LSU Loss Seals Jeff Driskel's Fate, Can Treon Harris Save Will Muschamp's Job
Florida's game vs. LSU in "The Swamp" served as Gator quarterback Jeff Driskel's last stand, and he rolled snake eyes.
After being benched last week in favor of Treon Harris in the win over Tennessee, it looked like Driskel's days as the starting quarterback in Gainesville were done. Suddenly on Monday, news broke that Harris was being investigated for sexual assault, and Driskel was pushed back into the role this week vs. LSU.
Harris was cleared and reinstated late Friday afternoon, but at that point, a full week of practice was gone and it was Driskel's game.
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Driskel didn't have a three-interception performance like the one he had against Tennessee, but it was going in that direction—due in part to drops from his receivers.
He completed 14-of-25 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the 30-27 loss, operating in a very conservative game plan from head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper.
He hit Demarcus Robinson for 73 yards to set up the game-tying field goal, but after the Gator defense forced a punt to give the ball back to the offense with 0:54 left, Driskel forced a pass over the middle that was picked off by Rickey Jefferson, setting up LSU's game-winning field goal.
Is it "Treon time?"
Muschamp wouldn't say, but the true freshman was in the press box with Roper during the game, according to Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel.
Was Saturday night's loss all on Driskel?
No, not at all. He played with emotion and, while he wasn't a game-changer, he displayed a spark that he hasn't shown in quite some time.
That's the ceiling, though. Harris is more explosive in the running game, and while he may be raw as a passer, he certainly gives Roper the opportunity to be a little more creative with the playbook.
Muschamp knows what's at stake. At 3-2 (2-2 SEC), his job status is dangling perilously on the edge of a cliff, and rocks are giving way with every Driskel interception. Two more losses, and it all might come crashing down.
There's a chance that Harris can save Muschamp and save the season.
The Gators have Missouri at home next week, and would Muschamp rather have Driskel in there against Missouri's pass rush or Harris? He has to know that Driskel will force things. Harris might not.
After that, the Gators will have two weeks to get Harris ready for Georgia, followed by the road trip to Vanderbilt, a home tilt vs. South Carolina, a supposed cakewalk over Eastern Kentucky and an intra-state rivalry game at Florida State.
Is Driskel a better option than Harris against those teams? At this point, it's hard to tell. The unknown, however, should be more comforting for Muschamp.
When Driskel is on, he'll keep Florida in games—even if they're against under-performing defenses like LSU's. "In it" won't cut it, Muschamp needs someone to go win it.
That guy isn't Driskel, but it might be Harris.
He's Muschamp's best option at this point.
Barrett Sallee is the Lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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