The Florida Gators have now played two games since firing head coach Jim McElwain, and with just two games remaining in the season, there are plenty of rumors to sort through regarding who they want to replace him once the season is over. Here's all the latest you need to know:
Florida identifies three top targets
Florida has been rumored to have UCF head coach Scott Frost as their top target, but they reportedly also have three other names in mind, according to Marc Ryan of SportsRadio610.
From a very reliable source. UF has reached out to representatives of Bob Stoops, Chip Kelly, and Charlie Strong to gauge interest in becoming the #Gators next head coach. These are believed to be UF's top choices.
— Marc Ryan (@MarcRyanOnAir) November 9, 2017
Stoops and Kelly are both currently out of coaching, while Strong is 8-1 in his first season at South Florida. Kelly is also known to have garnered interest from Texas A&M and Tennessee.
Bob Stoops not considering Florida job
Stoops has been a favorite among Florida fans ever since he retired this summer, but Steve Spurrier told the Buddy Martin Radio Show that the longtime Oklahoma coach isn't returning to Gainesville.
“Someone started a rumor that I had told Bobby Stoops that McElwain would retire this year, he could resign in the summer and then all of a sudden say I miss it and come back. That was really insulting to think that somebody would think that I would do something like that,” Spurrier said. “… That was sort of sad and insulting. If I had done something like that, they ought to take my damn name off the stadium there at Florida. That would’ve been really disgusting if a person would ever stoop to that level to do something like that. No, no. Bobby’s got to speak for himself, but he’s said many times, ‘If I wanted to continue coaching, I just left one of the best jobs in America. … I could’ve easily gone another 4-5 years.’ … Bobby, I think, is very happy.”
Stoops was the defensive coordinator at Florida from 1996-1998 under Spurrier before taking the Oklahoma job. He went 190–48 in 18 seasons with the Sooners, winning 10 Big 12 titles and leading them to the national championship in 2000.
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Scott Frost remains huge favorite in Vegas
Despite Florida's interest in the three coaches above, Frost is still the overwhelming favorite, according to Las Vegas odds.
Scott Frost now a MASSIVE favorite to be Florida's next HC on @betonline_ag at -150 ahead of Dan Mullen (+400) and Mike Norvell (+600). Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier holding strong at +5000 pic.twitter.com/Fad81k7Fpd
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) November 10, 2017
Frost is in his second season with the Knights, posting a 13-7 record in his tenure, including an 8-0 mark and a top 20 ranking this season. The former Nebraska quarterback has also been linked to the Nebraska head job if they decide to fire Mike Riley.
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