Dan Mullen Talks College Football

Former Gators football head coach and ESPN analyst Dan Mullen joined Steve Russell on Sport Scene Tuesday to discuss the current status of college football. Mullen went over the transfer portal, Anthony Richardson’s draft hopes and the College Football Playoffs.

Dan Mullen on Transfer Portal Landscape

Mullen said the transfer portal allows players to improve their playing time and get a fresh start when needed. He also said it enables coaches to continue building relationships with recruits regardless of coaching changes.

A recent example of a program turnaround is Lincoln Riley’s Southern California. The Trojans are in the College Football Playoff conversation thanks to a superb season from quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams and Riley arrived at USC this season after a stint at Oklahoma.

Mullen said the landscape has changed, and teams need to be prepared for the challenges of a transfer portal era.

Anthony Richardson NFL Hopes

Mullen is no stranger to Richardson’s potential. In his third year at Florida, Mullen recruited the then-four-star quarterback to the class of 2020. Last year, Mullen’s last with the Gators, Richardson primarily served as the backup quarterback behind Emory Jones before injuries cut his season short.

Although Richardson didn’t always start, Mullen said he’s one of the most talented quarterbacks he’s worked with. Mullen believes Richardson could be a potential draft pick for a team looking to develop a future quarterback. However, Mullen believes that NIL deals could play a role in Richardson’s decision.

A Look Into the College Football Playoffs

The College Football Playoff committee released its latest rankings on Tuesday. Georgia, Michigan, TCU and USC remain in the top four spots. However, the final rankings will likely be decided on Championship Saturday.

LSU and Georgia will face off for the Southeastern Conference title. Mullen believes Georgia will pull away with the win despite facing opposition from the Tigers. In the PAC-12, Mullen sees an even matchup between Utah and USC but believes the Trojans can get away with the title.

Mullen leans toward Michigan in the Big 10 title game but sees Purdue as competitive. Lastly, Mullen believes the result of the TCU vs. Kansas State game can determine the Horned Frogs’ future.