GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The paperwork for Jim McElwain’s departure hadn’t even been completed when Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced a motto for his coaching search: He wants the Gators to be fun again.

That surely starts with an improved offense.

The school and McElwain agreed to part ways Sunday, a day after a third straight loss and nearly a week after McElwain said his players and their families had received death threats.

Defensive coordinator Randy Shannon was named interim coach for the final four games.

Stricklin said McElwain and the university reached an agreement in principle to settle McElwain’s $12.5 million buyout, but he declined to reveal details until the deal is signed.

McElwain’s tenure will be remembered for failing to fix a floundering offense. The Gators rank 113th in total offense – in triple digits nationally for the third time in McElwain’s three seasons.

His already-strained rapport with administrators reached a new low last Monday when he said Florida players and families had received death threats. The bombshell shocked Stricklin, who had not been previously notified about a potentially harmful situation.

Stricklin met with McElwain later that day, and the coach rebuffed a request to provide more information about the threats.

AP POLL: Georgia moved up to No. 2 and took two first-place votes from top-ranked Alabama in a reshuffling of the top 10.

Every team in the top 10 except Alabama changed positions after Ohio State’s last-second win over previously No. 2 Penn State and Iowa State’s win over TCU.

Ohio State moved up three places to No. 3, Wisconsin climbed one spot to No. 4, and Notre Dame moved from 9 to 5.