Despite failing to win the SEC East, Florida is in a solid position to make a push for a New Year’s 6 bowl.

If the No. 13 Gators (7-3) can beat FCS Idaho at noon ET on Saturday and Florida State next weekend in Tallahassee, then Dan Mullen’s first season in Gainesville could end with a prestigious bowl bid. Florida may need a few teams in front of them to experience a loss over the final two weeks, but that’s certainly possible in this year’s landscape.

Mullen touched on his team’s NY6 potential, plans to play talented freshman receiver Jacob Copeland and a handful of other topics during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. You can read his full responses below.

On freshman WR Jacob Copeland:

  • He will have an opportunity to get in the game. The injury he suffered set him back, but you are asking a guy that didn’t go through spring or fall to get up to speed. We would love to get him on the field if he can learn the plays.

On Senior Day:

  • You look at how they’ve bought in, and we really appreciate that. We didn’t recruit these guys, but the buy-in speaks to them. … I can’t be more pleased with these guys. … They have really bought in and stood up for what we are trying to be and setting the foundation of the future.

On the No. 13 ranking in the CFP rankings, on New Year’s Six potential

  • That’s huge, but all we can do is take care of business the next few week. But that would be a huge honor. Outside of the Playoff, the NY6 is the next big thing.

On former WR Kyle Morgan’s passing:

  • I remember him coming here when we first got here. Any walk-on that works that hard, got on special teams, you have so much respect for guys that can do that. He didn’t have the talent of the wide receivers we had but still found a way to get on the field.

On officials making bad calls, how do you feel the SEC resolves those issues?

  • I’ve never had a bad call against us. No, being in the league a long time, since Steve Shaw took over — it’s frustrating, but I make bad calls, too. The officials do and they get criticized. When we call Steve after sending in plays, you know it’s been addressed on their end. They grade the film, they send the grades to the officials, they send out the film on the good and bad calls from the games. They are correcting the film just like we are. … I feel confident under Steve that the job is being done to the best of their ability. They are coaching the officials to get them better, just like we do the players.

The longest it’s taken you to get over a call?

  • I hold resentment to this day for some of them.B… but you have 40 seconds to get over it, and if you don’t, you are doing your team a disservice.