. “Had I been aware of everything at the time he resigned that I when we made the contract extension, I never would have done the contract extension. I thought things were moving in a certain direction. Obviously, we weren’t. We didn’t pick up signs and clues and we’ve got to figure out going forward how to get better at that and make sure we know what’s going on.” Going forward -- How does the University of Florida go forward from here as it relates to Florida’s women’s basketball program? Here’s a few things that must happen now: Scott Stricklin and the University Athletic Association must come forward with full transparency and address what has transpired this week -- from the report, to the decision to have a closed-door press conference. The decision to keep Kelly Rae Finley as the interim head coach this season needs to be thoroughly researched and discussed with the student-athletes on the team. Following Newbauer’s departure, Finley was named the interim head coach after serving as Newbauer’s associate head coach. Though it’s unclear if Finley contributed to the toxic culture within the program, one player quoted in the Alligator’s report suggested that Finley be held accountable due to her reluctance to speak out on the abuse. However, before chalking Finley up as an accomplice, it’s fair to question whether or not she was too intimidated to speak out. Here’s a few things that must be considered for the future: Investing in the program. Pardon my French, but the Florida Gators women’s basketball program deserves more than half-ass hires. I understand the reluctance to pour a large sum of money into a program that hasn’t generated the best results. But like anything else, you get in what you put out. If Finley isn’t retained, Stricklin must be willing to dig deep into the pocketbook with his next hire. Look at what LSU did to bolster its faltering program: It pulled Kim Mulkey from Baylor. Mulkey will make more than $2.5 million this season with a $400,000 base salary and $2.04 million in supplemental income. Newbauer was slated to be paid $500,000 this season with his extension. And while comparing the two makes it seem like the LSU Tigers are paying an enormous amount of money for Mulkey, the contract was nearly identical to what she was making at Baylor -- which further proves that it never hurts to ask and that the worst that can happen is a coach declines an offer. It isn’t always necessary to get into a bidding war.

A third of the season is in the books. That the Gators are 3-1 through four games isn’t really a surprise since most experts figured that’s where they would be at this point, but the experts are having to admit they may have under-estimated this team. Florida was supposed to lose to Alabama, but the folks in Vegas had the Crimson Tide favored by two touchdowns. The Gators lost 31-29 and quite frankly, could have and should have won this game. It wasn’t a stroke of luck, either, that UF played the No. 1 team in the country this close. The Gators showed in the final 40 minutes of the game when they completely dominated the Tide on both sides of the football, outscoring the Tide 26-10, that they not only belong on the same field with Alabama but any team in the country. Dan Mullen has put together a team that is very capable of winning every remaining game on the schedule. The offense is different than last year, but because it’s Mullen calling the plays, the Gators are ripping and shredding when they have the football. Just ask Alabama, whose front seven is supposed to be the best in the country. That front seven got pounded for 258 rushing yards and that front seven didn’t make life miserable for Emory Jones, which is what all the experts were predicting. Defensively, Florida is improved. Certainly, not as improved as Mullen or defensive coordinator Todd Grantham would like, but the Gators are getting better every game. They were one of the worst defenses in the country a year ago. This year, they’re getting stops. Alabama only got 10 points after the first quarter. Take away two glaring first quarter mistakes and Tennessee was shut out the rest of the way. There is still a lot of football to be played and much improvement to be made, but this is a team that is looking better every single week. Here are the grades unit-by-unit for the Gators through the first four games. OFFENSE Quarterback (B+): Emory Jones remains a work in progress, but judging by the Alabama and Tennessee games, he’s making progress at a very rapid pace. The calls for EJ to be benched in favor of Anthony Richardson have been largely silenced, in part because Richardson has been unable to play the last two weeks due to that hamstring injury suffered against South Florida in game two. In Richardson’s absence, however, and with the entire Florida offense dependent on improvement from Jones, the fourth-year starting QB has delivered in exceptional if not spectacular fashion. Jones has put together back-to-back games in which he is 39-55 passing (70.9 percent) for 404 yards (7.35 per attempt) for two touchdowns and 34-220 rushing (6.47 per carry) for another TD. This is not against a pair of paycheck cupcake opponents, either. It’s against the No. 1 team in the country in Alabama and SEC East opponent Tennessee. While Jones has been showing why Dan Mullen never once wavered in his support, it has allowed Richardson to heal. Now the Gators go into the final eight games of the season including the four critical games of October (at Kentucky, Vanderbilt, at LSU and Georgia in Jacksonville) with an emerging and dangerouns Jones to go with the electric, big play capabilities of Richardson. It makes for the proverbial two-headed monster at quarterback. Although Mullen adapts his offense to the personnel he has on hand, it is clear that Jones and Richardson are the dual threats he prefers since a running quarterback presents the greatest dilemma for an opposing defensive coordinator. Does the opposing DC go cover three and stack against the run while giving up the intermediate passes and the wheel routes out of the backfield? Does he trust his one-on-one matchups on the outside well enough to go with a 1-high look that allows him to stack the box but could make him vulnerable against those 14-17 yard medium range passes in the seams? Cover two helps against the pass but is quite vulnerable to the run. In each of these defenses, it’s next to impossible to account for the quarterback when he runs, whether by design or when the pocket breaks down. With Jones (70-104 passing for 4 TDs; 57-375 rushing for 2 TDs), Mullen has the experienced quarterback who, after three years in the system, can make all the reads and checkdowns. With Richardson (6-11, 192 yards passing for 2 TDs; 11-275 rushing, 2 TDs) he has the most electric player UF has ever had at quarterback and perhaps Florida’s most dynamic combination of speed and big play instincts since Percy Harvin. In that running quarterbacks will take more hits, having two with the skills of Jones and Richardson is a necessity if the Gators are to mount a real challenge for the SEC East title. Running back (A): This is the most talented running backs room since Steve Spurrier had Fred Taylor, Terry Jackson and Eli Williams back in 1996. Those three combined for 1,688 rushing yards (5.84 per carry) and 17 touchdowns while catching 35 passes for 536 yards (15.3 per catch) and two touchdowns. This year, Mullen has five exceptional running backs – seniors Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis, third-year sophomore Nay’Quan Wright and former 5-star transfers Demarkcus Bowman (from Clemson) and Lorenzo Lingard (from Miami) – but only one football that has to be shared. Pierce, Davis and Wright have played so well that Bowman and Lingard can’t get on the field. Davis not only is healthy, but he’s regained the speed and elusiveness he lost due to knee and foot injuries that basically sidelined him for three years. He’s gained 257 yards (6.27 per carry) on the ground for three touchdowns and he’s caught five passes for 28 yards and a TD. Pierce (172 yards rushing, 6.5 per carry, 5 touchdowns; 8-40 receiving) has always been a money back in the power game, but now he’s showing moves and elusiveness that nobody knew he had. He is Florida’s best short yardage option, particularly when the Gators are inside the opponents’ five and looking to score. Wright (137 yards rushing, 5.46 per carry, 1 TD; 4-35 receiving) might be Florida’s most complete back. He was a one-man wrecking crew on that 99-yard drive against Alabama when he caught a pass for 18 yards to get the Gators out from the shadow of their own goalpost and had four carries for 53 yards. Bowman (7-53 rushing) and Lingard (7-27) are quality backs who are spending their time on the sidelines, not because they aren’t talented enough to play but because the three guys in front of them are playing so well. This is easily the most versatile and complete group of running backs in the entire SEC. Receivers (B): The offense has shifted from everybody out for a pass to a run-first attack, which accounts for some of the expected dip in productivity – 60 catches for 770 yards (12.8 per catch) and five touchdowns through four games. These are numbers that figure to increase substantially in the final eight games of the season as Jones and Richardson’s ability to take off running will make opponents become less inclined to drop seven into coverage on obvious passing downs. Additionally, as Jones becomes more and more comfortable as the starting QB, he will be taking more downfield shots. Richardson has the big arm and seems to have more of a willingness to throw the deep ball. Meanwhile, the receivers are catching the ball when it’s thrown their way and they are exceptional downfield blockers. If there is a knock on their play so far it is a bit of inconsistency in separating from coverage when running their routes. As expected Jacob Copeland (10 catches, 232 yards, 23.2 per catch, 2 TDs) has emerged as Florida’s best downfield threat. On most snaps he commands a double team. When either Jones or Richardson sees Copeland with single coverage, they need to get him the football because there are very few DBs in the SEC that he can’t beat. Xzavier Henderson’s diving catch of an Emory Jones pass for 18 yards against Alabama or that back shoulder catch for a 20-yard gain against Tennessee should tell you plenty about his talent. It seems only a matter of time before opponents try to load up the box and Henderson (8-122, 1 TD), with one-on-one coverage for four full quarters has a breakout game. The surprise of the group is sixth-year senior Rick Wells (11-121, 2 TDs), who only needs four more catches to match his total for the first five years in Gainesville. Justin Shorter (9-88) had a 33-yard catch against Tennessee. He’s another one who should be seeing the ball more often as opponents try to load up against the run and with his size (6-5, 228) and speed he is a one-on-one nightmare. Trent Whittemore (6-56) has been lining up mostly in the slot, but he showed with a 13-yard TDP to Kemore Gamble against Tennessee that he’s a versatile talent who can be used in a lot of ways. After going without a catch in the first two games, the tight ends emerged against Alabama and Tennessee with Gamble (8-61, 1 TD) and Keon Zipperer (4-51) giving the passing game a real threat in the middle of the field. Nick Elksnis still hasn’t made a catch, but he’s enough of a talent that it’s expected he will be heard from before too long. As a group, the receiving numbers aren’t anything close to what they were last year, but it’s a different offense that focuses on the run. When opponents stack against the run, the Gators will have to throw the ball and the productivity of the receivers will have to increase. O-line (A+): Picked by Phil Steele, Athlon and Lindy’s to be in the lower half of the SEC offensive lines, this group has emerged as the best in the entire league and one of the best in the entire country. There isn’t a former 5-star recruit in their midst, but they have dominated every opponent so far. The numbers bear it out – 322.5 yards per game rushing (7.46 per carry), 540.8 yards per game in total offense, and only three sacks allowed although all three have more to do with Jones holding the ball too long than the protection breaking down. Florida has gained more than 250 yards rushing in each of its first four games, the first time that’s happened in school history. And more telling stat might be penalties. The UF O-line has been flagged for holding only twice all season and there have been just four false starts. Jean Delance, long a whipping boy of some UF fans, has had an exceptional start to the season at right tackle. In the Alabama game when paired against Phidarian Mathis, projected to be a first rounder, Delance dominated both in the run game and in pass protection. When Delance had to sit a couple of series when he was dinged, Michael Tarquin stepped in and he, too, whipped Mathis. Delance sat all but three or so series against Tennessee but Tarquin was outstanding in his place. Stewart Reese was excellent at right guard the first two games and for three quarters against Alabama, but when he was injured, Josh Braun came off the bench and the Gators didn’t miss a beat. Braun played the entire Tennessee game and dominated whoever the Vols put across from him. The surprise guy is center Kingsley Eguakun, who emerged as the starter in August, enabling John Hevesy to move Reese over to right guard. Eguakun was able to handle Alabama’s DJ Dale, another first rounder in waiting, without needing a double team. When Eguakun was dinged in the Tennessee game, Richie Leonard filled in admirably. Over on the left side, Ethan White has been solid and occasionally spectacular at the guard position and Richard Gouraige hasn’t given up a sack at tackle, even though he’s consistently going against the opponent’s best pass rusher. He easily took out Bama’s Will Anderson in pass protection. The O-line has played so well that it has forced Alabama and Tennessee to blitz far more often than they are accustomed to, but even that hasn’t worked. These guys have worked well as a unit and the emergence of three quality backups has given Hevesy a group that he can depend on. DEFENSE D-line (B+): This has emerged as the strength of the defense, in large part because the addition of transfers Daquan Newkirk (12 tackles, 1 sack) and Antonio Valentino (4 tackles, 2 QB hurries) combined with Gervon Dexter (18 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 QB hurries) has given the Gators the strong rotation in the middle of the D-line that they lacked last season. The strength up the middle has made life easier for Zachary Carter (11 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 1 fumble forced) coming off the edge. A year ago, the Gators were consistently gouged in the running game because the defensive line struggled to hold the gaps. A year ago, the Gators gave up 170.5 yards per game on the ground. This year, UF is allowing only 110 yards per game and 3.08 per carry. The Gators aren’t getting outmuscled up front and they’re able to get pressure up the gut, which is freeing up Carter on the outside. Depth was an issue last year, when the Gators were also limited by no spring practice and no offseason workouts. This year, the Gators have wide bodies in the middle who give depth that was missing last year and it shows when defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has to substitute. Massive Desmond Watson, who is a biscuit under 400 pounds, showed his worth in the goal line stand against Alabama that forced a field goal. Auburn transfer Tyrone Truesdell needs to become more of a contributor as does Dante Zanders, but having so many big bodies gives Grantham flexibility in making his calls. This is a unit that is getting better with each game. Carter is having an All-SEC season rushing the passer and Dexter is a star in the making. Newkirk is a stabilizing force at nose tackle. A year ago, the D-line was a weakness. This year it is emerging as a key reason why Florida’s defense, so bad a year ago, has a chance to finish top 40 – or better – in 2021. Linebackers (B): The Gators took a big hit when Ventrell Miller was lost for the season with a torn muscle, which has forced Todd Grantham to shuffle a few players to compensate. The linebackers had an exceptional game against Alabama when the Gators held the Crimson Tide to 91 yards, but Tennessee came back to gouge the Gators with eight plays of 10 or more yards in the running game so a measure of consistency has to be found. Amari Burney (16 tackles) and Tyron Hopper (16 tackles) have tried to hold down Miller’s spot in the middle but we may see more of Jeremiah Moon shifting from the outside to the middle because of his size (6-5, 250) and experience (sixth-year guy). Mohamoud Diabate, who is tied with Trey Dean III for the team lead in tackles, has put together very good games back-to-back against Alabama and Tennessee. On the outside, Moon has been very consistent (23 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries) so there is probably a reluctance to move him permanently inside. Brenton Cox Jr. doesn’t have the big numbers (10 tackles, 1 sack, 3 QB hurries) but he’s doubled on every single play so that should open the door for others to make plays. The Gators need more production out of Khris Bogle (11 tackles) and for Diwun Black to become comfortable enough with the schemes that Grantham will put him in the rotation more often. Compensating for the loss of Miller will be the single most difficult task moving forward. Until there is a definitive answer in the middle, the Gators will be vulnerable to teams that can pound the football up the middle. Secondary (C): A year ago this was the weak link on the team, and it continues to be, although there has been overall improvement. The secondary took a big hit in experience, losing players to the NFL, graduation and the transfer portal. Mullen fired the two assistants who coached the secondary last year, bringing in Wesley McGriff, formerly of the Auburn staff, and Jules Montinar, formerly of South Florida. Although the four-game numbers show some improvement over last year – fewer yards per pass attempt and lower completion percentage for example – the Gators are still giving up too many big plays (see TDPs of 47 and 75 yards against Tennessee) and tackling has left much to be desired. For the most part, the play at the corner position has been decent, but the inconsistency at safety has to have McGriff wanting to pull his hair out. These guys should be the best tacklers in the secondary and so far they’ve had their problems getting people on the ground. Kaiir Elam, who missed the Tennessee game after getting dinged up against Alabama, is exceptional at one corner. What we’ve seen at the other corner is that veteran transfers Elijah Blades (from Texas A&M) and Jadarrius Perkins (from juco/Missouri) are going to have to play more while kids like Jason Marshall and Avery Helm gain experience. Senior safety Trey Dean III is tied for the team lead in tackles with 26 and he’s improved in that area since the first two games. Tre’Vez Johnson and Mordecai McDaniel have to find some consistency or else their play at safety will be exploited by teams going over the top. This is an area that has to grow up quicker or else the Gators will be exposed by the sophisticated passing games in the final two games of the month of October – at LSU on October 16 and Georgia in Jacksonville October 30. We’ve seen improvement through four games, but it needs to accelerate. SPECIAL TEAMS Punter (A): Redshirt freshman Jeremy Crawshaw would be second in the SEC in punting if only he had enough attempts to qualify. He’s averaging 46.6 yards on 10 punts so far, an average that would be a bit better if he hadn’t had to try to pooch a couple inside the 10. The Australian transplant has had at least one punt of 53 yards in every game with a long of 58 against Tennessee. Placekicker (B): Chris Howard was Florida’s extra point and field goal guy through the first three games, but that missed extra point against Alabama was the difference in a chance to win in overtime and having to try a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Jace Christmann, who kicked for Mullen at Mississippi State in 2017, and who had been handling kickoffs the first three games, took over against Tennessee, hitting all five extra points and a 47-yard field goal that had the distance to be good from 57. He is likely to be the extra point and field goal guy the rest of the season unless he goes into a slump or is injured. Returns (C): Other than a 33-yard punt return by Henderson in game one against Florida Atlantic there hasn’t been much to the return game, either on punts (5-53, all by Henderson) or kickoffs (7-87, longest of 22 yards). This is an area in which the Gators need to improve.

A few thoughts to jump start your Friday morning: NOT THE KIND OF GAME THE GATORS CAN AFFORD TO FALL BEHIND When in doubt, do what you do best. That seems to be the mindset of Kentucky (4-0, 2-0 SEC) coach Mark Stoops. In Kentucky’s two non-conference wins, the Wildcats launched 68 passes, completing 45 for 673 yards and six touchdowns (three interceptions). That’s 9.89 yards per pass attempt, which is impressive. In Kentucky’s two SEC wins (Missouri and South Carolina) the Wildcats have thrown a combined 40 passes, completed 25 for 281 yards and one touchdown (two interceptions). That’s 7.0 yards per attempt, a vast improvement over last season when the passing game produced 5.5 per attempt, but not exactly numbers that are going to scare the bejabbers out of SEC defensive coordinators. What does scare SEC defensive coordinators is when Kentucky gets a lead and then does what it does best – grind out the yards in the running game behind that big offensive line and power back Chris Rodriguez, the SEC’s leading rusher with 552 yards. When the Wildcats get a rhythm going in the running game and the O-line starts feeling it, they control the football and make it difficult to get them off the field. That’s why it is imperative for the 10th-ranked Florida Gators (3-1, 1-1 SEC) to get the early lead Saturday and force Kentucky out of its comfort zone. Kentucky is much better when its running game is going well so that when it throws, it’s off play action. By getting the lead, the Gators can take play action out of the equation and force UK to play from behind, something they haven’t had to do all year. The key for Florida defensively will be to plug the holes between the tackles and get a good enough pass rush that QB Will Levis can’t get the ball downfield to speedy Wan’Dale Robinson. The Gators need a big game from Daquan Newkirk and Gervon Dexter in the middle of the D-line and for Zachary Carter to beat left tackle Dare Rosenthal off the edge with a measure of consistency. Kaiir Elam should draw the assignment on Robinson. For the third straight week the Gators will be going against a defense that is giving up fewer than 100 rushing yards per game. The Gators pounded out 258 rushing yards on Alabama, more yards than the Crimson Tide has given up in its other three games combined. Last week, UF hammered out 283 rushing yards on Tennessee, which has allowed 173 in its other three games. It should be noted that Kentucky has yet to face a team with a running quarterback and Emory Jones is fifth in the SEC with 375 yards (6.58 per carry) and now-healthy Anthony Richardson is eighth with 275 (25 yards per carry). Expect Kentucky to load up the box to try to stop Florida from running the ball. If the UF O-line gives Jones and Richardson time to throw against man coverage, this will be a big game for receivers Jacob Copeland, Xzavier Henderson and Justin Shorter. It might be close. For a half. The Sayer says sooth: FLORIDA 31, Kentucky 20 THE SEC SOOTHSAYER No. 12 Ole Miss (3-0) at No. 1 Alabama (4-0, 2-0 SEC): Ole Miss is better than the team that put 647 yards and 48 points on Alabama last year. Alabama, while still very, very good, is not as good as the team that hung 63 on the Ole Miss defense a year ago. The Ole Miss defense was the worst in the country last year, but the Rebels are much improved. Yet, somehow, the people in Las Vegas who establish the betting lines, have Alabama as a 14.5-point favorite. Something about that just doesn’t seem right. Granted, Nick Saban has never lost to one of his former assistants, but Lane Kiffin isn’t just any former assistant. He’s the one assistant who seems to know how to push Nick’s buttons. If there is any former assistant capable of getting in Nick’s head, Kiffin is the one. Is that enough to compensate for some of the personnel disadvantages? Maybe. One thing for certain, Kiffin has the best QB in the nation in Matt Corral and he’s got two receivers in Dontario Drummond and Jonathan Mingo who are going to test the Alabama secondary. Conventional wisdom says for Ole Miss to win the game it will have to be by shootout so it would seem Alabama has an advantage because it can get more stops than Ole Miss. Stopping Bryce Young is the key to an Ole Miss upset but can the Rebels do it? Sayer says sooth: Alabama 42, Ole Miss 37 No. 8 Arkansas (4-0, 1-0 SEC) at No. 2 Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC): The Vegas oddsmakers have established Georgia as 18.5-point favorites so you can darn well expect former Georgia O-line coach and now Arkansas HBC Sam Pittman to play the disrespect card up until the moment the first foot hits the football. After all, Arkansas has already beaten two ranked teams including formerly No. 6 Texas A&M a week ago. Georgia, meanwhile, hasn’t played anyone. We can’t consider beating Clemson 10-3 a quality win because Clemson is absolutely horrible. If you go strictly by personnel and recruiting rankings, Georgia has an edge that covers the 18.5-point Vegas spread. But, games are played on the field where Georgia QB JT Daniels has a problem with a latissimus dorsi muscle injury that could limit the number of snaps he takes. If Daniels isn’t able to go, Georgia will rely on Stetson Bennett IV, who has played extensively in three easy wins. Whoever plays QB will be going against a defense that is allowing only 4.7 yards per pass ATTEMPT. Ask Steve Sarkisian or Jimbo Fisher about a Barry Odom coached defense. Georgia’s defense is tops in the country, but the best offense it has stopped is UAB, which ranks 80th, so this will be the first real test of the season. Georgia is a heavy favorite but this just has a white knuckles feel to it. The Sayer says sooth: Georgia 21, Arkansas 17 Mississippi State (2-2, 0-1 SEC) at No. 15 Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 SEC): The Aggies were exposed as pretenders, not contenders last week largely because their offensive line can’t block anyone. If the Aggies can give Zach Calzada some protection, he probably can put up some big numbers against Mississippi State, which ranks dead last in the SEC in pass defense. MSU is pretty good against the run (only 71.25 yards per game allowed) so Jimbo probably goes with a chuck and duck game plan. The real question for the Aggies will be can they keep the ball in front of their safeties because Mississippi State doesn’t even pretend to run the ball. This is the Air Raid and Mike Leach will have the Bulldogs throwing from the moment they get off the bus at Kyle Field. It’s probably going to be mostly dink and dunk, but if Mississippi State can move the chains and keep the A&M offense off the field, they’ll have a chance to win the football game. The Aggies are a 7-point favorite, which means on a neutral field the people in Vegas think this game would be dead even. The advantage goes to the Aggies, but only because it’s at Kyle Field. The Sayer says sooth: Texas A&M 24, Mississippi State 21 No. 22 Auburn (3-1) at LSU (3-1, 1-0 SEC): If you saw Auburn struggle to beat Georgia State last week, then you’re well aware just how bad Bo Nix looked and how much better Auburn looked once TJ Finley was sent into the game. So, with Auburn heading to Baton Rouge to face LSU, the question of the day is will Bryan Harsin stick with Nix or will he go with Finley, who started six games for LSU last year? If he goes with Nix, consider that advantage LSU. Since his freshman year when he quarterbacked upsets over Oregon and Alabama, Nix has had more average to bad games than good ones, but he’s an Auburn legacy and he does have plenty of starting experience. Finley played in some big games last year, but that’s not the same as starting a game at LSU as an opponent when your hometown is an hour away in Ponchatoula. LSU can’t run the ball and its offensive line is shaky, at best. LSU can get after the passer (18 sacks in four games) and that will be one of two keys Saturday night. The other key is can the LSU offensive line give Max Johnson time to find Kayshon Boutte downfield? The two have connected for 12 touchdowns in the six games Johnson has started at quarterback dating back to last season. Auburn is the ranked team but LSU is the 3-point favorite. The Sayer says sooth: LSU 30, Auburn 24 Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC) at Missouri (2-2, 0-2 SEC): There is every good chance Josh Heupel will start Joe Milton III at quarterback even if Hendon Hooker is healthy enough to go. Hooker has played better than Milton since taking over when Milton went down with an injury in game two against Pitt. Yet, for some reason, Heupel seems enamored with Milton, who is completing 46.5 percent of his passes as opposed to Hooker’s 65.7 percent. Now, the Vols could win in spite of Milton if Heupel elects to limit the number of pass plays he calls. That’s because Missouri is absolutely clueless against the run (worst in the SEC, next to last nationally). Missouri has to throw it to win so the Tigers’ hopes rest on the right arm of QB Connor Bazelac, who has 10 TDPs and is averaging 300 passing yards per game. Missouri has to get an early lead and force the Vols to throw the ball to play catch up. If Mizzou allows the Vols to gash with the run it will be a lengthy day. The Sayer says sooth: Missouri 27, Tennessee 21 Troy (2-2) at South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC): This could very well be the last chance South Carolina has to win a game this year. The Gamecocks aren’t very good but neither is Troy so this one is a real tossup. For the Gamecocks to get a win, they have to run the football, something they haven’t done very well all season (126.75 yards per game, 3.47 per carry), and keep Troy from heating up in the passing game since the Trojans, just like South Carolina, really can’t run the football. This has the makings of a snoozer at Willy Brice. Gamecock fans should savor the win if they get it because they may have to wait until 2022 to experience another one. The Sayer says sooth: South Carolina 20, Troy 14 UConn (0-5) at Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-1 SEC): This is the worst game in the entire country. Maybe they should agree that the first team that scores a touchdown is declared the winner. As bad as Vanderbilt’s offense is – ranked 123rd nationally and 129th in scoring – UConn’s is worse. UConn is the 129th-ranked offense in the country and a mere 126th in scoring. Tickets shouldn’t be a problem for the easily bored. Vandy will count the number of tickets sold in the final attendance figure but you can bet the ranch fewer than 10,000 people will actually be in the stadium. The Sayer says sooth: Vanderbilt 14, UConn 3 ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Miami dropped to 2-3 on the year Thursday night, losing to Virginia, 30-28, when Andreas Borregales boinked a 33-yard field goal attempt off the left upright on the last play of the game. In their preseason rankings, both Athlon and Lindy’s had Miami at No. 14 while Phil Steele had the Hurricanes at No. 17. Not only is Miami NOT a top 20 team but the Hurricanes might be favored to win only two games the rest of the way – at Florida State on November 13 and at Duke November 27. South Florida talk radio will be inundated with calls to fire Manny Diaz and hire Mario Cristobal. Just two teensy problems with that line of thought: (1) Miami can’t afford to buy out Manny and (2) doesn’t have enough money or decent enough facilities to convince Cristobal to leave Oregon.

One minute Steve Spurrier’s dream of a winning another SEC was about to go up in smoke – the next it exploded into that moment that all Gator fans know so well, trademarked as: “Doering’s got a touchdown! Doering’s got a touchdown!” Raise your hand if you’ve been alive long enough to have seen the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Florida Gators in football more than once. OK, there was that one time three years ago, and then maybe back just after WWII when Bear Bryant had Babe Parilli playing quarterback for the Wildcats, and then again in the mid-eighties when Ronald Reagan was president. Let’s face it, though, when you’ve won 31 straight, it’s a rare sight for the Gators to be seen on the wrong end of the score vs. Kentucky. Mick Hubert has been broadcasting UF sports for 31 years and he’s never called a game in Lexington which the Gators were beaten by the Wildcats. He’s seen 16 straight wins by Florida. And only one loss, period. He became a part of history in the closest and most famous game played between these two schools in the last 50 years – maybe even the 71-year history of the series. One minute Steve Spurrier’s dream of a winning another SEC was about to go up in smoke – the next it exploded into that moment that all Gator fans know so well, trademarked as: “Doering’s got a touchdown! Doering’s got a touchdown!” In his exuberant style, Hubert’s description of the game-winning pass play was well documented on the ESPN special of Chris Doering’s touchdown catch from Danny Wuerffel. That was the night Mick Hubert made his bones, as he recalled: “Part of me says that if Florida had lost that game, we would not only have NOT won the SEC that year, but maybe not the next (2004) either … as Coach Spurrier has said. And if Florida loses that game, how would have it affected my career? Would I still be here today? What would have my reputation have been?” As Mick said in ESPN’s 90-minute special on SEC play-by-play announcers, it was a career-launching moment that he and Doering shared. And as Mick is wont to do, he made that call with every ounce of passion and gusto that he could muster. “His veins were popping out of his throat,” said broadcast partner Lee McGriff, “and we were afraid he was having a stroke!” Mick did, in fact, survive and hang around for a while. That was one of Three Memorable Nights in Lexington. The second was Sept. 26, 2009, when the Gator Nation shivered in terror as they saw their Superman go down for the count. Tim Tebow was cruising along, despite having taken pre-game flu meds, on what would eventually turn into a 41-7 rout. Until UK defensive lineman Taylor Wyndham came crashing into him on a sack, with Tebow falling backwards as the back of his head struck the knee of a teammate to knock him out. It was petrifying. Hubert remembers stone silence from the Kroger Field crowd, as the Heisman Trophy winner lay motionless. The man of millions of words was stuck for what to say. “It was a vicious hit,” Hubert recalled. “Tim went down – and the whole stadium went silent. Obviously, they would do that for anybody that gets hurt like that. They’d do that for a broken ankle. But we were dealing with the head. Wow! Plus he had the flu at that time. So everybody had their hearts on their throats. There’s a place for silence. But on radio, silence is scary. You don’t really know what to say. There’s no pictures.” I remember long after the game ended doing a live streaming shot with my producer son Brenden, when we chose to speed out to the University of Kentucky hospital, where we had no access to information and were thrown out of the lobby because we were media. We were not even allowed to broadcast from the lawn. About 1 a.m., already bedraggled by a 15-hour day, we went across the street where Brenden framed the hospital behind me and I said into his camera: “Somewhere in this hospital behind me, Tim Tebow lies in a bed, being treated for a concussion.” That’s all I knew. By morning that report had 20,000 hits, although we really couldn’t give them real updates. Around 7 a.m. I had a message from an unknown viewer who said: “Hey Buddy, don’t you have any updates?” We were long gone down the road to Florida. LSU was next and surprisingly Tebow recovered to play. What happened to two other Gator quarterbacks in Lexington was one of the most bizarre moments. Nine years after the Tebow injury in Lexington, Feleipe Franks was hurt and did not recover to ever play for the Gators. An unexpected star was born in Kyle Trask. Both sad and happy. It was a movie script. The forgotten man who hadn’t started a game since ninth grade was dragged out of mothballs to answer the urgent Next-Man-Up bat signal in an SEC road game -- in the final ticks of a third quarter with his team trailing, never missing a beat. He even ran an option play to score – not his strong suit – and put Florida on his back. Kyle Trask came out of the witness protection program to lead his teammates to victory and a whole lot more as a Heisman finalist. Which brings us to 2021 showdown at Kroger at what the experts are calling the perfect place for Mark Stoops’ 8.5-point underdogs to knock off a Top Ten foe. And we’ve got yet another potential quarterback unveiling. Will we see Anthony Richardson? Dan Mullen says Richardson is cleared to play. What exactly does that mean? By the third Florida possession we’ll know, because if AR15 is good to go, he’ll be taking snaps by then. Not that Emory Jones doesn’t deserve to take them all, but that’s not how Mullen’s two-quarterback system works. To me this sets up the ultimate moment for the SEC debut of a future star. Where Doering crashed on to the scene as a household name to Gator fans, Tebow avoided a tragic injury that could have been devastating and Trask finally got discovered like a movie actress in Hollywood’s Schwab’s Pharmacy, AR15 could be taking his first step on the national stage to the big-time. Then Mick Hubert could have Four Memorable Nights In Lexington.

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning: EVEN WITH THE NECKTIE IT’S STILL A PIG My grandmother, the sage and insightful Ivey Van Sickle, used to tell me, “You can put a necktie on a pig, but all you’ve got is a pig wearing a necktie.” She explained that some things, no matter how you dress them up, will always remain the same. We could say that about Kentucky’s offense. Yes, the Wildcats have a better passing quarterback in Will Levis than last year’s starter Terry Wilson and a couple of very good receivers in Josh Ali and Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robertson, but Mark Stoops is never going to stray too far from his ground and pound roots. In other words, the improved passing scheme brought in by first-year offensive coordinator Liam Coen combined with Levis’ ability to make accurate throws is the necktie. The pig is still the same and that means the Wildcats (4-0, 2-0 SEC) are still going to try to impose their will on 10th-ranked Florida (3-1, 1-1 SEC) Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium by trying to jam the ball down the Gators’ throats with 225-pound tailback Chris Rodriguez. On the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday, Dan Mullen explained, “Schematically, I think they are different. I don’t know they’ve undergone a massive philosophical change. What I mean by that is they’re still based around a physical rushing attack. How they’ve gone about that is very different. That adds to the issues it causes … their ability to get to the play action and the shot plays that come off it. It’s a very different system and it opens up a lot of different options for them to create big plays based on their philosophy of being a power running team.” In their two non-conference games, the Wildcats threw 68 passes (completed 45) for a combined 673 yards and six TDs. In their conference wins over Missouri and South Carolina, the Wildcats threw a combined 40 passes (completed 25) for 281 yards and one TD. In those games they ran the ball 96 times for 571 yards. In SEC play, the Wildcats loosened up the necktie and were pretty much all-pig. That’s what Florida should expect Saturday. O-line related stats: Average recruiting stars for the starting O-line: 3.4 (Richard Gouraige 4, Ethan White 3, Kingsley Eguakun 3, Stewart Reese 3, Jean Delance 4). The Florida offense averages 322.5 rushing yards per game (3rd nationally, 1st SEC, 7.46 per carry) and 540.8 yards total offense per game (9thnationally, 2nd SEC, 7.48 per play). The Gators have given up three sacks for -12 yards. OVER, UNDER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE SEC Alabama (4-0, 2-0 SEC): On the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday, Nick Saban said it was “really, really tough” when Alabama played at Florida due to the crowd noise. He said he’s hoping Alabama fans can “make it that way” for Ole Miss Saturday afternoon. Starting O-line: Average 4.2 stars. Total offense: 466 yards per game (7.06 per play), 6th SEC. Sacks allowed: 7-35 Arkansas (4-0, 1-0 SEC): Can Sam Pittman’s offensive line handle the front seven of Georgia? Georgia is first in the SEC in rushing defense (69.5 yards per game, 2.3 per carry) and second in sacks (14 for -86). The Hogs average 261 rushing yards per game (5.55 per carry) and they’ve allowed only four sacks. Starting O-line: Average 3 stars. Total offense: 488 yards per game (7.06 per play), 5th SEC. Sacks allowed: 4-26 Auburn (3-1): Auburn’s O-line will be going up against an LSU front seven that leads the nation in sacks with 18 and is only giving up 2.96 yards per carry. Starting O-line: 3.2 stars. Total offense: 484.3 yards per game (7.07 per play), 3rd SEC. Sacks allowed: 3-9 Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC): A day after saying he expected tight end Darnell Washington and defensive back Tykee Smith to play in Saturday’s game against Arkansas, HBC Kirby Smart didn’t sound quite as optimistic. “They’ve got a ways to go. I don’t know if they’ll be able to play in the game or not,” Smart said. Starting O-line: Average 4 stars. Total offense: 458.3 yards per game (6.97 per play), 7th SEC. Sacks allowed: 2-15 Kentucky (4-0, 2-0 SEC): Describing SEC leading rusher Chris Rodriguez (552 yards) on the SEC Coaches Teleconference, Mark Stoops said, “He’s one of those backs that’s always going forward. Very few negative plays with him. Very good strength and vision.” Starting O-line: Average 3.4 stars. Total offense: 443 yards per game (6.69 per play), 8th SEC. Sacks allowed: 7-43 LSU (3-1, 1-0 SEC): The NCAA has denied former 5-star running back John Emery’s appeal to regain his academic eligibility. He is ineligible for the season although his attorney is looking for other options to have his eligibility restored … Wide receiver Jontre Kirkland and defensive end Soni Fatua, who missed the first four games for academic reasons, have regained their eligibility. Starting O-line: 3.75 stars. Total offense: 377.5 yards per game (5.79 per play), 12th SEC. Sacks allowed: 8-54 Mississippi State (2-2, 0-1 SEC): Despite having the top passing offense in the SEC, Mike Leach thinks the wide receiver play has to get better. Asked on the SEC Coaches Teleconference to evaluate the play of his pass catchers, Leach responded, “I’d say average. We’ve got to get better there for sure.” Starting O-line: Average 3.8 stars. Total offense: 426.3 yards per game (5.66 per play. Sacks allowed: 7-48 Missouri (2-2, 0-1 SEC): Mizzou’s run defense is the main reason the Tigers are dead last in the SEC in total defense. HBC Eli Drinkwitz said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference, “We’ve got to do a better job of tackling and taking the proper angles and we have to do a better job of defeating blocks. We’re working hard to rectify those.” Starting O-line: Average 3.5 stars. Total offense: 483 yards per game (6.86 per play), 4thSEC. Sacks allowed: 3-25. Ole Miss (3-0): Describing quarterback Matt Corral on The Paul Finebaum Show, HBC Lane Kiffin said, “Well, he may not be the biggest, not the fastest, but he would be up there in his ability to make throws at different arm angles, would probably be better than anyone of all of them. He’s a very unique talent.” Starting O-line: Average 3 stars. Total offense: 638.3 yards per game (7.69 per play). Sacks allowed: 6-47 South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC): South Carolina is in an offensive rut. The Gamecocks rank 13th in the SEC in total offense this year. The 2018 season is the only one since 2015 in which South Carolina averaged as many as 400 yards per game. The only game this season the Gamecocks have topped the 400-yard mark is the opener against D1AA Eastern Illinois when they had 439 yards. Starting O-line: Average 3.4 stars. Total offense: 322.3 yards per game (5.14 per play). Sacks allowed: 9-55 Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC): No word on the health of last week's starting QB Hendon Hooker. Starting O-line: Average 4.2 stars. Total offense: 422.3 yards per game (5.61 per play). Sacks allowed: 12-59 Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 SEC): Greg McElroy of ESPN says the difference between the Aggies of last season and what we’ve seen so far this year is the play of the offensive line. Speaking on The Paul Finebaum Show, McElroy said, “And one thing I think I know about Texas A&M right now is that their offensive line play, based on what they were last year, they are unrecognizable.” Starting O-line: Average 3.8 stars. Total offense: 402.3 yards per game (5.94 per play). Sacks allowed: 9-40 Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-1 SEC): Perhaps Saturday’s game with UConn will be first team to 10 points wins. Of course, that might mean six or seven overtimes because the Vandy offense ranks 123rd nationally while UConn’s is 129th, which is next to last in the country. Starting O-line: Average 3 stars. Total offense: 284.5 yards per game (4.01 per play. Sacks allowed: 7-61 LANE KIFFIN REACTS TO MICHAEL WILBON On “Pardon the Interruption” Tuesday, co-host Michael Wilbon said, “Lane Kiffin is a clown. He’s been an embarrassment at multiple stops. Nobody’s gonna run out and say I want Lane Kiffin right here on the logo representing me. Lane Kiffin is a cute little story for those who have to talk sports every day … Lane Kiffin equals embarrassment at some point wherever he is.” Wilbon went on to predict No. 1 Alabama will beat Kiffin and 12th-ranked Ole Miss this Saturday. After responding on Twitter that he would be praying for Wilbon, who he called “so angry,” Kiffin tweeted out: “And way to go out on a limb and pick the number one team in the country at home who is a huge favorite. How long did you watch film to come up with that surprise pick?? Really newsworthy, captain obvious.” KEEP AN EYE ON THESE SEVEN GAMES No. 5 Iowa (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) at Maryland (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten): Maryland is the best team Iowa has played this year and the Terps have the best QB the Hawkeyes have seen in Taulia Tagovailoa. Iowa is a shake 3-point favorite. No. 6 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) at Kansas State (3-1, 0-1 Big 12): K-State has beaten Oklahoma the last two times they’ve played. Oklahoma’s O-line is struggling and K-State really gets after the QB. The Wildcats made Spencer Rattler look bad last year. No. 7 Cincinnati (3-0) at No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0): Cincinnati hasn’t beaten anyone but neither has Notre Dame. Too much will be made over whichever team wins. Cincinnati is a 2-point favorite. No. 11 Ohio State (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) at Rutgers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten): Rutgers went white knuckles with Michigan at the Big House last week before losing in the fourth quarter. The Scarlet Knights have the best defense Ohio State has seen all year and they’re +7 in turnover margin. Ohio State could be sweating well into the fourth quarter. Arizona State (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12) at UCLA (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12): The winner probably wins the Pac-12 South, which is really weak. It could also be a battle of coaches who won’t be at their school next year. If Chip Kelly doesn’t win at least eight games, UCLA probably will fire him. Herm Edwards has NCAA issues. Boston College (4-0, 0-0 ACC) at No. 25 Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC): Must win, ACC, Clemson. It’s been a long time since Clemson had a must win ACC regular season game. The Tigers still could win their division which should tell you how weak the ACC really is. Syracuse (3-1, 0-0 ACC) at Florida State (0-4, 0-2 ACC): Will the Seminoles go 0-5? How is it they are favored by 4.5 points? Things that make you go hmmm. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: You can figure we’re going to have another massive case before the United States Supreme Court before too long because Wednesday, the National Labor Relations Board issued a memo that college athletes are employees of their schools and should be afforded protections such as the right to unionize. This will be different than the recent Alston vs. the NCAA ruling in which Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned how much longer the NCAA and member schools can get away without paying athletes “a fair share” of the revenue they bring in. Oh, play for pay is a matter of when and not if but other questions make this dicey, such as right-to-work laws and taxation among other things. And here is another issue: If a scholarship and educational benefits are ruled to be worth X dollars as part of a compensation package that includes a salary, will states that have no state income tax like Florida and Texas have a decided recruiting edge over California? At Southern Cal, it costs approximately $80,000 a year to attend ($95,000 at Stanford), so a scholarship plus salary, etc. would mean state income tax in the neighborhood of 10 percent. Brace yourself. What you see now in college sports and what you see five years from now are going to be radically different.

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning: THESE THINGS HAVE ME THINKING ON A TUESDAY 1. What’s this? You mean there is a chance Hevesy actually can coach a lick?: Cole Cubelic, a former Auburn center/team captain who is now a broadcast analyst for the SEC Network and host of a radio show out of Birmingham with former Alabama QB Greg McElroy, rates the top five offensive lines in the SEC this way: (1) Florida; (2) Ole Miss; (3) Arkansas; (4) Georgia; (5) Missouri. This is rather interesting because geniuses like Phil Steele rated the SEC O-lines like this preseason: (1) Alabama; (2) Georgia; (3) LSU; (4, tie) Auburn, Ole Miss and South Carolina; (7, tie) Florida and Texas A&M. Nationally, Steele had Florida ranked 37th, trailing the likes of (14) Clemson; (18) UAB; (21) Arizona State; (27) Georgia State; and (32) Florida State. Through four games, the Gators are third nationally in rushing offense (322.5 yards per game; 7.46 per carry); ninth in total offense (540.8 yards per game; 7.48 per play) and tied with seven other teams for seventh in sacks allowed (3 after four games and all on the QB). You don’t put up numbers like that if your offensive line isn’t performing at a very high level. Far too many people have been quick to criticize O-line coach John Hevesy the last two years without taking into account that the Gators had record setting pass offenses. If the QB doesn’t have time to throw, you don’t set records. This year, Hevesy’s O-line is grinding away and battering opponents to a pulp. Just ask Alabama, whose front seven is supposed to consist of six future first rounders. The Gators thoroughly whipped them for 258 rushing yard and despite bringing the house regularly throughout the game, managed only one hit on Emory Jones, two other QB hurries and one sack. Nobody dominates the Alabama front seven but the Gators did. There is a distinct possibility that perhaps Hevesy not only knows how to coach but he can coach quite well. You can fault him for not bringing in 5-star offensive line recruits if you wish, but you can’t fault his coaching. 2. Keyontae and some other basketball info: Per Mike White yesterday, Keyontae Johnson still hasn’t been medically cleared to play basketball again. He does some shooting but can’t play although he does continue to have a role as a student coach. Some other basketball info picked up through the grapevine: The transfers: Myreon Jones is a bombs away 3-point shooter with range who probably will lead the team in scoring. Brandon McKissic is a pure point who plays exceptional defense. Phlandrous Fleming Jr. plays bigger than his 6-4, 210 pounds. He will score a lot on garbage and thanks to his defense. C.J. Felder plays really good defense in the paint and rebounds well, but is still trying to figure things out offensively. The rookie: Kowacie Reeves needs to put on weight and has a lot of bad high school habits that have to be broken. He was accustomed to being the center of the offense in high school and the taker of every big shot. At some point he will figure out he’s one of five who play together. Defensively: The Gators figure to be better, particularly with their perimeter defense and their quickness, in large part due to the transfers. Offensively: There isn’t anyone like Tre Mann capable of getting his own shot so this team is going to have to excel at passing the basketball. 3. Can Arkansas burst the Georgia bubble?: They are all but celebrating another one of those fabulous near national championships in Poodlesville, but really, who have they played? Is Georgia that good or are the teams they have played that bad? Here are Georgia’s four wins and the total offense ranking (nationally) of the four victims: Clemson 122, UAB 80, South Carolina 115, Vanderbilt 123. Is it because Georgia’s No. 1 defense is so good that those four teams stink offensively or are they simply offensive bottom feeders? Now Georgia’s defense has a lot of talent, but how would that defense stack up against a team with a clue when it comes to moving the football and putting points on the board? Georgia is favored by 18.5 points against Arkansas but if QB KJ Jefferson and stud WR Treylon Burks are healthy, Georgia could find itself in a white knuckler. 4. Why is Arkansas so dangerous?: Take a moment to ponder what linebacker Grant Morgan had to say about how Sam Pittman has changed the football culture at Arkansas. “For us to have believed in Coach Pittman and the guys on this team, we’ll believe anything now.” Morgan is an All-SEC type who made 111 tackles last year in 10 games. Morgan, Bumper Pool and Hayden Henry don’t get the publicity of the linebackers at Alabama and Georgia, but they’re every bit as good and they play for a defensive coordinator who coaches with a three-ton chip on his shoulder. That defense believes. The whole team believes. Arkansas doesn’t have all the 5-stars like they have at Georgia, but the Razorbacks are talented enough to go into Athens and win. 5. Can Lane Kiffin be the first former Saban assistant to beat the boss?: Alabama gave up 647 yards (268 rushing, 379 passing) and 48 points last year in beating Ole Miss by 15 points. I’m not convinced that Alabama is better this year than last year’s national championship team on either side of the football. Ole Miss might be better offensively than last year and there is no question the defense is vastly improved. Lane Kiffin showed last year that he’s not at all intimidated by Nick Saban, but that was in Oxford. This year the game is in Tuscaloosa and Alabama is a 14.5-point favorite. Alabama hung 63 points on Southern Miss last week while Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss had a week off to plot a devious offensive plan. Once Florida got over the initial shock of a bad first quarter, the Gators dominated Alabama for 40 minutes. Can Lane Kiffin get the Rebels to come out swinging and put the pressure on Alabama from the start? 6. How low will things go at Florida State and Miami?: Florida State is 0-4 , the worst start for an FSU team since the 1974 team that lost its first eight. The Seminoles won’t go oh-fer eight because in game seven they play UMass. Miami is 2-2 with wins over Appalachian State and Central Connecticut State, blowout losses to Alabama and Michigan State. The Hurricanes might very well be underdogs in seven of their eight remaining games. The only one they are certain to be favored is Florida State on November 13. The fan bases at both FSU and The Ewe are in an uproar, calling for both Mike Norvel (FSU) and Manny Diaz (Miami) to be fired. That’s highly improbable because both athletic departments are in such bad financial shape after the COVID season of 2020 that they can’t spare the cash it would take for buyouts and new hires. They aren’t getting much help from the ACC, whose lame media contract makes it the financial bottom feeder among the Power Five conferences. So they’re going to sink or swim with these coaches, the fan bases be damned. The hope is that by ignoring the fans and sticking with the coaches recruits will be impressed by the show of loyalty. Both Miami and FSU are in deep holes and neither one has the cash to make a quick fix so things might get worse – much worse – before they get better. 7. I’m convinced these teams aren’t that good: Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Iowa, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Michigan are all 4-0. Quick now. Tell me which of those seven teams you think would be much more than a 6-6 or 7-5 team in the Southeastern Conference? Oklahoma has three wins over mediocre Division I teams by a combined 13 points. Oregon plays in the Pac-12. Enough said there. Penn State’s signature win is over Auburn, which should have lost to Georgia State. Iowa’s offense is 122nd in the nation. Cincinnati’s big win is over an Indiana team that got its doors blown off by Iowa. Notre Dame’s offensive line is a sieve. Isn’t Michigan still coached by Jim Harbaugh? 8. Is Clemson about to go into a downward spiral?: If you’re talking about the 2021 season, the answer is possibly. If you’re talking about Clemson over the long haul, then the answer is no. Clemson is 2-2 this season and with the way the offense is playing (ranked 121st nationally) the only gimme on the schedule is the dumpster fire known as UConn. An 8-4 record might be viewed as an accomplishment but view this as a speed bump. Clemson loses only eight scholarship players on its three-deep and Dabo Swinney has recruited very well. If Clemson were in the SEC, it might take more than just this season to bounce back, but we can’t forget this is the Almost Competitive (or Always Clemson) Conference. OVER, UNDER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE SEC Alabama (4-0, 2-0 SEC): Former Alabama quarterback turned ESPN broadcast analyst and radio show host Greg McElroy doesn’t think Saturday’s matchup with 12th-ranked Ole Miss will be close for the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide. “I’d be surprised if it wasn’t by two TDs or so,” McElroy told Paul Finebaum. Arkansas (4-0, 1-0 SEC): On McElroy and Cubelic in the morning, HBC Sam Pittman explained why his defensive coordinator (Barry Odom) is getting such phenomenal results from his players: “The greatest thing about it, Cole, is that he can be multiple and the greatest asset he has is that his players are in there just waiting for him to say, ‘All right, this is what we’re going to do in the game plan.’ So the belief that he has earned from the defensive kids in this is what we’re gonna do is phenomenal.” Auburn (3-1): Former Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin didn’t mince words when reacting to Bryan Harsin firing his wide receivers coach. “The best coached group on the field for offense was your receivers,” Franklin said. “You’re basically firing your receivers coach because your offensive line sucks. Your offensive line is bad.” Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC): Tight end Darnell Washington and defensive back Tykee Smith are practicing full speed and expected to play against Arkansas. Kentucky (4-0, 2-0 SEC): The six Kentucky players who were arrested for burglary during the summer had all charges dropped. All six are practicing and will be available against Florida Saturday evening. The two significant players in the bunch are nickelback Vito Tisdale and backup right guard RJ Adams. LSU (3-1, 1-0 SEC): After averaging only 80 yards per game on the ground (122nd nationally) through four games, Coach Oeaux said Tuesday, “We’ve got a lot of work to do” and added the Tigers have to have “better production on first down to where it’s second-and-5, second-and-3.” Mississippi State (2-2, 0-1 SEC): The Bulldogs have lost the last two games by a combined six points. In each game, they’ve fumbled the ball away on the opening drive and the miscue was converted into a touchdown. Missouri (2-2, 0-1 SEC): The Tigers rank dead last in the SEC in total defense (454.5 yards per game), but HBC Eli Drinkwitz says, “I’m not going to hit the panic button.” Ole Miss (3-0): Quarterback Matt Corral says Ole Miss is focused on “how we handle each practice individually. We’re worried about today. We’re not worried about Alabama even though they are a great team and they are the best team we’re going to face this year. We’re not worried about them right now. We’re worried about having the best practice that we can today.” South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC): “We are 2-2, it’s still September, the sky is not falling,” says HBC Shane Beamer. “We have to play better. We have to coach better.” Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC): Running back Tiyon Williams on facing a Missouri defense that is worst in the SEC Saturday: “We’re going to have some fun.” Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 SEC): Regarding an offense that struggled in every phase in the loss last week to Arkansas, HBC Jimbo Fisher said, “We need to get cleaned up.” Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-1 SEC): Tight end Ben Bresnahan, sidelined with an injury the last three weeks, is fully recovered and expected to play Saturday against UConn. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: After a Monday article in The Alligator that went into detail about the toxic culture of fired women’s basketball coach Cam Newbauer, a press conference was called where UF athletic director Scott Stricklin addressed the accusations. Newbauer was fired not long after he got a 3-year contract extension that was financially minimalized and included warnings that he needed to clean up his program. Stricklin said that if he had known sooner about all the dirt he would have never given an extension. “Had I been aware of everything at the time he resigned that I knew when we made the contract extension, I never would have done the contract extension,” Stricklin said. “I thought things were moving in a certain direction. Obviously, we weren’t. We didn’t pick up signs and clues. We’ve got to figure out going forward how to get better at that and make sure we know what’s going on.” Stricklin will get a mulligan on this black eye on his athletic program, but he needs to make sure he knows what’s going on in every UF sport to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.

When you've got the Wright (Nay'Quan) man toting the rock ... (Chris Spears photo). This much is the gospel: Scott Stricklin made the perfect choice in bringing his former Mississippi State coach to Gainesville So many questions, yet so many apparent answers. Is Dan Mullen the best play caller in CFB? Could anybody else have one of the country’s best offenses built on passing one year and running the next season? Is Dan Mullen’s team third best in the SEC, or maybe even better? Yes, yes and I don’t know. And then we are left wondering why so many Gator fans doubt Mullen when it comes to Emory Jones, Todd Grantham and John Hevesy? This much is the gospel: Scott Stricklin made the perfect choice in bringing his former Mississippi State coach to Gainesville. The 2021 Gators are legit. But they must earn their reputation every game, every quarter, every snap. So what IS their reputation? It’s trending toward a very popular contender/underdog — if you can be that when you’re already in the Top Ten. Pardon me while a make some more room on Dan’s Van. (Lane and Shane apparently already have the trains tied up. And Nick walks on water and doesn’t need transportation.) Lexington has been the Gators’ friend over the years. I don’t think they have lost there since Lincoln was president. I do remember the night a little-known backup quarterback came on the field for the first time as a replacement for an injured Feleipe Franks and played his way into Gator fame. Kyle Trask’s incredible debut should become the prototypical “Next Man Up.” Here we are a third of the regular season gone and perhaps the die is cast. In the football bible, thou shalt not talk about the obvious – a rival waiting around the corner which could make or break the season. We are required to say the next game is the most important one – and in this case, they find themselves going Lexington as an 8-point favorite over an unbeaten Kentucky team. And maybe it is the most relevant Florida-Kentucky game since Babe Parilli was throwing passes for Bear Bryant. Still we can’t help but peek around the corner. So what’s on their mind? Kentucky’s on their minds, but what’s on their heart? No matter the name of the song, to them it’s “Georgia on My Heart.” The Bulldogs may be the only thing standing between Mullen’s 2021 squad and a clean run at a rematch with Alabama in Atlanta. The Gators have a hot quarterback whose numbers are starting look Heisman-ish even though he hasn’t yet been noticed -- although ranked third nationally in Week 4 for QBs passing percentage under pressure. Neither can they ignore the fact that after posting 209 yards passing and 144 yards rushing, Emory Jones became the first Gator player to throw for 200-plus yards and rush for 100-plus in the same game since Tim Tebow accomplished the feat on Nov. 21, 2009. When you get your name in the same sentence with Tebow, you’re messing with legend territory, even by association, even though you've only started four games and can't even spell Heisman. Your running game is No. 1 in the country, with with three studs at the position on the depth chart. And Greg Knox seems to have them coming in waves – Malik Davis, Nay’Quan Wright and Dameon Pierce. The much-maligned offensive line has become a weapon, protecting their quarterback in the pocket and escorting the runners. Here’s one piece of evidence: Keeping alive the streak of 14 straight games with 400+ yards of offense, the longest active streak in FBS.p The defense has wobbled at bit at times, but somehow Grantham seems to find enough bodies to get them back on track. They’ll likely be favored in seven of the eight games, depending on the health of three key players currently sidelined: LB Ventrell Miller (not probable) CB Kaiir Elam (expected back this week) and QB Anthony Richardson (back this week). Right now they’ve got a huge home field advantage with The Swamp coming to life again -- but only three of the remaining games are in Gainesville. Mullen exalted the spirit of The Swamp. He’s loving him some Gator fans these days. “They did an unbelievable job showing up again two weeks in a row, and really, three out of the last four weeks. They created that environment for us here in The Swamp. Getting the Swamp to where it is, to what people think it is, to the stadium people are nervous to come and play here, is because of the fan base and the environment they create. The energy they bring to our team for four quarters, the energy our student body and fans bring is pretty special.” Maybe his team is going to be special, too. Very special. Stay tuned. Whether by ground, air, or sea, Emory Jones is a threat. (Chris Spears photo)