WILL MUSCHAMP

When you build a powerhouse program, it’s inevitable that others will try to copy your success.

Georgia's proud defense is seeking to redeem itself after the Bulldogs' ugly loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Jason Brown threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns in his FBS starting debut and South Carolina's defense shut down Florida's potent attack to hand the Gators their first three-game losing three since 2017 in a 40-17 rout Saturday night.

Caleb Farley was the first top prospect to make the decision that has added a whole new layer of uncertainty to the annual crapshoot that is the NFL draft.

Smart said Wednesday that Muschamp, also a former Florida head coach, will focus on defense. He played at Georgia as a defensive back from 1991-94 and is a former defensive coordinator at Auburn, Louisiana State and Texas. “It's very valuable to have a guy who has been a head coach in two different places in our conference,” Smart said. “He’s going to be able to help coach the coaches.”Muschamp's role as analyst may be only a short-term situation. Another former Georgia player and assistant coach, Mike Bobo, served as South Carolina's interim coach after Muschamp was fired.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn listens to an official's call during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)Auburn fired football coach Gus Malzahn, ending an eight-year run that began with a trip to the national championship game. The Tigers also were upset by a struggling South Carolina, which wound up firing coach Will Muschamp during the season. “After evaluating the state of the Auburn football program, we’ve decided that it was time to make a change in leadership," Greene said in a statement. Auburn will owe Malzahn a $21.45 million buyout for the remaining four years of a seven-year, $49 million deal.

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, NCAA President Mark Emmert testifies during a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on intercollegiate athlete compensation on Capitol Hill in Washington. And the sporting world hasn’t collapsed,” Emmert told AP. It recommended the creation of the National College Football Association, an independent body to oversee FBS. Major college football, the commission concluded, has created inequities across all NCAA sports and hinder the association's ability to govern equitably. Emmert called the recommendation “exactly the wrong thing to do.” He told AP he agrees football has "an outsized influence” over college sports.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina has fired football coach Will Muschamp, the second time he's been let go from a Southeastern Conference program in midseason. The school said in a release Sunday that Muschamp has been “relieved” of his duties with the football program. Athletic director Ray Tanner said first-year offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, a former head coach at Colorado State, will take over as interim coach. Tanner said he did a thorough assessment of the football program and decided it was time for a change. "I believe our program will be well served by Coach Bobo as the interim head coach as we search for a new leader for Gamecock Football.”Muschamp was head coach at Florida from 2011-14 and was fired in November of his final season after an overtime loss to Florida.

The Champions Hockey League was due to begin next month in an already-shortened format with a knockout bracket and no round-robin. ___Senegal’s friendly soccer match against Mauritania has been canceled after eight members of the Mauritanian delegation tested positive for COVID-19. It says the results showed eight positive tests among the Mauritanian delegation. ___Slovakia coach Pavel Hapal has tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss the Nations League game against Israel on Wednesday. Two players, Milan Skriniar and Jaroslav Mihalik, and a staff member tested positive before Sunday’s Nations League against Scotland that Slovakia lost in Glasgow 1-0.

Florida moves to 2-0 on the season as the Gators defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks. David Waters is joined by Nick de la Torre (Gator Country) and Graham Hall (Gainesville Sun) to review the up and down day. The offense had another fine showing while the defense showed a little improvement, but still left a lot to be desired. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Play | Stitcher

At the top of USA Today's most recent revenue rankings for college athletic departments are Texas and Texas A&M. Texas and Texas A&M have everything needed to put out a national championship-level football program. The Aggies and Longhorns refuse to play each other but combine to form an Axis of Underachievers in the Lone Star State. In three games against Alabama under Fisher, the Aggies are 0-3 by a combined 144-75. For now, though, Texas and Texas A&M continue to prove the adage that money can't buy happiness.

3 Florida to a 38-24 victory over South Carolina on Saturday. The next performance comes at Kyle Field, where Texas A&M will try to become the first Southeastern Conference opponent to slow down Trask and Pitts in 2020. Kevin Harris was one of the few bright spots for South Carolina, which flubbed a chance to make it a one-score game in the final minute. DROPPED PASSESA big reason South Carolina couldn’t keep up in the first half was dropped passes. Florida takes its “Kyle to Kyle Show” to Kyle Field to play Texas A&M next Saturday.

Muschamp and South Carolina (0-1) will try to slow down No. Trask and tight end Kyle Pitts were a two-man show, connecting eight times for 170 yards and four scores. But we’re looking forward to it, we’re excited and we’ll never shy away from a challenge.”South Carolina allowed 394 yards in a loss to No. Trask ended up with 200 yards passing, and Pitts finished with five receptions for 29 yards. He topped Muschamp in 2015 (Mississippi State over Auburn), in 2016 (Mississippi State over South Carolina) and the last two years (Florida over South Carolina).

The third ranked Gators look to go 2-0 on the season when they matchup with South Carolina in the first home game of 2020. The Gators also look to keep the passing game flying and to have a bounce back performance on defense. David Waters is joined by Will Gunter (Co-host of The Early Game on 107.5 The Game in Columbia, SC) to preview the Gamecocks. This episode of Gators Breakdown is brought to you by MyBookie. Bet this football season, use promo code “GATORS” and get a free $20 wager on your first deposit at http://bit.ly/MYB-GatorsBreakdownGet Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Play | Stitcher

Before Miami won easily last year, the ‘Canes and ’Noles played five straight games decided by five points or fewer. A pandemic-altered college football season has helped put FSU-Miami in the spotlight again this weekend. The Big Ten and Pac-12 are still at least a month away, but the college football menu is starting to fill up. 7-6 — Lane Kiffin's record in his one SEC season as coach at Tennessee. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

In a precarious season when almost nothing feels normal, the SEC does feel like, well, the SEC even without its most prominent passers. And the league opted to continue working toward a season that will include just 10 SEC games with a Sept. 26 start. Alabama coach Nick Saban said that schedule under the circumstances will be good for the fans and players alike. NEW FACESLane Kiffin, head coach, Mississippi; Mike Leach, head coach, Mississippi State: The hiring of these two big-name coaches with impressive offensive pedigrees brought some excitement to the Magnolia State. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt: Mason has had his successes with the Commodores, but has also won just 10 SEC games in six seasons.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___South Carolinas highest paid head coaches are taking 10% salary cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic. Football coach Will Muschamp, mens basketball coach Frank Martin and womens basketball coach Dawn Staley are taking the cuts. Football coach Chris Creighton, mens basketball coach Rob Murphy, and womens basketball coach Fred Castro will be affected by the 7% cuts. ___The German basketball league plans to finish its season next month in a closed three-week tournament. The Premier League season was suspended in March with United fifth in the standings.

Jon Greenard #58 of the Florida Gators celebrates against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. 9 Florida could be without its top two pass-rushers at South Carolina on Saturday. Coach Dan Mullen said Monday that linebacker Jon Greenard and defensive end Jabari Zuniga will be game-time decisions against the Gamecocks (3-3, 2-2 Southeastern Conference). Muschamp: QB Hilinski has a knee sprain, should playSouth Carolina coach Will Muschamp said freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski has a sprained left knee, but was expected to play when the Gamecocks face Florida on Saturday. Redshirt freshman Dakereon Joyner finished off the dramatic win at quarterback for South Carolina.

Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs (L) is congratulated by Head Coach Will Muschamp of the South Carolina Gamecocks after the game at Sanford Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)ATHENS, Ga. - Kirby Smart remembers a time he didn't feel like he could call Georgia teammate Will Muschamp a good friend. Muschamp, in his fourth season at South Carolina, is looking for a signature win to prove his program can compete with the league's top teams. 3 Georgia (5-0, 2-0) plays South Carolina (2-3, 1-2) on Saturday. South Carolina is fifth in rushing after having two backs -- Rico Dowdle and Tavien Feaster -- run for more than 100 yards in a 24-7 win over Kentucky on Sept. 28.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONSSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: UF Communications, (352) 375-4683Head Coach Will Muschamp Stepping Down at Conclusion of Regular SeasonGAINESVILLE, Fla.-University of Florida head coach Will Muschamp will step down at the conclusion of the 2014 regular season, athletics director Jeremy Foley announced on Sunday. "Upon evaluation of our football program, we are not where the program needs to be and should be," Foley said. "I've always said that our goal at the University of Florida is to compete for championships on a regular basis. Coach Muschamp was dedicated to developing young men both on and off the field. Muschamp was hired in December of 2010 and has a record of 27-20 (.574) in his four seasons as head coach.