Postgame Analysis: Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1) v. LSU Tigers (3-0, 1-0)

Lagway’s five interceptions and penalties take points away from a Gator team that showed up but couldn’t bring it home. 

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst, Host of The Lowdown with Loren Meadows

Florida coach Billy Napier (UAA photo)

To be honest, I always had Florida losing this game as part of what I thought would be a 9-3 campaign that would see Billy Napier eclipse his win total from 2024 and sneak Florida into the college football playoff. While Florida would fall at LSU this would be a classic duel between two of the SEC’s best quarterbacks with DJ Lagway rebounding to play his best game of the season.

Unfortunately for Florida this was not the case on Saturday where Lagway would play his worst game of his career tossing five throws to the other team two of which would be the deciding factor in a winnable game. The Gators would also have two major penalties that negated a touchdown and a huge gain that could have put Florida in position for the win.

What We Thought: The Gators were in a position in all three phases of the game to go to Baton Rouge and get the conference season started with a bang. DJ Lagway has the talent and mental toughness to take the LSU crowd out of the game and Florida would find plays in the running game to keep Florida close. Florida would also put pressure on an LSU offensive line that had surrendered eight sacks to the Florida defense and create a turnover that could be the deciding factor in a close if not classic game.

What We Got: There was never a situation that I thought DJ Lagway would be the reason that the Gators would lose any game. Last night was that game. DJ Lagway has the talent to be a phenomenal quarterback but last night the system and the play of its quarterback met in a train wreck of questionable play-calling and performance. Lagway threw five unforgiveable interceptions with two leading to the deciding points of the game. There were other missed throws as well as questionable play calls. Florida would attempt 49 passes opposed to 27 rushes with Jaden Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson combining for 17 collectively. Of the 49 passes the most glaring came at a time that Florida would get the ball tied 10-10 and set to receive the ball after the half. Instead of running the clock out and heading into half with well-earned tie, the Gators would attempt to get into field position with a two-minute drive that had no business beginning in the first place. 

Lagway would throw the first of his five interceptions on a play that was poorly called and ill-designed. On this play the Gators would run a sit-down by the tight end accompanied by an over route by the receiver to that side. While there was no vertical threat to occupy the safety to that side if Lagway gets the ball out in time the ball may have been completed instead of an interception by LSU safety AJ Halcey that would lead to an LSU field goal and the lead at half.

The accounts of that play are so inexcusable because the play occurred on a third and long where the Gators could have run the ball, punted, and gone into the half with a tie. The design of the play and its lack of options for the quarterback driving that design was not good as well. That interception broke the serve of the Gators, and it would be the result of that play and the field goal that followed that the Gators would be chasing the rest of the game.

The Skinny: This was not good and to be honest I think we are seeing the beginning of the end of the Billy Napier error at Florida. There has been a lot that I think Napier could have done better. More transparency, more fan engagement, more community, and campus outreach. Regardless of all that you are judged on what you do for twelve Saturdays in the Fall and at 20-21 that’s not going to cut it at Florida. Schematically there is a lot wrong with the Florida offense, but the biggest issue and ultimately, its Achilles heel is that it is run by the man also running the program. I get it, it is his system so who better than him to call the plays? That is the issue. Why your system, and why your plays? Is it worth staking the development of what could be a generational talent and your job security on your plays? There is so much that a head coach has to deal with during a game and it seems Napier could give up the offense and put his focus elsewhere. DJ Lagway is as much to blame for his performance last night as his coach, but did the Gators do all they could to help this young man and is his coach stunting his growth with his own ego?

The Gator defense has given up just two touchdowns in two games against ranked football teams. Ron Roberts has steadied this group and outside of two long plays that were more mental than physical the Gators have played well enough on defense to be undefeated. Unfortunately averaging 13 points per game against quality competition is not good enough and there is nowhere to go to change it except within the walls of the Heavener Center. Outside of handing “Offensive Coordinator”/Tight Ends Coach Russ Calloway the play-calling duties there is really no one on the staff to take the reins of an offense that has design flaws no matter what. A year from now what will the Gators be? Who will be behind center? Does Napier survive? Stay tuned, Miami awaits. 

Final Score: LSU 20 Florida 10 (Prediction LSU 30 Florida 17)