Florida Football: 3 reasons Gators should be SEC favorites in 2019

2. The turn around from 2017 to 2018 is absolutely incredible.

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane for the Gator faithful and for those who are just fans of Dan Mullen. In 2017, behind head coach Jim McElwain, this Gator team was 4-7 on the year. There was no bowl game. There was no celebration. There was no looking forward to the coming seasons, none of that. All there was around Gainesville was disappointment and thoughts of a new head coach.

Enter Dan Mullen- fresh from Mississippi State. He was the offensive coordinator for the Gators from 2005 to 2008 before taking the head coaching job at Mississippi State. Now, he’s back in blue and orange as the head coach of a team who felt like their days atop the SEC were far, far behind them. Mullen showed them the direct opposite though, despite losing to Kentucky for the first time in three decades.

In 2018, this team went 10-3 with a bowl victory in the Peach Bowl over No. 7 Michigan. Not just a little victory either. The Gators absolutely demolished the Wolverines, 41-15. There was no let up. There was no slow down. Dan Mullen’s team has bought into him in a big way and it shows in the way they play and the way they have turned things around.

Look for 2019 to be even better, even more improved than what we saw this season. This is a team that can compete for the big time.