It’s amazing the difference a little bit of offense makes in Gainesville, Fla.

Just a few weeks after repeatedly being written off as a rebuilding project and an SEC also-ran, the Gators are back – back in the media spotlight, back in the playoff discussion and back atop the SEC East.

What brought Florida back to football prominence? The team’s defense remains strong, as it was throughouth the tenure of Will Muschamp. But it’s the functioning offense, thanks to the oversight of head coach Jim McElwain and play-calling of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, that has brought change to the team’s overall strength.

Statistically, UF is far from an offensive powerhouse, currently ranked No. 75 in total offense among FBS teams.

In the SEC, Florida is distinctly in the middle of the pack. The Gators are the No. 9 offense in total yards (1,971) through Week 5. In passing yards, Florida comes in at No. 6 with 1,268. UF sits at No. 7 in points, averaging 34.4.

But when one considers that the previous head coach told his quarterback on some possessions that the goal for the offense was to punt and pin the opponent deep, it doesn’t take much to make the new coach look like a miracle worker, and turn heads in the process.

Last year, the Gators were dead last in the SEC in passing offense, averaging only 137.1 passing yards in eight conference games. This year, even with a meager 125-yard passing performance against Kentucky on Sept. 19, QB Will Grier is already averaging 226.3 passing yards per game in three SEC contests.

The UF running game, No. 12 in the SEC at 703 yards, still could use a boost, but the offense looks to be committed to a balanced attack. Before falling behind to Tennessee, the Gators were getting a solid performance on the ground from RB Kelvin Taylor (19 carries, 102 yards). Taylor was unable to break off a long run against Ole Miss, but he finished the game with 27 carries and 83 yards. Florida’s box score shows 34 runs and 29 passes against Mississippi, Nussmeier’s most balanced distribution in three conference games.

As the Rebels were recently reminded, the Gators also have a talented, experienced defense. In previous years, Florida’s fate – regardless of the opponent – rested on how many points the defense would give up. The pressure was on the defense every series to keep any and all points off the board because the offense could not be trusted to answer.

The new McElwain-Nussmeier offense, with one fourth-quarter comeback already, looks to be potent enough to allow the defense to breathe and play with less pressure. If the Gators’ current offensive rankings hold, or even get better, there’s no telling how far the combination of an excellent defense and a functioning offense can take them.