HOOVER, Ala. (AP) Dan Mullen made a big leap in his second season at Mississippi State, but his Florida team doesn't have quite so much room to grow.

Unless, of course, the Gators can jump to national contender status. That's what another four-win improvement would mean.

The Bulldogs won five games after Mullen took over in 2009 and nine the following season. The Gators went 10-3 in his debut season and finished with a No. 7 ranking, a spot shared with Georgia.