It won't be Mullen or anyone from Meyer era. That rumor broke Monday.
SI take:
Heres an early look at the potential hires and fires around the nation, with an attempt to separate perception from reality. (Information comes from interviews with agents, athletic directors, coaches and various other sources.)
FLORIDA
Perception: This should be easy, right? Athletic director Jeremy Foley will tab former Gators offensive coordinator Dan Mullen as his next head coach. Mullen has led Mississippi State to the No. 1 ranking, and hed bring to Gainesville many of the things Muschamp lacks -- extensive SEC head coaching experience, a distinguished offensive pedigree and polish with the media. (There was even a hiredanmullen.com, until Mullen spoke out against it.)
Reality: Its much more complicated. It would be considered a major surprise if Foley even calls Mullen. Foley advised Mullen against taking the Mississippi State job when he left Florida in December 2008 (considering the century of bad football in Starkville that probably wasnt bad advice). The two dont have a bad relationship, but its more neutral than chummy. Foley hiring Mullen would be an admission that he made a mistake in overlooking him last time. The Florida brass would also likely have to welcome back Mullens co-offensive coordinators, Billy Gonzales and John Hevesy, neither of whom exited Florida on the greatest terms (Gonzales bolted for LSU and Hevesy left with Mullen for Mississippi State. So did operations guru Jon Clark, who would surely come along). The feeling here is that if Mullen ends up getting hired, it happens because someone from the outside pressures Foley. So that means its unlikely.
Mullen wasnt exactly beloved during his time at Florida, as fans called for his job and administrators were ambivalent. Foley isnt itching for a tie to the Urban Meyer era, either. Some of this comes down to Foleys ego and whether he can swallow his pride. The guess from almost every corner is that Mullen wont get the job.
​Perception: In the watered-down SEC East, Floridas a quick fix.
Reality: Florida could easily be back atop the East in two years if it makes the right hire and finds a competent quarterback. But the Gators have coasted on the notion that Its Florida for too long. That certainly worked when Tim Tebow was gashing defenses and Meyer led the Gators to national titles in 2006 and 08. But Florida has failed to keep up in the facility game. Floridas stadium is iconic, but the rest of its football facilities are considered from pedestrian to poor by SEC standards. Florida upgraded its practice fields this summer, but it still lacks the type of gaudy stand-alone football facility, with indoor space, that have become commonplace in the SEC. Florida is looking into whether to build an indoor facility to catch up to its SEC peers, but nothing has been formalized. Foley is one of the best athletic directors in America, but this is one of the areas where hes missed.
Who is next? Expect Foley to make another run at Oklahomas Bob Stoops. But theres nothing to indicate Stoops will take the job this time. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze is an intriguing candidate, but Foley is plugged in enough to have concerns about reports that NCAA is looking into the Rebels program.
Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez has the offensive ingenuity and head coaching success to fit in Gainesville, but the low-key Rodriguez and hard-driving Foley seem like an odd couple. Rodriguezs success recruiting Florida while at West Virginia would be a plus, but hed likely need a staff upgrade. Its debatable if hed do that.