Dan Mullen and Gators players won’t be showing up to SEC Media Days until Tuesday, but the SEC Network couldn’t help but discuss Florida’s upcoming season on Monday.

Former Auburn coach and current SEC Network analyst made a relatively bold claim for this fall: UF can win nine games.

“I think you can go four to nine wins,” Chizik said. “I don’t think there’s any question.”

Various oddsmakers have set Florida’s over/under win total around 7.5 games, but Chizik thinks improved quarterback play can carry Mullen’s squad to nine wins.

“I think Dan Mullen is a quarterback away from nine wins, I really believe that,” Chizik said. “I’m going to tell you something: If they can get to Starkville and take that game in Starkville and be 5-0, people in the East better watch out because this team’s got talent.”

Chizik’s prediction probably shouldn’t have Florida fans making plans for Atlanta in December. A nine-win regular season would still mean three losses, which implies multiple losses in conference play. But after last year’s 4-7 record, Gator Nation would be thrilled with nine wins.

Chizik, a Florida alumnus, also brought up a common offseason storyline, saying people close to the program have told him Mullen has changed the culture at Florida, particularly in the weight room.

“Obviously last year was a debacle. I think they picked the right guy to fix it,” Chizik said. “I’m going to tell you what: He started with his weight training in his offseason program. It was culture shock. I’ve got a lot of people down there that I communicate with and their whole culture is changing and shifting, and Dan Mullen is not coming off of that.”