Bruce Feldman: Florida's Dan Mullen is in real jeopardy

The Florida Gators have turned into one of college football’s most disappointing teams over the past month. After starting 3-1 with a late loss to Alabama, Florida looked poised to fight for supremacy in the SEC East again. However, losses against Kentucky, LSU, Georgia and South Carolina have rerailed the season quickly.

Now on a three-game losing streak, Dan Mullen is under heavy criticism for everything from on-field coaching decisions to player management and recruiting, putting his job in jeopardy. He fired two long-time assistants this week – defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and offensive line coach John Hevesy – in a desperate move to regain momentum.

However, the pressure is still on in Gainesville, as FOX Sports analayst Bruce Feldman discussed on Saturday’s FOX Big Noon Kickoff show.

“Going forward, Dan Mullen is in real jeopardy there,” Feldman said. “He cannot afford any more losses if he has any hopes of coming back next year.”

The possibility of a 3-0 record to end the season and scrape by is certainly on the table. Florida plays Samford this week, faces Missouri on the road to wrap up SEC play, then faces a struggling Florida State team in a rivalry game.

The three wins would be enough to reach bowl eligibility with a 7-5 record. With New Year’s Six bowls out of reach, options like the Music City Bowl and Liberty Bowl appear more realistic at this point. While Feldman’s statement makes it unclear whether a bowl loss would factor into that equation, the competition in those bowls would offer a decent chance for victory.

Kirk Herbstreit on Florida’s fall

On Saturday morning’s College GameDay show, Kirk Herbstreit had plenty to say about Florida, breaking down what’s went wrong and what Mullen needs to do to get his Gators back on track.

“I think there needs to be a different approach,” Herbstreit said. “The reality of 2021 is when you have a team that is capable of winning a championship or maybe making a playoff — This team was 3-1 and ranked tenth in the nation and then things got sideways with the loss to Kentucky.”

After starting off the season with a 3-1 record, the Gators have since gone just 1-4 – with the lone win coming against Vanderbilt.

“You’re seeing a team that’s quitting on each other,” Herbstreit said. “They’re quitting on their coach. That’s not just a couple adjustments and we’re back. There’s a spirit that’s missing in that locker room. That’s a problem.”