GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Matchups like Saturday's game between No. 11-ranked Florida and FCS opponent UT Martin are part of the college football landscape. They have been for decades.
In the need to fill out their schedules with two or three nonconference games, Power Five schools often schedule a lower-division opponent that is enticed by a fat paycheck. A probable beatdown is worth the financial boost to the athletic department.
"We're playing two of them this year, if that answers your question,'' UT Martin coach Jason Simpson told reporters on a conference call this week.
Most of the time, the matchups play out as expected. But not always. Tennessee suffered a humiliating 38-30 loss to Georgia State last week after reportedly paying the Panthers $950,000 to visit Neyland Stadium. Fire alarms continue to ring on Rocky Top.
From the perspective of a Power Five head coach such as Dan Mullen, these types of games provide an opportunity to use a lot of players, build confidence and enter conference play with a dose of positive momentum.
"There are guys I'd like to get in. I really want to get some offensive linemen in. I really want to get some DBs in the game. I really want to get some D-linemen in, linebackers, I mean every position in the game to get those guys in the game and get them flowing and get them reps,'' Mullen said Wednesday. "I think 40 plays is a lot to play in the game. We had the last game, a bunch of guys played more than 40. It's just the flow of the game.
"I'd rather keep it where guys are fresh and healthy throughout the whole, not just the game, but the long haul of the season. To do that, you've got to rotate guys and you've got to be comfortable in doing so. So it does give us an opportunity, hopefully. I'm not talking about the score, just even the flow of the game, first quarter we're able to roll guys through and we feel comfortable having them in there."
With a season-opening win over nonconference foe Miami in the books and rival Florida State on the schedule to close the regular season, plus eight Southeastern Conference games, the Gators are playing 10 Power Five opponents in 2019. They host another lower-division opponent, Towson, on Sept. 28.
As crowds have dwindled in recent years across the country, these type of matchups have come under scrutiny. Fans say they would rather watch at home on TV and show up for the big games. In response, more and more Power Five schools are scheduling nonconference games against other Power Five programs.
The Gators have recently agreed to home-and-home series against Miami, Colorado and Texas in coming years. Still, until the College Football Playoff is expanded or major college football undergoes another drastic genetic makeover such as conference realignment a few years ago, you're likely to continue to see most Power Five schools play at least one FCS opponent per season.
Smaller schools need the cash. Larger programs need nonconference opponents -- and preferably a feel-good win.
In this week's edition of The Opening Kickoff, here is a closer look at the Florida-UT Martin matchup: THREE QUESTIONS WITH … GATORS QB FELEIPE FRANKS
Q:In looking back, do you feel the critical analysis of the team after beating Miami was based on fact you were on national stage with only one other game? Feleipe Franks threw for 254 yards in victory over Miami. A: To be honest with you, it really doesn't matter to me. We won. I thought we played fairly well. Obviously, things that we can clean up. You should want to play in games where everybody is watching, where everybody is going to have an opinion either way. We went out there and got the job done, so that was fun.
Q:How would you assess the play of the offensive line against in the season opener?
A: I thought they did really good. They kept me upright all day. They worked hard all week, had a great week of preparation. I said this after the game right on the field, I thought they had a tremendous game. They prepare week-in and week-out. They are some of the hardest-working group of guys I know. I love being around them.
Q:How much of a confidence boost was your performance last season [career-high five touchdown passes] in the opener against FCS opponent Charleston Southern?
A: Charleston Southern was at the beginning of the season. We didn't have one of those; we had played Miami this year. I think it's a big confidence booster when you go out there and you're able to perform and you start easing your way into SEC play and all this other stuff. We didn't have that this year, and so, I think this game's going to give a lot of guys opportunities that haven't seen a lot of playing time or whatever to go out there and show what they can do and confidence-boost them. THREE STORYLINES
The home opener at "The Swamp" is always special and this one has the added touch of a tribute to the late George Edmondson, known as "Mr. Two Bits." Edmondson passed away in July and to honor him, the Gators are wearing striped-tie decals on their helmets this game and his family is performing his iconic cheer prior to kickoff.
The Gators committed too many turnovers, missed too many tackles and had too many penalties against Miami. Yes, they won, but much of the focus leading up to this matchup has been on playing crisper against the Skyhawks according to head coach Dan Mullen.
Franks came under scrutiny for his lost fumble and two interceptions against Miami despite throwing for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Afterward, fans and media critiqued his postgame punt. That's life as usual for the fourth-year junior quarterback. It will be interesting to see how he responds in front of the home fans.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
UF senior running back Lamical Perinehad six catches for 25 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Miami. However, he was limited to 42 yards on 10 carries on the ground. Perine likely will be able to put up some impressive numbers in this one should the Gators try to establish the run early.
Gators linebacker Ventrell Miller had a breakout game against Miami and is primed for a big season if he can play consistently with the kind of energy and production he displayed in Orlando.
UTM redshirt sophomore safety Wanya Moton earned Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors with seven tackles and a pair of interceptions -- one a 78-yard pick-six -- in the Skyhawks' season-opening win. Moton has the ability to disrupt the passing game and is someone Franks will have to keep an eye on.
THREE DIGITS
19 – Consecutive wins by the Gators over first-time opponents. 73-9 – Florida's home record against nonconference opponents since start of 1990 season. 483 – Yards allowed by UTM in a season-opening victory over Northwestern (La.) State. INJURY REPORT
UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson is in his 14th season leading the Skyhawks and has brought stability to the program. While UTM struggled during a 2-9 season in 2018, the program has six winning seasons this decade and a 54-49 record overall.
Simpson's office is in the Bob Carroll Football Building, a name that carries weight around the campus in Martin, Tenn. Carroll coached UTM from 1957-74 and later served as the school's athletic director, associate vice chancellor and director of alumni affairs.
He remains the all-time winningest coach in program history with 85 victories. However, Simpson is gaining ground and could pass Carroll in 2019.
Simpson is 81-68 during his tenure and is tied for sixth with Tennessee Tech's Don Wade on the Ohio Valley Conference career-wins list. The all-time leader: former Eastern Kentucky coach Roy Kidd, an OVC legend who won 315 games over his career.
BOTTOM LINE
One aspect easily overlooked in Mullen's first season as Florida's head coach was that the Gators generally did what they were expected to do against overmatched opponents. They beat Charleston Southern 53-6. They drilled Colorado State 48-10. They thumped Idaho 63-10. If you've watched the Gators over the past several years, there were some closer-than-expected calls against opponents such as Louisiana and Florida Atlantic, and of course, that loss to Georgia Southern during the injury plagued 2013 season. With two weeks between the opener and Saturday's game, everyone had time to overanalyze every play against Miami and that's what they did. Was it a work of art to hang on the wall? No. Was it a huge win to kick off the season? You bet. The Gators should easily take care of business in this one to get ready for the start of Southeastern Conference play next week at Kentucky.
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