Florida dropped its 4th consecutive SEC game Saturday night, falling 24-23 in overtime to Missouri at Faurot Field. The Gators finished 2-6 in SEC play, the program’s worst mark in the conference since 1986. They continue to need 1 win to become bowl-eligible, with their final chance coming next weekend at home against in-state rival Florida State.

It wasn’t really possible for Dan Mullen’s seat in Gainesville to any toastier, but a win Saturday would have assuaged some fears and eased, even if for a moment, some of the noise surrounding the program. Instead, the Gators managed to lose a game where they held an edge in total yards, passing yards, yards per play and time of possession by being the same undisciplined bunch that has had trouble getting out of its own way all season.

Two of Missouri’s scoring drives in regulation were extended by costly Florida penalties, and a 3rd was set up by a shanked Florida punt. Finally, the Gators wilted in overtime, blowing a coverage on a simple tight end delay play to give Missouri a wide-open target on the game-winning 2-point conversion.

Here are SDS grades for the Gators in Saturday night’s loss.

Offense: D

A week after Florida shattered school records on offense and scored 70 points against FCS Samford, Florida couldn’t finish drives against a Missouri defense that had surrendered at least 28 points to every other SEC opponent. The Gators moved the ball throughout the game, but they lacked the explosive plays that had helped this offense excel early in the season. Emory Jones was average a week after shattering Tim Tebow’s single-game yardage record, missing open receivers down the field throughout the game and finishing with a “quiet” 306 total yards and a touchdown reception.

The Gators were especially poor in the red zone, failing to score a touchdown on 1st and goal from the 2 in the 1st half (more on that below) and completing just 1 of their 4 red zone trips in regulation.

Florida also mustered just 93 yards rushing against a Missouri defense that entered the game ranked 129th in the country and worst in the Power 5 at stopping the run. The Gators just lack physicality and will up front, and it showed Saturday.

Defense: B+

On a night when Florida’s offense was miserable, the defense naturally played one of its best games of the season. For all of Missouri’s flaws, it has been solid offensively, with a balanced attack and a formidable run game led by the SEC’s leading rusher in Tyler Badie. The Gators did a terrific job on Badie for 4 quarters, holding him to 121 yards on 25 carries and collecting multiple tackles for loss. The dam broke in overtime, however, when Badie tallied 25 yards in 2 plays to set up the winning 2-point conversion.

The Gators also — as usual — failed to produce any turnovers despite Missouri having issues with turnovers all season. Florida also committed costly defensive penalties — including 1 by preseason All-American Kaiir Elam that negated an interception — that extended Missouri drives when the Gators had forced stops.

In the end, the Gators’ defense showed up and played hard, which is more than it could say the previous 2 weeks. It will need to do that again next weekend for Florida to send its seniors out winners against FSU.

Special teams: C-

Kicker Chris Howard was a bright spot, finishing 3-of-3 on field goals for the first 3-field-goal performance of his career. Punter Jeremy Crawshaw, however, was a mixed bag. For the 3rd consecutive game, he had a punt of 20 yards or less. Saturday’s shank set up a Missouri chip-shot field goal. He did boom a 67-yarder later in the game, redeeming himself somewhat. But consistently good punting probably means Florida wins Saturday night.

Florida’s return teams were dire, as usual. Ja’Markis Weston had a punt bounce off his helmet for Florida’s longest return of the night, which tells you about all you need to know about how putrid this Gators special teams unit has been this season.

Florida has lost 4 games this season by 1 score — the textbook definition of losing at the margins.

If Mullen returns to Florida, the Gators have to fix the special teams units that were sensational in the first 2 seasons of his tenure.

Coaching: D

The Florida staff avoids an “F” because Christian Robinson had the defense ready to play, the Gators finally looked steady against the counter play and Florida forced punt after punt, only to see the offense fail to capitalize.

Dan Mullen deserves an individual “F,” however.

His decision in the 4th quarter, after Missouri’s All-SEC kicker somehow missed a go-ahead field goal, to play for overtime on the road was especially mystifying. The Gators needed only about 35-40 yards for their kicker, who as noted was on fire Saturday, to try a game-winner. Instead, the Gators waved a white flag after a 1st-down draw play failed. That’s inexcusable coaching from a guy who prides himself on his gameday decision-making.

Florida also had strange personnel groupings all night, including in the red zone, where it attempted 1 run with Dameon Pierce inside the 5-yard line. That run? It ended in a touchdown. Another drive, where Florida had 1st and goal at the 2, ended in a field goal as Pierce watched from the sideline. For Florida fans, these are the types of mind-numbing decisions that should mean the end of the Mullen era in Gainesville.