Florida fires Mullen, completing stunning downfall
Florida fired coach Dan Mullen on Sunday, a day after his sixth loss in nine games, two months after the Gators went toe to toe with defending national champion Alabama and a year after they had a chance to make the College Football Playoff.
Mullen’s stunning downfall and not-so-surprising departure ends a tumultuous two seasons that included mounting losses, numerous public relation missteps, NCAA sanctions and a victory against lower-division Samford that didn’t seem like much for Gators fans to celebrate.
Mullen finished 34-15 over four seasons at Florida that included a trip to the Southeastern Conference championship game last year and three New Year’s Six bowls.
His final game was a 24-23 loss in overtime at Missouri that spotlighted Florida’s flaws: inconsistent quarterback play, a porous offensive line, a lack of playmakers on both sides of the ball and an inability to win close games. The Gators (5-6, 2-6 SEC) have dropped seven consecutive onepossession games, all in the last two seasons.
Special team coordinator and running backs coach Greg Knox will serve as interim coach.
NO. 2 ALABAMA 42 NO. 21 ARKANSAS 35
Bryce Young passed for a school-record 559 yards and five touchdowns and the Crimson Tide held off the Razorbacks at Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday to clinch a spot in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
NO. 12 MISSISSIPPI 31 VANDERBILT 17
Matt Corral threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns in his home finale and the host Rebels beat the Commodores.
NO. 11 BAYLOR 20 KANSAS ST. 10
Blake Shapen was sharp in place of injured quarterback Gerry Bohanon, and the Bears’ defense simply smothered the Wildcats’ offense at Manhattan, Kan.
Shapen was 16 of 21 for 137 yards after Bohanon left shortly before halftime with a hamstring injury. The redshirt freshman got some help from Trestan Ebner, who ran for 86 yards and a touchdown, and Tyquan Thornton, who had five catches for 75 yards.
NO. 9 OKLAHOMA ST. 23 TEXAS TECH 0
The Cowboys wrapped up their first spot in the Big 12 championship game with a victory over the Red Raiders at Lubbock, completely throttling an offense that hadn’t been shut out since 1997.
Spencer Sanders threw a touchdown and ran for another score, and Tanner Brown kicked three field goals for the Cowboys (10-1, 7-1). The defense limited Texas Tech (6-5, 3-5), which had scored in 302 consecutive games, to 108 total yards that included a 25-yard pass on the final drive.
ARMY 33 MASSACHUSETTS 17
Tyrell Robinson ran for an 87-yard touchdown and finished with 137 of Army’s 377 rushing yards as the Black Knights won at home.
NO. 23 UTAH 38 NO. 3 OREGON 7
Britain Covey returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, giving Utah 14 points in 27 seconds, and the host Utes ended the Ducks’ playoff hopes.
NO. 5 CINCINNATI 48 SMU 14
Desmond Ridder threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and even caught a TD pass to help the host Bearcats roll past the Mustangs.
NO. 6 MICHIGAN 59 MARYLAND 18
Mike Sainristil made a one-handed catch in the end zone for a secondquarter touchdown, Hassan Haskins scored two TDS of his own, and the Wolverines won on the road.
NO. 18 PITTSBURGH 48 VIRGINIA 38
Kenny Pickett threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns — all of them to Jordan Addison — in his final game at Heinz Field
and the host Panthers claimed their second ACC Coastal title in the last four years.
NO. 20 N.C. STATE 41 SYRACUSE 17
Devin Leary threw for two touchdowns, Zonovan Knight returned a kickoff for a touchdown and the Wolfpack won at home to keep hopes alive for an Atlantic Coast Conference championship.