Florida Football: Best and worst case scenario for 2018

Florida football has a new head coach and plenty of reasons for optimism. What are the best and worst case scenarios for the Gators in 2018?

There were a myriad of coaching changes during the offseason including several in the SEC. Jimbo Fisher’s leap to Texas A&M might have been the most noteworthy, but Florida’s addition of Dan Mullen might have been the best fit.

Mullen had his chances to leave Mississippi State over the years, ultimately opting for his old stomping grounds in Gainesville. Once the offensive coordinator for the Gators, Mullen inherits a talented roster which woefully underperformed last season. What will the Gators’ record be in Mullen’s first season?

Best case scenario

• Sep 1 – vs Charleston Southern – W
• Sep 8 – vs Kentucky – W
• Sep 15 – vs Colorado State – W
• Sep 22 – @ Tennessee – W
• Sep 29 – @ Mississippi State – L
• Oct 6 – vs LSU – W
• Oct 13 – @ Vanderbilt – W
• Oct 27 – vs (N) Georgia – L
• Nov 3 – vs Missouri – W
• Nov 10 – vs South Carolina – W
• Nov 17 – vs Idaho – W
• Nov 24 – @ Florida State – W

Result: 10-2

It’s entirely possible that all Florida needed was a steady hand. The roster is good enough for the Gators to contend quickly, ranking in the top 20 the 247 talent composite.

A win in the game against fellow new head coach Willie Taggart and Florida State could raise the expectations for 2019 significantly. Florida isn’t quite ready to go toe-to-toe with Kirby Smart at Georgia, but double-digit wins is definitely on the table.

Worst case scenario

• Sep 1 – vs Charleston Southern – W
• Sep 8 – vs Kentucky – W
• Sep 15 – vs Colorado State – W
• Sep 22 – @ Tennessee – W
• Sep 29 – @ Mississippi State – L
• Oct 6 – vs LSU – W
• Oct 13 – @ Vanderbilt – W
• Oct 27 – vs (N) Georgia – L
• Nov 3 – vs Missouri – W
• Nov 10 – vs South Carolina – L
• Nov 17 – vs Idaho – W
• Nov 24 – @ Florida State – L

Result: 8-4

Mississippi State and new head coach Joe Moorhead already have Sep. 29 circled on the calendar. Mullen’s loyalty to the Bulldogs was cherished in Starkville until he parlayed nine seasons at Mississippi State into a job with the Gators. Both programs should be optimistic about 2018, but the Bulldogs have a bonafide star at quarterback making it unlikely UF upsets them in Starkville this go round.

The most intriguing toss-up game comes at home against South Carolina. This game should have implications, if not for the SEC East title, then at least for New Year’s Six bowl eligibility. The Gamecocks quietly amassed 10 wins last season and beat vaunted Michigan in the Outback Bowl. A loss to the Gamecocks is understandable, even though it’s how Mullen wants to end his first crack at conference play.