Coming off a bye week, the No. 9 Texas Longhorns head to Gainesville to open SEC play against a reeling Florida Gators squad. What was anticipated to be a highly-competitive, top-25 matchup before the year
has evolved into a potential trap game for the Longhorns given the disappointing start for the Gators.
A combination of a challenging early schedule coupled with an abysmal offensive stretch has led to a 1-3 start for Florida, the program’s worst in nearly 40 years, underneath fourth-year head coach Billy Napier. The story for Florida has been a talented defense facing experienced quarterbacks while Gator quarterback DJ Lagway and the offense have averaged just 11.0 points over the last three weeks.
It was always unlikely that Florida would enter the matchup against Texas unscathed, however, dropping three of the first four games was widely unexpected. The manner of these losses was also tough to digest given the stagnant offense. After putting a 55-0 thumping on Long Island to open the year, Florida welcomed South Florida to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as 18.5-point favorites. Unfazed as an underdog, the Bulls promptly knocked off the Gators, their first win against Florida in program history.
After being shocked at home, Florida had little time to wallow, squaring off against top-five opponents in back-to-back weeks. The following week against then-No. 4 LSU, Florida dropped a defensive game, 20-10, in an ugly offensive performance where Lagway threw five (!) interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, while another set up a field goal.
Now sitting at 1–2, Florida endured another emotionally draining top-five showdown, falling 26-7 to then-No. 4 Miami. The Gators were out-gained 344 to 141, went 0-for-13 on third down, and recorded just 61 passing yards.
After the showdown against Miami, with the Florida faithful getting increasingly frustrated by on-field struggles, the Gators welcomed a bye week to regroup and get healthier as Napier fights for his job during the remaining seven games.
Napier’s tenure as head coach for the Gators has been largely disappointing. After a 40-12 record at Louisiana Lafayette that culminated with a 12-1 record and Top 25 finish, Napier accepted the job at Florida.
Napier has struggled in each of his four seasons. Tallying a 11-14 record through his first two seasons, last year appeared to turn the tide. Facing one of the most difficult schedules in the nation, Napier and Co. scratched an 8-5 record and a bowl win despite injury struggles at numerous skill positions.
So far, the 2025 has reversed that momentum as the hot waters around Napier heated to new levels heading into the bye week.
Offense
With offensive struggles and injuries, no person needed the break more, or has greater potential to right the ship, than Lagway.
The former consensus five-star prospect has struggled in four games and was seen in a walking boot after being stepped on against Miami. The injury and subsequent boot have been called precautionary by Napier but represent an emerging theme from Lagway’s career: an inability to stay healthy.
When operating at full capacity, Lagway is an elite talent. Lagway is naturally athletic and possesses dual threat abilities, something that hasn’t been showcased given his battles with injuries. Despite altering his game, Lagway remains capable of leading an offense with his arm. He possesses raw arm talent and is capable of throwing an accurate deep ball.
This year, Lagway has gotten off to a slow start. With a majority of the offseason spent recovering from core muscle surgery, his performance has looked rusty. He’s completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 690 yards with five touchdowns against six interceptions. He’s been unable to connect on many deep balls, a staple of the end of the season run, completing just 1-of-7 passes 20-plus yards downfield.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian commented on Lagway, saying, “the competitor and the talent is still in there, and so we better be mindful, and better be ready to get the best version of DJ Lagway.”
Averaging 123.0 rush yards per game, Florida ranks 107th in the nation while an average rush of 3.94 yards slots at 98th, two poor ratings that have only hurt the struggling quarterback.
The Florida ground attack is lead by sophomore Jadan Baugh, who receives a clear majority of the carries and has made the most of his opportunities, recording 289 yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts. His average of 5.90 yards per carry is worth noting.
Baugh runs with power at 231 pounds while possessing top-end speed and elusiveness to create missed tackles. He is the cow bell back with many calling for Napier to supply Baugh with more touches. If teams are forced to respect the pass, Baugh will punish defenses on the ground.
Behind Baugh, the options are limited. Senior Ja’Kobi Jackson has experience and speed, but isn’t a particular threat. The smaller back rushed for 509 yards and seven scores a year ago. This season, Jackson has run the ball for just 98 yards.
Lagway is also a threat in the run game depending on his health. With strong athleticism and a robust build, he can pick up yards on the ground on quarterback runs or while improvising.
A year after losing their top two wide receivers, one of whom was drafted, freshman Vernell Brown III has emerged as the leading target. A consensus five-star recruit, Brown has needed no time to acclimate to college ball. Through four games, he has recorded 18 catches for 219 yards, including a highlight-reel grab in the season opener.
The most experienced wide receiver is Eugene Wilson III, who is used heavily in the screen game. He’s a reliable target with 15 catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Lagway has struggled to connect with touted transfer J. Michael Sturdivant. After spending time at Cal and UCLA, Sturdivant seemed poise to become the next talented receiving threat at Florida. Instead, he’s been unable to mesh with Lagway.
Sturdivant has managed just eight catches on 19 targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in his short time as a Gator. The disappearance of Sturdivant is largely tied to the lack of deep balls from Lagway. Sturdivant has made his name on downfield shots with nearly 27 percent of his targets being 20-plus yards.
Highly-touted freshman receiver Dallas Wilson, also an expected deep threat, will be making his season debut on Saturday, a potential player to monitor in the vertical passing game.
Aiding in the pass game are tight ends junior Hayden Hansen and Tony Livingstone. Hansen has made a noticeable jump as a pass-catching threat — he is having a career year just four games into the season. His 15 catches matches his total from last season, as does having a touchdown reception. The savvy veteran has turned himself into a strong blocker and capable pass catcher.
Up front, the Gator offensive line has struggled despite high expectations with four returning starters. The group has allowed nine sacks and negated two different touchdowns via penalty en route to 10 total penalties. Not to mention, the ground game has been mediocre.
Center Jack Slaughter is a returning All-American and the leader of the group. His 20th national rating by Pro Football Focus has been a disappointment given his previous accolades.
On either side of Slaughter is a wealth of talent and experience. Right guard Damieon George Jr. is a three-year starter, as is left tackle Austin Barber. Right guard Bryce Lovett has experience, while left guard Knijeah Harris is starting for his second consecutive season. This unit has little room for excuses. The lack of consistent pass protection or holes in the ground game is baffling, not to mention the frequent flags.
Overall, the Florida offense possesses the talent to compete against team, but has failed to do so. Whether early season miscues, tough opponents, or the result of a struggling quarterback, this unit hasn’t figured out how to reliably move the ball.
Defense
Through four games, the Florida defense has been stellar. Ranking 28th in the nation, the unit gives up just 16 points per game. They’ve been particularly stiff in the red zone, allowing just four touchdowns on 10 total red-zone trips — the red-zone touchdown rate of 40 percent is tied for 14th nationally .
The defensive line has been one group that came into the season with high expectations and has been hit hard by injuries. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks is out indefinitely while defensive tackle Michai Boireau missed the last two contests. Banks is a particularly tough player to lose up front — his 53 pressures since 2023 led all returning Power Four interior linemen.
With two key cogs missing time in the middle, the onus has been thrust upon the shoulders of young players. Sophomore Brendan Bett is one of these players and has had a tumultuous year. Bett has stepped up tremendously while also costing Florida with a spitting penalty, yes spitting, against South Florida. The 6’5, 308-pound tackle has recorded 17 tackles, good for second on the team. He left the game early against Miami as a result of a leg injury.
Senior Brien Taylor Jr. is another tackle up front that has been productive for the Gators, securing nine tackles in four games after recording just 14 all of last season.
Moving outside, the defensive line remains thin.
Edge rusher L.J McCray broke his foot in Week 2 while George Gumbs Jr missed the game against Miami. Both were expected to be key contributors on the edge.
Despite these injuries, Florida still has one of the best edge defenders in the nation. Highly-touted senior Tyreak Sapp was ninth in the country last year with a 90.4 grade from Pro Football Focus and is tied for the team lead in sacks, a bright spot among the entire line.
“Sapp is a heck of a player, and had a great year last year. They can force a quarterback to hold the ball, and then that’s where the pressure can get there. And so you know, the key to the drill is we got to maintain the line of scrimmage,” Sarkisian said.
Sapp plays strong side end and will line up across multiple gaps on either side. He had a phenomenal season a year ago, posting 46 tackles, 26 pressures, 13 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Quite frankly, he is a problem.
Taking after his uncle, Warren Sapp, Tyreak has a unique combination of speed and strength. His size allows him to take on all types of linemen and double teams while his speed gives him the ability to win against anyone.
Expect Sarkisian and the Texas coaching staff to scheme around Sapp up front with a combination of double teams, chips, and quick passes. The Longhorn tight end room will need to be particularly sharp as blockers in both the run game and pass protection, otherwise Sapp will quickly derail Texas drives.
At the linebacker position, the story is the same. Returning starter Grayson Howard missed time during spring and fall camp with injury. He was not active during the season opener and has been used sparsely this season.
His absence has allowed sophomore Myles Graham and junior Jaden Robinson to take over the middle of the field. Graham has been a tackling machine, recording 13 solo and 24 total. The 6’1, 228-pound backer can hit. He provides the toughness that a middle linebacker needs.
Next to him, Robinson has blossomed into a solid partner in crime. Robinson saw extended action towards the end of last year with the expectation that he would make a jump in the offseason. It’s fair to say that he’s become a reliable force next to Graham. Robinson has 14 tackles and forced a fumble this year.
Because of the two-deep structure of the Florida defense under coordinator Ron Roberts, the linebackers are a key component.
“It starts with Ron Roberts, They play together really well. They’ve got a very stout defensive front that allows them to play a lot of split safety defense. Coordinating that front with the back end puts a lot of pressure on the two linebackers. Their ability to play the run and the pass is probably what makes them special,” Sarkisian said on Wednesday.
The backend of the Gator defense is an area that needed improvement from last year. After finishing 11th in the SEC in pass yards and 101st nationally in explosive pass plays, reviving the secondary was a must.
So far things, have trended in the right direction. Florida ranks 32nd in the nation in pass yards per game at just under 175 yards per contest while an average of 4.5 passes defended per game slots in at 50th. Not elite, but a noticeable improvement.
The entire secondary unit is led by junior safety Jordan Castell. After leading the team in tackles as a freshman, Castell followed up his first campaign by finishing last season as the team leader in defensive snaps and pass break ups.
This past offseason, Castell focused on bulking up and mentoring younger players. Now playing at 215 pounds, he still possesses the speed necessary to stick his head in the box or play over the top. He’s responsible for ensuring big plays don’t happen while serving as an additional tackler in run support. He does it all for the Florida defense.
Joining Castell at safety is junior Bryce Thornton. Thornton returns as the team leader in interception from a year and has defended three passes and recovered two fumbles this season.
The cornerback group received unfortunate news this past week as starting corner Dijon Johnson announced he will be having season-ending knee surgery after being injured against Miami. Losing Johnson is a huge blow to the group.
The spotlight now shines brighter on sophomore Cormani McClain. The former no. 1-ranked corner in the class of 2023 has had a winding road to Gainesville. After a chaotic first year at Colorado that featured off-the-field issues and poor tackling, McClain accepted a preferred walk-on invitation from Florida. He redshirted last year amidst more off-the-field inconsistencies, but made a noticeable change in behavior this offseason and has seen his on-field success grow early in 2025.
McClain is über athletic. His physical attributes have never been the issue. Perhaps at the guidance of Castell or other players, he’s refocused on football, a choice that benefits everyone, particularly with the injury to Johnson.
This decision resulted in McClain earning his first career start in Week 3 against LSU.
“I’m proud of Cormani,” Napier said after the LSU game. “Cormani had some discipline issues when he first got here and those have faded away. He’s still growing and maturing. His attitude is where it needs to be, and he’s got the right mindset. So I’m proud of him.”
McClain built off that performance by being the highest-rated Florida defender against Miami with a grade of 84.9, according to Pro Football Focus. This season, he’s allowed just three receptions for 23 yards.
The other corner is senior Devin Moore, a sneaky corner and team captain. At 6’3, 199 pounds, Moore uses his length extremely well. He’s athletic and makes plays on the ball.
The secondary unit has been salty against two respected quarterbacks. The knee injury to Johnson hurts, but the athleticism from this group remains strong.
As a whole, the defense has looked strong from Florida. Limiting opponents in nearly every game, the group has thrived despite offensive woes and numerous turnovers.
Special teams
Florida kicker Trey Smack returns as one of the most talented kickers in the country. He has great leg strength and accuracy. Last season, he made 18-of-21 field goal attempts with a long of 55 yards. This year, he struggled in Week 1 with three misses. After those three misses, he’s been perfect, including a 56-yarder. He’s 6-of-9 on the year.
Former Michigan punter Tommy Doman handles punting duties in his first year as a Gator. He was an All-Big Ten third-team selection last year.
In the return game, previously mentioned freshman superstar Vernell Brown III is dangerous. Quick and elusive, he is 11th in the country with an average punt return of 18.3 yards. He also handles kick returns, though Florida prefers to utilize the fair catch.
Florida enters this matchup with its back firmly against the wall. The bye week gives the Gators time to rest and regroup, but it also gave them an extended stretch to sit with the frustration of their disappointing season. If Texas allows Florida to hang around in Gainesville, feeding off home energy and desperation, it becomes a much more dangerous game than the records suggest. If the Longhorns come out sharp and disciplined, they have the opportunity to set the tone and force Florida to quit well before the game is over.
