After chants of “Fire Muschamp” filled the stadium during last weekend’s miserable on-field display by the Florida Gators, the coaching fate of Will Muschamp instantly became one of the most speculated stories in college football.

While everyone in Gator Nation seemingly called for his firing, the most important person in this situation — athletic director Jeremy Foley — remained in Muschamp’s corner, at least for the time being.

Yesterday, Foley released a statement concerning Muschamp’s job security and where the university stands in the evaluation process.

“At the beginning of the season we said we would evaluate the season as it plays out,” Foley said in a statement released by the university on Monday. “We will continue to do so. Our sole focus right now is supporting our coaching staff as they prepare for Georgia.”

What it means

It was important for Foley to speak out in this situation considering the embarrassment the football program went through on Saturday night in its 42-13 blowout loss to Missouri.

While the statement doesn’t say too much except restating the same evaluation process Foley said would give Muschamp prior to the season, the ramifications of not saying anything would be much greater. No matter how the environment would be behind the scenes, perception would certainly be much more negative. Foley’s silence would likely be taken as a confirmation of his waining support for the fourth-year head coach and it would also bring an even greater amount of unwanted drama and negative attention to Gators football.

Foley’s latest statement isn’t quite the six paragraph exhortation he gave to Gator Nation in November 2013 in defense of keeping Muschamp as head coach, but it is just as necessary in providing some sense of stability and reassurance to the Florida football fan base.

However, one can’t deny the Florida Gators are in dire straits and Foley’s statement proves that. Not only is this the third time Foley has had to defend and publicly support Muschamp, but it’s also unsettling that the school’s athletic director had to say something to keep Gator Nation somewhat satisfied.

I’m sure it’s reassuring for Muschamp and the Gators coaching staff to have Foley publicly offer his support, but frankly, there is no precedent for keeping a coach with Muschamp’s record at Florida. No matter what Foley says, things definitely don’t look favorable for the fourth-year coach.

If Muschamp is eventually fired, when would it happen?

Because Muschamp survived and kept his job this week, there are really only two viable options for the firing to come, if that is indeed what Foley decides to do.

The first opportunity would be following the Georgia game. In two weeks, Florida travels to Jacksonville, Fla., to take on its SEC East rival. Not only is this an important game every season, but it’s also the last big opponent on the Gators’ schedule until their matchup with Florida State at the end of November. If Florida somehow beats Georgia, there’s no denying it would be a big win for the program and most important for Muschamp, who has never defeated the Bulldogs while at Florida. A victory could certainly sway Foley’s decision significantly.

RELATED: Dead man walking: Will Muschamp’s time at Florida needs to end

However, a more likely scenario based off this season’s performance is a Gators’ loss. Although Foley says they’ll wait for the season to play out, his hand may be forced to make a change sooner rather than later if the game plays out similarly to how it did against Missouri. I’m not sure Foley could let the program endure another embarrassing loss and not make a change. And with how well Georgia has played recently, that’s certainly a possibility.

Beyond the UGA game, there isn’t a formidable opponent until Florida State on Nov. 29. If Muschamp indeed survives past Georgia, why would it make sense for Foley to fire Muschamp following Vanderbilt, South Carolina or Eastern Kentucky? Barring another rough stretch to end the season similar to 2013, Muschamp’s job would be safe through the end of the season if he makes it past Georgia, especially if Foley wants to avoid an interim head coach situation.

My prediction

I think if Foley wanted to fire Muschamp and wasn’t concerned about an interim coaching situation, he would have done it this week. With a bye week prior to facing Georgia, it would be optimal for the coaching change to take place now, so the team and interim head coach would have as much time as possible to adjust to the huge transition.

The only other logical time to fire Muschamp, other than at the end of the season, would be following Georgia. But barring a Missouri-like loss, I don’t see much benefit in doing so at that point, especially if Foley didn’t pull the trigger now.

The most likely scenario — and what I believe will happen — is Muschamp finishes out the season. Although Muschamp needs to go now, I believe Foley will stick to what he’s been saying all along and he will evaluate Muschamp’s work over the course of the entire season. Unless the Gators make a miraculous turnaround and finish the season on a big winning streak, the chances of Foley giving Muschamp another year seems highly improbable.

I believe Muschamp’s fate has already been sealed and this current Gators head coach will soon be known as a “former Gators head coach.”

It’s just a matter of when, not if.