GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Following Florida's stirring comeback win at Kentucky on Saturday night, Gators head coach
Dan Mullen was understandably subdued.
The Gators (3-0) won their Southeastern Conference opener against the Wildcats, (2-1, 0-1), but the loss of starting quarterback
Feleipe Franks for the season due to a severe ankle injury cast a pall over Florida's seventh consecutive victory, the longest active streak in the SEC.
"Obviously, a huge loss for us,'' he said. "We had to play that game short-handed."
In overcoming an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarterback behind veteran backup
Kyle Trask, the Gators held steady at No. 8 in the latestÂ
Amway Coaches Poll released Sunday afternoon. The same held true in the
AP Top 25, which was released later Sunday. Florida stayed at ninth in the AP Top 25 for the second consecutive week.
Â
While Franks' injury highlighted Mullen's concern following the 29-21 win at Kroger Field, he pointed out several other areas the Gators seek to improve before hosting Tennessee (1-2, 0-0) at noon Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Gators committed too many penalties at costly times, had trouble again establishing the running game, allowed the Wildcats to consistently convert on third down, and played without several key injured players, including defensive end
Jabari Zuniga for much of the game.
"We still have a long way to go,'' Mullen said. "We've got a lot of things to work on. But again, we found a way to win. That's a big win. That's an excellent football team."
Editor's note: Story will be updated when the AP Top 25 is released.
Â
