Florida Gators Still Searching to Become Bowl-Eligible Following Week 10 Loss

When Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley extended coach Will Muschamp's contract through 2017, was this what he expected?

Following its third-consecutive loss to Georgia, Florida is pinning its hopes of becoming bowl-eligible on a win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 9.

Essentially, it has become the Gators' biggest game of the season. 

"We're going to keep fighting each and every week," quarterback Tyler Murphy told Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel. "We're going to try and knock people off one week at a time. No one is going to feel sorry for us."

Frustrations are riding high for Muschamp. 

Florida's performance on Saturday was unwatchable at times. Georgia was seemingly unstoppable, as it amassed 259 yards of offense and 17 points in the first quarter without much resistance.

Todd Gurley, who missed the last three games due to an ankle injury, totaled 187 yards and scored touchdowns of 5 and 73 yards in the first quarter alone. For the Gators, miscommunication led to blown coverages, and the offense stalled for the better part of the first half. 

"We dug ourselves too big of a hole," Muschamp said in a post-game press conference. "We'll rebound, and we'll be fine."

The loss gives Florida its second three-game losing streak under the third-year coach, who remains winless against his alma mater as a coach.

As George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel writes, Florida isn't going anywhere. 

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Of course, this only amps up the "Mus-chump must go" noise decibels. He's not going anywhere, not this season anyway. The problem is the Gators aren't going anywhere either. Florida's football team keeps setting records. Only they're the ones you want to forget, such as 0-3 against the Bulldogs.

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And the road ahead doesn't get any easier. 

The Gators face Vanderbilt (4-4), No. 14 South Carolina (7-2) and No. 3 Florida State (8-0) in the next three weeks. A victory against either team would ensure a bowl bid for the Gators.

But given the team's recent shortcomings, it wouldn't come as a shock to see Florida fall in each contest. 

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