This year was supposed to be different.
Instead, Dan Mullen’s Florida Gators looked a lot like Jim McElwain’s former team did a season ago against Missouri.
The difference in Saturday’s dispiriting 38-17 defeat is these Gators still had plenty to play for this time against the Tigers. Much of the day, it was difficult to tell.
Missouri entered the day winless in the SEC. Meanwhile, a 10-win season and a New Year’s Six bowl remained at stake for the No. 11 Gators (6-3, 4-3), despite last week’s 19-point loss to Georgia.