Florida parted ways with embattled coach Jim McElwain, athletic director Scott Stricklin announced Sunday.
McElwain’s job status was already tenuous prior to the Gators’ 42-7 loss to No. 3 Georgia on Saturday, but the beat-down from one of the school’s fiercest rivals sped up the process of ending McElwain’s tenure.
Defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, the head coach at Miami from 2007-10, will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season. The Gators are 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference.
Florida’s statement said the university is in the process of “negotiating terms of separation.” McElwain’s buyout is approximately $12.76 million.
McElwain led Florida to the SEC title game each of his first two seasons before this year’s campaign unraveled badly. He was 22-12 with the Gators.
Shannon, 51, has made his mark as a defensive coordinator during a coaching career dating back to 1991. He went 28-22 during his stint as Miami’s coach.
–The top two teams in the nation reside in the SEC.
Georgia moved up one spot to No. 2 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll after its blowout win over Florida, combined with Penn State’s loss to Ohio State. The Bulldogs received two first-place votes, while conference rival Alabama received the other 59 to remain atop the poll. The Crimson Tide were idle Saturday.
Ohio State moved up to No. 3 after rallying to a 39-38 victory over Penn State. The Nittany Lions fell to No. 7.
Wisconsin moved up one spot to No. 4 to make it three Big Ten teams among the top seven. Notre Dame jumped up four positions to No. 5, while Clemson moved up one spot to No. 6.
–Wake Forest receiver Greg Dortch will miss the rest of the season after having emergency abdominal surgery on Saturday night, the school announced.
Dortch, a redshirt freshman, set a school record with four touchdowns catches in a 42-32 victory over Louisville on Saturday afternoon.
He was helped off the field by trainers after diving and landing on the pylon for his second touchdown of the game, but school officials aren’t sure when Dortch was hurt.
Dortch matched his career high of 10 receptions and established a personal best of 167 yards in the victory. He finishes the campaign with 53 receptions for 722 yards and nine touchdowns.