Gators have another mountain to climb against No. 5 Texas A&M

(Photo by Chris Spears)

Give Billy Napier and the Florida Gators an A+ for handling adversity as evidenced by the 29-21 win over Texas that not only broke a 3-game losing streak but knocked the Longhorns completely out of the Associated Press top 25 poll. Had the Gators (2-3, 1-1 SEC) lost that one, the calls for Napier’s coaching head on a platter would have sounded something close to the crowd at The Swamp in the fourth quarter of the win over the Longhorns.

Three days later, the euphoria of the Texas win is beginning to wear off. The warm and fuzzies are being replaced by the here and now of a road trip to College Station to face 5^th-ranked Texas A&M (5-0, 2-0 SEC) Saturday evening (7 p.m., ESPN). This will be Florida’s fourth consecutive game against a top ten team and the third time in the last four the Gators have faced a top five. Nobody in the country has had to deal with a schedule like this and beyond Saturday, it’s only going to get worse. Beyond the Aggies, the Gators still have games remaining with No. 10 Georgia (in Jacksonville), No. 4 Ole Miss (in Oxford) and home games with No. 12 Tennessee and No. 25 Florida State. Mississippi State and Kentucky are the only unranked teams remaining.

“Every time you’re waking up it's like you’ve got another mountain to climb,” Napier said Monday.

The Aggies are a mountain. They might just be the best team in the Southeastern Conference and when they’re at home with 108,000 or so shoehorned into Kyle Field, they are as tough to beat as any team in the country. The Gators can come close to matching the Aggies when it comes to personnel, but the Aggies have found a measure of consistency on both sides of the football, while the Gators have had their struggles.

In beating Texas, the Gators found success in all three phases of the game. The Gators played well enough defensively to beat both LSU (then No. 3) and Miami (then No. 4, now No. 2), but the offense was a no show in both games. Against Texas, the Gators racked up 457 yards and dominated time of possession by more than eight minutes. Perhaps feeding off the energy of the offense, the defense made life miserable for Arch Manning with six sacks, eight quarterback hits and 22 hurries, plus two interceptions. Special teams blocked a punt.

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway finally looked like the quarterback he was expected to be against Texas, throwing for 298 yards and two touchdowns, both to freshman wide receiver Dallas Wilson, who made his collegiate debut against the Longhorns. Wilson caught six passes for 111 yards. Jadan Baugh ran for 107 yards and a TD.

What made it all work was an offensive line that didn’t give up a sack and dominated the Texas front seven.

Napier has been saying for the last three weeks that the quarterback would play better when everyone around him played better. That’s a two-way street.

“The quarterback gets the praise when the other players play really well and we played better around the kid … and DJ played better, so it’s a combination of all of them,” Napier said.

To beat the Aggies in College Station, the Gators will have to execute in all three phases of the game once again. The Aggies are very good, but by no means invincible.

They run the ball well (195.4 yards per game), throw the ball with consistency (271.4 yards per game) and they do a good job of protecting quarterback Marcel Reed. Defensively, the Aggies give up just 289 yards per game and they have 18 sacks, but Notre Dame threw for 293 yards against them while allowing only two sacks.  

“We know what it’s going to be like, so we’re capable,” Napier said. “I think that’s the big thing. You wake up knowing that you’ve got the tools to do it. It’s just going to be who plays the best that day and that’s the reality in college football right now. You got to be ready to go each week independent of the opponent.”

SEC FOOTBALL

No. 8 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC): Speaking about Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy (730 yards) Jamal Roberts (350 yards), defensive coordinator Kane Womack said, “They’ve got two running backs that are as good as anybody we’ve seen the last year-and-a-half here.” … Linebacker Justin Jefferson was selected SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the win over Vanderbilt. Selected as SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week was center Parker Brailsford … Alabama is a 2.5-point favorite on the road at Mizzou. Saturday: at No. 14 Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC)

Arkansas (2-3, 0-1 SEC): Interim head coach Bobby Petrino is looking at the final seven games as a second chance after the way he departed the Arkansas program 13 years ago. “I felt like I had a lot of unfinished business here and I still feel that way,” Petrino told Chris Low of On3 … The Razorbacks are 11.5-point underdogs on the road in Knoxville. Saturday: at No. 12 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC)

Auburn (3-2, 0-2 SEC): Looking back on the last couple of losses in which the offense under-performed, HBC Hugh Freeze said, “When you don’t perform in a manner that gives your kids a chance to win a game like a couple of weeks ago against a really good football team, it’s sickening and disappointing.” … The Tigers are 3.5-point underdogs against Georgia. Saturday: No. 10 Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC)

Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC): The Bulldogs have made a change at corner ahead of Saturday’s game at Auburn. Daniel Harris has been replaced by Ellis Robinson IV. Additionally, Demello Jones will see more playing time at corner as Georgia tries to tighten up a pass defense that ranks 13^th in the SEC … Georgia is favored by 3.5 points over Auburn. Saturday: at Auburn (3-2, 0-2 SEC)

Kentucky (2-3, 0-3 SEC): Despite growing angst among the fan and booster base with HBC Mark Stoops, he’s safe because of a $38 million buyout … Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan is hanging by a thread.

No. 11 LSU (4-1, 1-1 SEC): Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier essentially took the bye week off to rest and get back to 100 percent for the remainder of the season … Running back and leading rusher Caden Durham, who missed the Ole Miss game with a sprained ankle, will be back against South Carolina … The Tigers are 9.5-point favorites to beat South Carolina. Saturday: South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC)

Mississippi State (4-2, 0-2 SEC): The Bulldogs have now lost 14 consecutive Southeastern Conference games. The last time they won an SEC game was against Arkansas in 2023.

No. 14 Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC): Heading into the Alabama game, Missouri ranks No. 2 in the country in total defense (203.8 yards per game) and No. 4 in total offense (547.6 yards per game) …The Tigers are 2.5-point underdogs. Saturday: No. 8 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC)

No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0 SEC): When asked if quarterback John Mateer will be able to play Saturday against Texas, HBC Brent Venables answered, “I’m assuming can’t” … Placekicker Tate Sandell, who kicked three field goals against Kent State, was selected SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week … It’s rather surprising, but the Sooners are 1.5-point underdogs to Texas. Saturday: Texas (3-2, 0-1 SEC), in Dallas

No. 4 Ole Miss (5-0, 3-0 SEC): Lane Kiffin says Austin Simmons is improving but still not 100 percent, which means Trinidad Chambliss is the likely starter against Washington State Saturday … Ole Miss is a 32.5-point favorite. Saturday: Washington State (3-2)

South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC): A home and home series with Miami for 2026 and 2027 has become a casualty of both the SEC and ACC going to 9-game conference schedules … The Gamecocks are 9.5-point underdogs. Saturday: at No. 11 LSU (4-1, 1-1 SEC)

No. 12 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC): Although the Vols are 11.5-point favorites they’re not taking Arkansas lightly. A year ago the Vols were heavy favorites, but they fell to Arkansas 19-14. Saturday: Arkansas (2-3, 0-1)

Texas (3-2, 0-1 SEC): After a disastrous game against Florida in which they allowed six sacks, eight QB hits and 22 hurries, the only sure starters on the O-line against Oklahoma are left tackle Trevor Goosby and right guard D.J. Campbell. Additionally, Steve Sarkisian has brought in Tim Drevno as an offensive line consultant … Despite their loss to Florida, the Longhorns are 1.5-point favorites in the Red River rivalry game. Saturday: No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0 SEC), in Dallas

No. 5 Texas A&M (5-0, 2-0 SEC): Linebacker Daymion Sanford was selected SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Mississippi State. Defensive end Cashius Howell was selected SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week … A couple of former Gators will be starting for the Aggie defense, linebacker Scooby Williams and defensive end T.J. Searcy …  Aggies are 7.5-point favorites. Saturday: FLORIDA (2-3, 1-1 SEC)

Vanderbilt (5-1, 1-1 SEC): In the loss to Alabama, quarterback Diego Pavia had two critical turnovers in the red zone, a fumble in the first quarter and a fourth quarter interception.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: OCTOBER 8, 2025

Extinct Species List

Brent Pye, Virginia Tech: Bud Foster and Bruce Arians are on the search committee. Do they convince Shane Beamer that mama is calling?

DeShaun Foster, UCLA: Former Florida assistant Tim Skipper is the interim and Rick Neuheisel’s kid Jerry is the interim offensive coordinator. They just teamed up to beat Penn State.

Sam Pittman, Arkansas: Bobby Petrino is the interim. He’ll need some wins to get the job. Jerry Jones wants SMU coach Rhett Lashley.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: Since T. Boone Pickens croaked one oil gozillionaire with clout hasn’t emerged. Stillwater is a long way from civilization. This isn’t going to be an easy hire.

On Life Support

Billy Napier, Florida: Will a 7-5 regular season record keep Napier gainfully employed?

Joe Moorhead, Akron: Really good assistant coach who made a dumb move by taking the Akron job. It’s a total dead end.

Bill Belichick, North Carolina: Sure, it’s year one, but this isn’t working out at all. By the second quarter in the loss against Clemson you would have thought Kenan Stadium was under Covid seating protocols. There is a very good chance the Tar Heels won’t win another game and will finish an embarrassing 2-10.

Trent Dilfer, UAB: Buzzards are circling. They love football in Birmingham and they have a beautiful 47,000 seat stadium that gets 20,000 on good Saturdays.  

Derek Mason, Middle Tennessee State: Fine defensive coordinator, lousy head coach. He lost at Vandy and is losing at MTSU. They’re paying him $1 million and folks are wondering why?

Endangered Species List

James Franklin, Penn State: This was supposed to be THE year, but the Nittany Lions have not only lost twice, but one of the losses was to UCLA. He is being encouraged to find a new job someplace else.

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin: He was supposed to be the answer, but he went 5-7 last year and will struggle to get to five this season.

Hugh Freeze, Auburn: He was hired because his teams win with exciting offenses. His offense is offensive. He needs to get to seven or eight wins.

Butch Jones, Arkansas State: Last year’s 8-5 record spoiled everyone. The Red Wolves are 2-4. A 6-6 record will calm the masses who want him gone.

Dell McGee, Georgia State: He’s 4-13 in season two. He needs some wins this year to have a season three.