It took Mullen nine seasons to become the second-winningest coach in MSU history, and he was six wins away from the top spot when he left the team on Thanksgiving weekend in 2017 to become the head coach at Florida.
Eight months later, Mullen was back in the place he knew so well. The Gators came back from a deficit in the second half to pull off a thrilling, defensively strong 13-6 victory that proved to be one of the highlights of a 10-win season.
Now the Gators (1-2, 0-1) are back in the Magnolia State to face the Bulldogs (1-2, 0-0), and the top story revolves – once again – around their coach.
For different reasons, of course.
(Read senior editor Scott Carter’s comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” setup here.)
Billy Napier spoke this week about controlling the controllable, and that is what his team’s road opener in the Southeastern Conference is all about. The chatter from outside, which Ron Zook called “noise in the system” – and that was before social media – is louder than the deafening cowbells that will be ringing in the visiting team’s helmets this morning.
The day began with an early wake-up call, as the team was staying overnight in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, about 85 miles away. After that long bus ride, the challenge will be to enter a hostile stadium with the energy needed to win a league game on the road. That could be a difficult task considering the Gators have struggled to muster the energy needed to compete against two quality opponents at home, let alone come close to beating them.
Mississippi State is clearly not as strong as Miami or Texas A&M, which trounced UF in Gainesville by a combined score of 74-37 (with a 45-7 win over Samford in between). And while the Gators are almost favorites for a touchdown in this game, they need to perform better than they have so far, when they have averaged 398.9 yards of offense (72nd nationally, 11th in the SEC) and 407.3 yards allowed (tied nationally with 106 yards, last in the SEC). Those numbers are skewed somewhat in UF’s favor by the lopsided win over the FCS-class Bulldogs, to whom they allowed 632 yards.
The Bulldogs they’ll face on Saturday haven’t been particularly good — a home win over FCS Eastern Kentucky to open the season, followed by losses to Arizona State and an ugly 41-17 home loss to Toledo last weekend — but they’re home, hungry, better rested and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
The Gators can’t take anyone lightly.
Pay attention to the UF quarterback’s flip-flop from a week ago, which was largely Graham Mertz afternoon. Mertz, who returned to action against A&M after missing the Samford game with a concussion, played better than the freshman DJ Lagway after his record-breaking 456-yard performance in Mertz’s place. The two alternated against the Aggies last week, with Mertz completing 12 of 15 passes for 195 yards, a touchdown and an interception while Lagway completed 6 of 13 passes for 54 yards, a TD and two interceptions. They will face an MSU defense that has allowed 388.0 yards per game (tied for 94th) and a whopping 213.7 rushing yards (122nd), which should excite the UF tailback. Montrell Johnson, Jr. (166 yards, 3 touchdowns).
The Gators will have to do without their outstanding wide receiver in his second year Eugene Wilson III due to injury, but Mertz has developed a certain chemistry with the transfer signings Elijah Badger (11 catches, 260 yards, 1 TD) and Chimere Dike (8 for 146, 1 TD).
Mississippi State will counter under new coach Jeff Lebby (former offensive coordinator at Oklahoma) with Baylor transfer Blake Shapen (834 yards, 7 TD, 1 INT) as quarterback, a trio of tailbacks led by Keyvone Lee (88 yards, 1 TD) and a receiver base with Kevin Coleman Jr. (16 catches, 268 yards, 3 TD) as a key player.
If UF can block out the “noise” and leave the place affectionately (and mockingly) called Starkvegas with a win, it would be a credit to Napier, his team and the players and a testament to their focus.
After that, however, nothing will change in the plot of “Florida”.
Coverage begins at noon on ABC, with Dave Pasch on live commentary, Dusty Dvorak as analyst and Taylor McGregor on the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network broadcast from Learfield begins at 9 a.m. with pregame coverage and then transitions to Sean Kelly, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey from the field to the conference call. Click here to view GSN broadcasters.
The game will be replayed on the SEC Network on Monday at 10 p.m. and Tuesday at 3 a.m.
Also, follow Senior Editor Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for game-long commentary and analysis. FloridaGators.com There will be full post-match coverage late Saturday night and follow-up content on Sunday.
