Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler dissect Dan Mullen, Florida after South Carolina loss

Things have quickly gone downhill in Gainesville. Florida has lost three consecutive games, including an embarrassing 40-17 defeat against South Carolina on Saturday. After the latest loss, more questions are being asked about the job security of Florida head coach Dan Mullen.

Florida was thoroughly outplayed in every way by South Carolina on Saturday. The Gamecocks scored 20 second-quarter points and led 30-10 at halftime. Florida ran for 82 yards and 3.2 yards per carry as a team, while South Carolina had 284 rushing yards and 6.8 yards per carry. Gators quarterback Emory Jones also turned the ball over twice.

Talented quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered a concussion last week. He was available against South Carolina, but only in an emergency situation.

Following the latest Florida loss, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler discussed Dan Mullen and the Gators’ disappointing season.

“Man, in the gator nation, they are trounced by South Caorlina. Routed,” Fowler said. “It was 30-10 at halftime. And they’ve now lost four out of five, they are sitting there at 4-5. A team that lost to Bama by two points. What is going on in Gainesville?”

Herbstreit responded by saying he thinks Mullen is a great coach, but this type of loss is one that should force people to really wonder what’s going on in Florida.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Herbstreit said. “This is a Florida team that gave Alabama all it could handle, and I thought that would be a springboard into some special moments in their season. I’m a Dan Mullen guy, I love the guy. He is a great coach. This thing has got sideways on him. South Carolina is a huge — congrats to Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks, this is the kind of win you need to justify what’s going on there.”

Herbstreit: Mullen, Florida have problems right now after this loss

Florida now has three losses in a row against LSU, Georgia, and now South Carolina, leaving questions about Mullen’s future. The Gators at one point were looking promising. They hung with Alabama, losing 31-29. Through six games, Florida was 4-2 and the two losses were by a combined nine points against good SEC teams. But now things have gone off the rails.

“For them to check out and be down 20 at halftime,” Fowler said. “Are you still showing pride as a Gator? Are you still playing for your coaches, are you still playing for yourself and teammates? They have some winnable games on the schedule, but I don’t know if it’s too late. The kind of game today in the SEC climate, it can cement the idea that you need a chance. I don’t know.”

Florida now sits at 4-5 on the season with games against Samford, Missouri, and Florida State remaining. Mullen and Florida will need to avoid any more embarrassing losses to salvage the season.

“In the SEC, when you lose and you’re in a high-profile spot, that’s what happens,” Herbstreit responded. “One second you’re the coach of the year, the next second people are frustrated and want to make a move. Again, I will continue to say I’m a Dan Mullen guy, but they got problems right now. I don’t know what they’re going to do.”