For me, it boils down to...
- Too many bad decisions by CDM (not kicking FG on first drive and/or the play they called on 4th after electing to go for it, play selection on all those 2nd half 3-and-outs, and play selection on last series of 1H that KT fumbled - to name a few)
- Too many missed/bad throws by KT (let's be honest, he missed a few that counted that he should've made, and that Pick6 was ugly)
- Too much horrible blocking by OL (they certainly didn't help much tonight)
- Typical embarrassing display by the entire defensive unit (if you take out the 10 KT gave away, they still gave up 27, and that says nothing of 3rd down or redzone)
- Typical horrible defensive coaching/preparedness
- Bad luck/decisions (2nd INT, missed FG, shoe throw)
- Laziness and entitlement (1st half looked about like the level of interest we had back in the UGA or MO '17 days, it was embarrassing)
Worst of all for me was Mullen's hubris at that halftime questioning. He's a decent to good - not a great - coach (which he unfortunately proved tonight). But he sure acted like he was Saban or Spurrier the way he arrogantly replied to the questions insinuating he was doing everything right, and KT was the only problem out on the field, with no recognition at all that there may also be other issues (to say the least, maybe his own preparation and motivational techniques). That certainly left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
Most of all this unfortunately just makes me more apathetic about ever having serious title hopes in the near future. We're not on the right track. Can you imagine a Spurrier/Urban team losing to an unranked opponent with a losing record at home with national title implications on the line? Dan is so far below either of them, and I fear way too stubborn and arrogant to ever seriously modify his logic to achieve better outcomes.