Could the first game of the season result in a top 10 team going down? The answer to that question likely rests on Dan Mullen’s ability to make some halftime adjustments.

Dan Mullen’s offense hasn’t gotten off to the start Gator fans hoped for to start the season and the Florida coach touched on that following the first half of the team’s season opener against Miami.

While the Gators have arguably outplayed the Hurricanes in the first half, two Florida turnovers have been the difference in the game — both lost fumbles, Miami heads into the halftime break up 13-7.

When asked to share his thoughts on the first half and why his team was heading into the break being down, Mullen immediately pointed to his team’s turnovers.

“Dropping the ball — They didn’t even create them, we just threw it to them twice, once in the red zone,” Mullen said. “Way too many missed tackles on defense, guys have just got to wrap up and tackle better.”

The Gators have only 144 total yards on offense and 40 rushing yards against the Hurricanes — 66 of those yards came one Kadarius Toney’s first-quarter touchdown catch and run that came after Miami blew several tackles on the play.

While Feleipe Franks has completed seven of his nine attempts, he only has 104 passing yards and has played a part in two turnovers, including one that came in the red zone following an impressive drive that looked destined to finish in the end zone.

When asked what his team needs to do in the second half, the Florida coach said his team just has to play cleaner.

“We just have to play sharper, there’s just little things like putting the ball on the ground, little mental mistakes,” he continued. “We just have to be a little cleaner, we are playing well at times but not clean at others. We have to play harder and execute cleaner.”