Was Miami that good or were the Gators that bad two weeks ago? (Photo by Chris Spears) Think back three weeks if you will, back to August 31 when the Florida Gators faced 19th-ranked Miami in the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. From the opening whistle until the very end, Miami dominated the game both offensively and defensively for a decisive 41-17 loss, the worst home opening loss for UF in school history. That game begs the question was Miami that good or were the Gators that bad?   Since routing the Gators, Miami has climbed to 10th nationally. Judging by the schedule, it might take a monumental upset for the Hurricanes to lose a regular season game. They’re only two games into the season, but they have the look of a complete team, plus they have a quarterback in Cam Ward who just might become Miami’s first Heisman winner since Gino Torreta in 1991, which was pretty much awarded for lifetime achievement. Make no mistake about it, however, Cam Ward can do things that Gino Torreta could do only in his dreams.   Based on two games, Miami looks like a lock to win the ACC, make the College Football Playoff and perhaps even win a couple of games. The Hurricanes give the appearance of a complete team whose only chance to be derailed in the regular season is a rash of injuries.   The Gators bounced back from the Miami debacle with a much-expected rout of an overmatched Samford team from the D1AA Southern Conference, not exactly the greatest of measuring sticks. So the jury is still out although the Samford win did offer rays of light that will grow much, much brighter if the Gators (1-1) are able to score a Southeastern Conference win over Texas A&M at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday (3:30 p.m., ABC).   It is early in the season with plenty of football to be played, but Saturday’s game has a must win feel to it for both the Gators and the Aggies. Both teams began their season with disappointing losses and both rebounded with easy wins in paycheck games against teams from D1AA conferences. Because it’s an SEC game the winner will still have much to prove but will have leapt over a major hurdle. For the loser, the season won’t be over, but a very deep hole will have been dug which will have the fan base questioning the possibility of a winning season.   The oddsmakers have established the Aggies as a 4-point favorite even though they have lost 10 consecutive road games dating all the way back to the 2021 season. Obviously, the people in Las Vegas were more impressed with A&M’s loss to Notre Dame in its season opener than Florida’s loss to Miami even though Miami seems to be a much stronger and more capable team than Notre Dame.   On the same day the Gators were hosed by Miami, then 20th-ranked Texas A&M played host to then 7th-ranked Notre Dame in College Station. The crowd of 107,315 shoehorned into Kyle Field saw a game that could have cured insomnia. Notre Dame outgained the Aggies, 356-246, and walked away with a 23-13 win. Immediately, Notre Dame was elevated to the ranks of serious national championship contender because of an “elite” defense, which reflected in the next poll with a No. 5 ranking.   Then came Northern Illinois with an 8-inch hat pin to burst the Notre Dame bubble. The Huskies were in South Bend for a paycheck, but they walked away with a 16-14 win, not because Notre Dame took them lightly but because they exposed the Irish. That offense that struggled to move the ball against Texas A&M was even worse against Northern Illinois. The Irish gained only 288 yards and their offensive line could neither pass protect nor knock the Huskies off the ball in the run game.   On the other side of the ball, that Notre Dame defense that so easily locked down the Aggies was dominated. The Irish couldn’t stop the run and they couldn’t affect the passer. Northern Illinois pounded the ball between the tackles making that so-called elite Notre Dame defense look very, very average.     The game was in South Bend so there was no excuse for Notre Dame, whose loss calls into account the win over Texas A&M. Was this a case of a bad day at the office by Notre Dame or even worse by Texas A&M?   It is impossible to judge the Aggies based on their 52-10 bounce back win over McNeese State last Saturday night. The Aggies ran the ball for 333 yards and quarterback Conner Weigman, who was 12-30 passing for 100 yards against Notre Dame with zero TDs and two picks, looked very sharp. But, it was a home game against an overmatched opponent.   Florida had a similar turnaround against Samford. Although starting senior quarterback Graham Mertz missed the game on concussion protocol, the Gators didn’t miss a beat with freshman DJ Lagway at the controls. All Lagway did was set the Florida freshman record with 456 passing yards, more impressively completing nine passes that went for 20 or more yards, five that covered at least 40. A year ago in a 12-game schedule, the Gators managed only five plays in the passing game that went for at least 40 yards.   Florida’s defense, much maligned by Miami and Cam Ward, rebounded by holding Samford to a single TD and just 205 offensive yards. Again, it was a home game against an inferior opponent. Against Notre Dame did the A&M offensive line simply have a rotten day or are the Aggies not nearly as strong as hyped in the preseason?   As for the A&M defense, it has to get ready for a two-quarterback attack provided Mertz is cleared to play. Mertz will get the start, but Lagway is going to play. How much is unclear although Napier seemed to indicate Monday that his prize freshman will have a prominent role. Mertz is the savvy veteran with 44 career starts. He completed 72.9 percent of his passes a year ago while averaging more than eight yards per attempt, clear indicators that he can be very effective.   Lagway? He’s the wild card. No one expects him to have the kind of game against the Aggies that he had against Samford, but he showed off a power arm with laser-like accuracy and he’s much more mobile than Mertz.   Can two quarterbacks give the Gators an edge? Can the Gators move the football consistently and put it into the end zone against an A&M defense that is certainly better than the one they racked up 632 yards against last week? On the other side of the ball can the Gators stuff the A&M run and harass Weigman into a bad day throwing the ball the way Notre Dame did?   We hear so often that teams make the greatest progress working out the kinks between weeks one and two. If we go by scores alone, Florida had the most problems to correct after the week one loss, but once again, is that because Miami was that good or Florida was that bad? And how much progress did the Gators by their dominant win over Samford?   Nearly the same questions can be asked of the Aggies? Were they inept against Notre Dame or simply having a case of the first game blues? Were they able to resolve their issues last week then take them out on McNeese State?   Whatever the answers might be to these questions, either Texas A&M or Florida is going to win Saturday afternoon. The winner will get a much-needed injection of optimism that a good season is still attainable. The loser will be forced to endure the sharp knives of a fan base and media that will go full doom and gloom mode.   This game is critical both for Texas A&M and the Florida Gators. Both Napier and Texas A&M coach Mike Elko would agree to that, but both would tell you that every SEC game is critical and this one is no different.   But it is different. It’s different because when the final whistle blows Saturday we will finally have a realistic opinion of what to expect the rest of the way.

DJ Lagway throws for a freshman record 456 yards and three touchdowns in first collegiate start. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com , Football Analyst After a disappointing loss to in-state rival Miami a week ago, there was very little for the Gators to be excited about going into Week 2 against Samford. The Gators looked unprepared, unenthused and physically outmatched against Miami and the days that followed did nothing to build a case for Coach Billy Napier and his football program. What did excite fans was that freshman phenom DJ Lagway, the 2023 National Gatorade Player of the Year, would be making his first start for the Gators against Samford. Starting quarterback Graham Mertz spent the days after the Miami game in concussion-protocol so Lagway was the assumed starter taking most of the first-team reps in preparation for Samford. Despite some of the backlash from comments made by his head coach, Lagway’s play gave Florida fans something to be excited about as the Gators looked for their first win since a road win at South Carolina on October 14, 2023. Despite Samford’s less than stellar resume’ The Swamp had a buzz due to premier of the Lagway Experience.   Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (GatorBait photo) What We Thought: The last time the Samford Bulldogs visited The Swamp they scored 52 points and amassed 530 total yards. They did so by using a number of different formations and taking advantage of a Florida defense struggling to communicate. Sound familiar? Samford quarterback Quincy Crittenden would present a similar challenge as Miami’s Cam Ward and if the Florida defense didn’t find a way to pass notes between one another it could be another tough day against a lesser opponent. On offense, freshman DJ Lagway would start for the Gators in place of the injured Mertz. Sources had spoken highly of Lagway’s improvement from spring practice to fall camp, but spoke about interceptions and errant throws that caused many to question how the offense would perform in his first collegiate start. The offense would score enough to win but how would it look?   What We Got: This is college football and regardless of the opponent anyone who can throw for 465 yards and three touchdowns in a debut is worthy of the highest praise. DJ Lagway was as good as advertised completing 18 passes to eight different receivers to throw for a freshman record leading the Gators to a 45-7 win over Samford. Lagway showed great pocket presence, arm strength and overall poise as he was able to get the Gators into the right formations and go through what Lagway termed as his “rules” on several plays where the resulting completion was clearly not his first read. Most impressive may have been his willingness for self-preservation, sliding on several scrambles or going out of bounds when many young players continue to press leads to turnovers or injury. Defensively, the Gators played with more energy and looked to be a more in sync as a unit. Samford’s Quincy Crittenden was slippery early, evading the grasp of a couple of near sacks. The Gators would settle in and right the ship surrendering only one drive of 30 yards or more on one possession after half time. The Florida secondary, aided by four sacks, held Crittenden to just 144 yards on 22 completions. A vast improvement from the Miami game where they surrendered over 300 through the air.  The Swamp after a win (GatorBait photo)   The Skinny: Now for the truth. The Gators were the better team on Saturday. Samford however is not a great football team. In consecutive weeks they have given up over 1000 yards of total offense and over 80 points. What the Gators can hang their hat on is that they have found their quarterback of the future and the fuse that may ignite a return to prominence. DJ Lagway carries himself like a polished veteran. Always poised, never boastful, honoring God first, and his teammates equally. Lagway excited the crowd with deep throws along with throws that moved the sticks and kept the offense moving. Unfortunately it was Samford and not a Power 4 opponent. Fortunately, in this day and age, beggars cannot be choosers. After the game, Napier gave very little notice that Lagway’s performance would lead to any type of quarterback controversy and Graham Mertz has done little to warrant his removal based on his play or that of Lagway. There will be the call by others that will feel differently. Which leads to the question, with Texas A&M coming to town Saturday afternoon, how will the Gators navigate another week of possible distractions centered around who will be at the controls of the Florida offense? In the Miami game, the Florida coaching staff did very little to help Mertz and the offense suffered for it. Against Samford the staff seemed to have learned from its mistakes and found a way to help Lagway be successful. Will the third time be a charm for Mertz? Will the boo birds return if the game plan returns to its pedestrian, head-scratching ways? The Gators are still week-to-week and a win against Samford does very little to indicate long-term success. Lagway gave us a look into the future — and for the Gators, that future didn’t look too bad.    Final Score : Florida 45 Samford 7 (Prediction-Florida 30 Samford 14)

We have seen the future of UF football and his name is DJ Lagway . DJ Lagway (2) calls for the snap against the Samford defense (Photo by Chris Spears) Never mind that it was Samford, here in town to take a beating in exchange for a $525,000 paycheck that will help keep the lights on for the athletic department back home in Birmingham. Samford came to Gainesville expecting to take a beating and the Florida Gators obliged with a convincing win that won’t budge the college football Richter Scale. Just the same, two very important things happened at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday night where an announced crowd of 89,295 watched the Gators even their record at 1-1 by clubbing the visiting Bulldogs, 45-7.   First of all, the win ended a 6-game losing streak that stretches back to the last Saturday of 2023 when Georgia took a tire iron to a promising season. In between Georgia and last week’s 41-17 hosing at the hands of Miami, the Gators snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on three different occasions. To lose to Samford would have required the Gators going totally in the tank, but this was a Saturday when 28.5-point underdog Northern Illinois knocked off 5th-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend and 19.5-point road dog South Carolina made Kentucky look like a lost ball in the tall grass. Florida was a 38.5-point favorite to crush Samford and the Gators did their part, in some way restoring some confidence to a program that seemed to be teetering on the verge of collapse the way they played against Miami.   Second, and equally important, the Gators were able to offer a glimpse of the future by unleashing freshman quarterback DJ Lagway on the visiting Bulldogs. Making his first collegiate start in place of senior Graham Mertz , who missed the game as part of concussion protocol, Lagway sent a jolt of electricity through the crowd by throwing for 456 yards and three touchdowns. Of Lagway’s 18 completions, nine were good for 20 or more yards with six going for at least 30 yards. A year ago, the Gators managed only 14 pass plays of 30 or more yards and five of 40 or more. Against Samford, Lagway had completions of 85 yards to Tre Wilson , 77 to Elijah Badger, 41 Aidan Wilson, 40 to Elijhah Badger and 36 to Tank Hawkins.   With Southeastern Conference play starting next Saturday when Texas A&M comes to Gainesville , the Gators needed more than just an expected win over a paycheck team. The Gators needed to play well offensively, defensively and on special teams. The offense cranked out 632 yards and six touchdowns. The defense held Samford to 205 yards and 3.014 yards per play. The kicking game was practically flawless.   The performance was quite a contrast to last week’s Miami debacle when the Gators played like bottom feeders. They needed a good performance to help calm the nerves of a fan base that spent a doom and gloom week contemplating the worst. Equally important, the Gators needed to play like a team that can play competitive football. Sure, the opponent was overmatched, but Samford didn’t just roll over. The Gators had to extend themselves.     While Lagway ignited the offense by completing passes with laser-like precision, the defense put so much pressure on Samford’s water bug quick quarterback that there were only a couple of times in the entire game that he had time to throw the ball downfield. He was running for life while George Gumbs, Tyreak Sapp, LJ McCray and others chased him. The result, Samford’s running game netted 61 yards on 35 carries (1.74 per carry) while the passing attack managed only 144 yards on 33 attempts (4.36 per pass attempt). The Gators forced three fumbles, recovered one and while there were no interceptions, there were five pass breakups. The effort was relentless. It was quite a contrast from the Miami game.   “This group of players is very disappointed with how they performed in week one, and it's personal to them,” Napier said. “I think that they're on a mission to prove that all this work that they've been doing, and that was not who they want to be. I think it's been a tough week in that regard.”   What salvaged the tough week was Lagway , who played like a seasoned veteran, not like a kid whose last starting assignment was in high school back in Willis, Texas. While showing the world that he has a to die for arm capable of making every throw in the book, Lagway showed poise in the pocket. There were no happy feet, no standing like a statue in the pocket. He moved around, found his passing lane and patiently waited for receivers to run their routes.   Lagway did all the things you expect a veteran quarterback to do, which might have something to do with the guy he replaced in the starting lineup. Just because Mertz couldn’t practice last week or play in the game Saturday while waiting for doctors to give him clearance doesn't mean he wasn't heavily involved. He couldn't play so Mertz spent the week helping to coach up the kid who is next in line to take his job.     “Graham is the best thing that could ever happen to me,” Lagway said. “Him being here, just learning from a veteran player himself, it's been amazing to learn and to see how to do things right. He's a true professional, and that's what I want to be when I get older.”   Mertz is also the ideal teammate. He’s all about the team which has everything to do with his leadership qualities that endear him to coaches and teammates alike. It is his team, but he has opened the door for Lagway to be a vital contributor this year while apprenticing to be the starter in 2025.   Mertz will be cleared to play next week. It will rank among the upsets of the century if he isn’t the starter against the Aggies next Saturday, but that doesn’t mean Lagway will be relegated to the bench. Napier has it in his plans to use both quarterbacks, perhaps the same way Urban Meyer used both Chris Leak and Tim Tebow in 2006. Leak was the senior starter who threw passes that didn’t wobble. Tebow was the change of pace. His throws often looked like wounded ducks but they got there and he could do things with his feet that Leak never could.   It worked out well enough that the Gators went 13-1, won both the SEC and national championships and prepped Tebow to take over as the starter in 2007. While no one figures the Gators won’t lose again or win a championship, 11 games remain on the schedule and a 2-headed monster at quarterback will force opposing defensive coordinators to devote valuable practice time readying for two quarterbacks who pose completely different threats.   The Twitterverse and message boards are already filling up with demands to start Lagway . The only way that will happen is injury to Mertz or if Mertz can’t seem to get the team to respond.   Mertz is the present. Lagway is the future and because the future is so bright with him as the quarterback, it almost assures us that Napier will be the head coach in 2025. Lagway could have signed with anyone out of high school but he chose Napier and Florida . He believes in his coach, believes in the Gators and truly believes he can lead the Gators back to playing championship level football.   If Billy Napier is the head coach in 2025, rest assured that DJ Lagway will be Florida’s starting quarterback. If Napier is sent packing, bet the ranch that Lagway will be the starting QB somewhere other than the University of Florida in 2025 and beyond. That would be intolerable.   To avoid any such happening, it is up to the higher ups in the Florida athletic department to get so solidly behind Napier that Lagway never once considers moving on to a new school, not even if some school with boatloads of money backs up a Brinks truck filled with NIL cash to his front door. Florida must be prepared to match or exceed because this guy is special. We saw the future of Florida football Saturday night. His name is DJ Lagway .   This is one that Florida cannot allow to get away.   SEC FOOTBALL SCORES FLORIDA (1-1) 45, Samford (0-2) 7 No. 1 Georgia (2-0) 48, Tennessee Tech (0-2) 3 No. 3 Texas (2-0) 31, No. 10 Michigan (1-1) 12 No. 4 Alabama (2-0) 42, South Florida (1-1) 16 No. 6 Ole Miss (2-0) 52, Middle Tennessee (1-1) 3 No. 9 Missouri (2-0) 38, Buffalo (1-1) 0 No. 14 Tennessee (2-0) 51, No. 24 North Carolina State (1-1) 10 No. 15 Oklahoma (2-0) 16, Houston (0-2) 12 No. 16 Oklahoma State (2-0) 39, Arkansas (1-1) 31, 2 OT No. 18 LSU (1-1) 44, Nicholls (0-2) 21 South Carolina (2-0) 31, Kentucky (1-1) 6 Vanderbilt (2-0) 55, Alcorn State (0-2) 0 Texas A&M (1-1) 52, McNeese (1-2) 10 California (2-0) 21, Auburn (1-1) 14 Arizona State (2-0) 30, Mississippi State (1-1) 23   SEC NEXT SATURDAY Texas A&M (1-1) at FLORIDA (1-1) No. 1 Georgia (2-0) at Kentucky (1-1) UT-San Antonio (1-1) at No. 3 Texas (2-0) No. 4 Alabama (2-0) at Wisconsin (2-0) No. 6 Ole Miss (2-0) at Wake Forest (1-1) Boston College (2-0) at No. 9 Missouri (2-0) Kent State (0-2) at No. 14 Tennessee Tulane (1-1) at No. 15 Oklahoma No. 18 LSU (1-1) at South Carolina (2-0) Vanderbilt (2-0) at Georgia State (1-1) UAB (1-1) at Arkansas (1-1) New Mexico (0-2) at Auburn (1-1) Toledo (2-0) at Mississippi State (1-1)

Staff Report | Gator Bait Media Gainesville, Fla. – Florida Gators wide receiver Kahleil Jackson has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season after suffering a season-ending ACL injury. The news, first reported by On3’s Keith Niebuhr, was confirmed by Jackson himself through an Instagram post following his surgery last Friday. Jackson, a redshirt sophomore, earned a spot on the team after transitioning from quarterback to wide receiver. Hailing from Hawthorne High School, just outside of Gainesville, Jackson joined the Florida Gators as a walk-on and later earned a scholarship. His efforts culminated in 21 catches for 251 yards and one touchdown during the 2023 season. Injury Report: Florida Gators Graham Mertz (QB) | Concussion Out Ja'Quavion Fraziars (WR) | Lower-body Out Andy Jean (WR) | Upper-body Out Kahleil Jackson (WR) | ACL (Season-ending) Out Jamari Lyons (DL) Ankle (Season-ending) Out Joey Slackman (DL) | Undisclosed Out Devin Moore (CB) | Shoulder Out Sharif Denson (STAR) | Undisclosed Out Bryce Thornton (S) | Undisclosed Out Asa Turner (S) | Undisclosed Out Despite not being listed on the team's depth chart for this season, Jackson was expected to play a significant role, particularly after demonstrating his potential as a deep threat for Gators quarterback Graham Mertz last year. In the Gators' 2024 season opener against Miami, Jackson hauled in one pass for 13 yards, contributing to the team's offensive efforts before the unfortunate injury. Ahead of this season, Jackson spoke about his growth and development within the program, highlighting his dedication to the Florida Gators. 'I bought into the program. I did the work and made sure to go the extra mile, whether it was studying the playbook or focusing on my conditioning,' he said earlier this year. Jackson's injury not only impacts the Gators' depth at wide receiver but also halts the on-field presence of a Gators family legacy. He is the son of former Florida Gators wide receiver Willie Jackson Jr., the nephew of former Gators running back Terry Jackson, and the grandson of former wide receiver Willie Jackson Sr. All three of the Jackson men wore the No. 22 jersey, a tradition that Kahleil Jackson continued. Head coach Billy Napier emphasized the importance of family connections like Jackson's during fall camp. 'You see it with kids like Kahleil—there's a deep understanding of our program’s history and what it means to be a Gator,' Napier noted. 'He’s been a part of this culture his whole life.' In Jackson's absence, the Florida Gators will turn to Arizona State transfer Elijhah Badger and Marcus Burke to help fill the void at wide receiver. Badger, who was listed as a co-starter alongside Jackson, recorded three receptions for 43 yards in his debut against Miami. Napier praised Badger's performance, stating that the transfer has shown steady improvement and confidence since his arrival. 'He’s really settled in after that first game, and I think we’ll see even more from him moving forward,' Napier said. The Gators look to continue their 2024 campaign with a home game against FCS opponent Samford, scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m.

Will Scott Stricklin stand up to the boosters and stick with Billy Napier? (Photo by Chris Spears) by: Franz Beard l www.gatorbaitnedia.com One week, one bad performance by the Florida Gators and theories abound about the future of head coach Billy Napier. There are 11 games remaining on Florida’s 2024 schedule, but nobody seems to be taking Scott Stricklin seriously. Just a week ago on the Paul Finebaum Show, the Florida athletic director said he expects Napier to be the head coach at Florida for a long time.   That was before the Gators were made to look like some directional school playing for a paycheck by the Miami Hurricanes, a blowout loss made worse by the fact it was played at The Swamp. In the days since, it has been pointed out hundreds of times that Napier has now lost as many home games (5) in 26 games on the job than Steve Spurrier lost in 12 years.   Stricklin spoke with such confidence on the Finebaum Show but he had to be disappointed by what he saw on the field. Disappointed enough that he’s changed his mind? Disappointed enough that he’s trying to figure out at what point does he make the decision to keep Napier or let him go?   When and if Stricklin makes the decision – whether it’s to keep Napier or to write the first installment of a $26 million buyout – it won’t be simply about the wins and losses. Sure, that factors heavily into matters but can Florida afford the buyout of Napier and his assistants not to mention the buyout of the next coach and the staff he intends to bring? Napier's buyout alone is a huge proposition but that doesn’t include the assistants. A new coach will require a hefty long term contract, probably a buyout and assistant coaches will demand raises to leave their current job for UF. If Napier is fired, figure it’s going to cost Florida $50 million at a bare minimum.   Another thing that will factor into matters – availability. Already there are scores of Gator fans demanding Florida backs up a Brinks Truck to Lane Kiffin’s home in Oxford to make a Godfather offer. It's difficult to imagine Lane leaving since Ole Miss has a real shot to make a deep run into the College Football Playoff. This isn’t like a coach opting out of a bowl game. You don’t abandon your team when it’s going to the Playoffs. So many of the coaches Florida would want will have their teams in contention for the playoffs so that might change the equation for Stricklin. He hired Mullen from Mississippi State and Napier from Louisiana. Another coach from the likes of Mississippi State or the Sun Belt Conference is out of the question. So who and from where?   These aren't the only factors that will have to be considered, but they're a good place to begin. Here are five theories out there, any one of which could prove true over the long haul.   THEORY NO. 1 It starts with a line drawn in the dirt in which Scott Stricklin, with the backing of the UAA Board of Trustees, says the revolving door of coaches has to stop. Now. Napier is the fourth head coach since 2010, the sixth since Steve Spurrier retired. If Stricklin has the backing to stick with Napier it means at least one more year has been given to complete the foundation of a Florida football program that once carried the championship standard of the entire Southeastern Conference.   This will also mean going to the big boosters who write the largest checks and one-by-one convincing them that this is the right thing to do, that to fire Napier now would mean starting all over again, not to mention coming up with so many millions in hard cash for buyouts of Napier and staff and those of a new coach. Firing a coach isn't cheap. Hiring a good coach requires up front money, long term contracts and another buyout clause.   Would Stricklin be able to convince Napier that patience is wearing so thin that if he wants to remain gainfully employed he will have to make a few modifications? Unlimited coaching staffs are on the horizon so would Napier be convinced to give up being his own offensive coordinator and play caller?   Because recruiting could get very wobbly in the next week or two with all the rumors flying around that Napier won’t last the season, Stricklin is going to have to forcefully make it known that Billy Napier is going nowhere anytime soon. There is no time to waste and Stricklin won't be able to offer what will be conceived as a rather weak vote of confidence. It will have to be a no doubter that lets the world and recruits know that Billy Napier isn' t going anywhere. He will be Florida’s head football coach in 2025.   THEORY NO. 2 When DJ Lagway makes his first collegiate start against Samford Saturday he looks like the second coming of either Tim Tebow or Cam Newton. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast and he's capable of making every throw in the book. On paper, Samford doesn’t have a chance if Lagway lives up to the hype. If he plays lights out, everybody in the whole wide world, especially recruits who might be sitting on the fence, will see that DJ Lagway is the future of Florida football.   An administrative decision is made that no matter what happens this season, Florida can’t afford to lose DJ Lagway. To force Billy Napier to squeeze by on a $26 million buyout is cruel and unusual, not to mention his departure could also convince DJ to bolt to say … Ole Miss or Georgia? Both of them have senior quarterbacks. Both of them have plenty of NIL money. Both of them would love to stick it to the Gators and send them to depths unseen since 1979.   So, the decision is made that Lagway is too talented to lose and it’s worth giving Billy Napier another year to put the Florida football program in order. This might include giving Napier a set of terms to abide by, including the aforementioned offensive coordinator and bringing in an offensive line coach whose dudes eat raw steak for breakfast.   THEORY NO. 3 The decision is made at the upper levels to do a wait and see how things work out the rest of the season. While there is a faction of boosters supportive of Stricklin who wants Napier to have the time to build the program, there is also a strong faction of boosters who have concluded that it's time to start all over again.   The decision is made that firing during the season is not a good thing, particularly since the last three head coaches have been fired while the season is in progress. Even with the extra time to find the right fit who can re-energize Florida football, the Gators have yet to hire a coach who has shown the ability to sustain success. So, the choice is made to let Napier coach and see what happens. Perhaps he gets the Gators on a good enough roll that it convinces the disgruntled boosters that there are better years ahead. Would 6-6 do it? A 7-5 record seems a sure thing but 7-5 with that schedule? What if it’s 5-7 and all the losses are white knucklers, so close that everyone including the unhappy boosters believe the corner is on the verge of being turned? What are the odds that can be done?   Perhaps the road is rocky and firing is inevitable. Wait and see will give the big bucks boosters time to raise the buyout money, plus go back channel to contact Jimmy Sexton and Trace Armstrong, the two super agents who can give them a who’s who of coaches willing to make a switch and those who are happy where they are.   This scenario requires a lot of patience and a roll of the dice. For example, what if the boosters go all-out, have the money they need and a replacement coach all set and ready to go but then Napier shocks the world by going 4-0 in the month of November? What if Napier is at five wins going into Georgia and the boosters hold off, then the Gators do a total collapse to finish with a fourth consecutive losing record? Not only that, the boosters lose out on the coach they had lined up because he wasn’t willing to wait things out. Complicated? You betcha.   THEORY NO. 4 Ben Sasse is no longer Florida’s president. In his place is interim Kent Fuchs, who hired both athletic director Scott Stricklin and Napier back when he was the head honcho in charge of all things UF. As soon as the Board of Regents come up with a suitable replacement to run the show out of Tigert Hall, Fuchs will slither back into retirement and a new president will take over.   Fuchs could send both his AD and head coach packing now, which would please a certain element among the fan base, but probably wouldn’t bode well with the next boss who won’t want to be saddled with someone else’s hires. Fuchs would have to give his new AD and head coach multi-year contracts, which almost certainly would put the new prez at a disadvantage. So, unless the Regents know who they’re going to hire and the new guy collaborates with Fuchs to both fire and hire new people, both Stricklin and Napier will remain in place for at least the 2025 season under this scenario.   This would give both Stricklin and Napier time to decide if it’s worth salvaging their careers at Florida or if they want to live the good life on a beach somewhere spending their buyout bucks. Also, they would have time to plot their next moves. Scott Stricklin has had success as an athletic director, can envision what needs to be done in the future and knows how to go about raising the money it will take to put the vision in place. He won't be unemployed long. Napier didn’t forget how to coach, just wound up in a place where his way of doing things didn’t exactly work out. He probably can forget the SEC, but does things the right way without cutting corners. Someone will find that attractive.   THEORY NO. 5 Think of this as the worst case scenario. The Gators knock off Samford as they should but next week the Aggies come to town. Given some hope by Lagway and a win over Samford that breaks a six-game losing streak, the fans fill The Swamp to the rafters and the joint is rocking from the moment foot hits football.   From the very first series, however, fans get the impression that this is going to be one of those whoever has the ball last wins type of games. The Gators play well enough to win but on the final series, the defense does what the defense has done for two years and can’t keep the Aggies out of the end zone. Despite scoring enough points to win, the Gators lose.   Within hours, well-heeled boosters give Stricklin, Fuchs and the Regents an ultimatum that it’s time for a change. With the ultimatum comes proof of funds that buyout money is in place as well as enough NIL money to keep DJ Lagway from transferring out at the end of the year. That move also allows a new coaching search committee to move ahead seamlessly since the salary money for Napier and staff has already been covered. Other theories are going to explode on the horizon, particularly if the Gators struggle against Samford or come back to whomp Texas A&M. Buckle up. It's only week two and it is only beginning to get interesting.

Freshman DJ Lagway gets the start, while Florida looks to put an end to its defensive woes. Samford Offense Key Players-#2 QB Quincy Crittenden (5-11 ,200, Jr.), #22 RB Micah Kelly (5-9, 209, Gr.), #12 Brendan Jenkins (6-1, 200, So.) #15 Iaan Cousin (5-11, 170, Gr.), #3 WR E. Jai Mason (6-1, 205, Sr.)   Matchups To Watch: Florida Secondary vs. Samford WR Trio, Florida Defensive Line vs. Quincy Crittenden   The Florida Gators have to play better on defense. Quarterback Quincy Crittenden is elusive and can present similar problems for the Florida defense that Cam ward did a week ago. Crittenden battled injuries for Samford in 2023 but in 2022 led them to the FCS national quarterfinals. Crittenden led the team in both rushing and passing in the Week 1 loss to West Georgia accounting for 307 yards passing and 90 on the ground with two touchdowns. Crittenden completed 24 passes to 10 different receivers last week for two touchdowns. Reigning Southern Conference Freshman of the Year Brendan Jenkins led the Samford pass catchers with four catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Transfer receivers Iaan Cousin (Kennesaw State) and E. Jai Mason (N.W. Mississippi C.C.) also had solid days combining for eight catches for 120 yards. After Crittenden, Toledo transfer and Pascagoula, Mississippi native Micah Kelly was the lead back rushing for 42 yards on 10 carries.    Samford moved the ball well at times against West Georgia and led by three going into the final quarter. In many ways they had far more to be positive about on offense than the Gators. On paper the Florida defense is far superior to West Georgia, unfortunately what the Gators have shown on defense under Billy Napier has left much to be desired. Florida will have to account for Crittenden’s ability to extend plays on passing downs where they have struggled in the past. If Florida is unable to get pressure and Samford is able to keep the sticks moving, Florida could find itself struggling to get a lesser opponent off the field. Should Florida find a way to get pressure and live in the Samford backfield, there is not much in the way of a rushing attack past the quarterback.  DJ Lagway will make his first start vs. Samford (Chris Spears photo)   Samford Defense Key Players-#32 LB Noah Martin (6-2, 232, Gr.), #33 LB Jaden Mosley (6-2, 208, Jr.), #29 S C.J Douglas (5-10, 195, So.), #24 S Edwin Dearmon (5-11, 200, Gr.)   Matchups to Watch: Florida Offense v. Florida Schematic Issues and Execution, Florida Offensive Line v. Samford Front Seven   Noah Martin is one of the Southern Conference’s and was selected as an FCS Preseason All-American. With 11 tackles against West Georgia Martin has recorded 41 tackles in his last three games. Fellow linebacker Jaden Mosley also recorded double digit tackles last week (10) as well as a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. In the secondary safeties C.J Douglas and Edwin Dearmon have good size and are willing tacklers combining for 14 tackles against West Georgia.   Samford surrendered 212 yards to West Georgia and 271 through the air. That should give a Florida offensive unit that found tough sledding against a Miami defense a little confidence going into Saturday. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on who you ask freshman DJ Lagway will be making his first start of his college career against Samford. While Lagway is most definitely the Gators future he will be at the helm of an offensive attack that presently has issues in every part of its existence. Napier and his offensive staff will have to find a way to get the running game going early against a vulnerable defensive front and allow Lagway to ease himself into his first college start. Martin will be looking to get after the Florida running backs and continue his streak of double-digit stops. Will Florida allow Lagway to let it fly or keep the passing game vanilla for a second week?    The Skinny: Last week it was who knows? This week, we are about to find out. What will the story of this game be around 11pm Saturday night? Florida has spent the week talking about the embarrassment of the Miami loss, trying to support one another, and hopefully fixing some of the issues that plague this team because there is no way to fix it all in a week. In all honesty a win will do very little to restore faith in the “processes” that Billy Napier spoke so highly of earlier this year. A sub-par performance however would bring more doubters into the fold. The Florida Gators have very little room for error but plenty for improvement. A win at home will at least make a visit from the Aggies eight days from now worth a conversation. For Napier’s sake I hope it’s a big one.   Prediction: Florida 30 Samford 14 Florida Head Coach Billy Napier (Chris Spears photo)

I’m not of the mind to pull the ripcord on Billy -- yet the ball is in his court and something has to change, fast. If it even can.   Pardon me for taking 24 hours off to digest it all and redecorate my basement here in rural Central Florida. Incidentally, if you took the time to research Florida Gator football, you’d realize that much of the Gators’ heritage was built and sustained by those rural Florida folks — most likely in mancaves or dens, not basements. We could start with Frostproof’s Ben Hill Griffin and beyond. But that’s for another day.   Billy Napier left himself wide open for a gut punch. And Paul Finebaum took it: “He’s lost more games in two seasons and one game in the Swamp than Steve Spurrier lost in 12 years. And he is going after his own fan base? Those folks who go to Walmart and buy Gator jerseys and beg and plead for tickets to his games. I mean, that is one of the most inexcusable shots I have ever seen.   “I don’t live in Florida, but I was there over the weekend at that game. They don’t have basements in Florida. It’s too close to the water. So, Billy, know your geography, my friend.”   This is where I’d love to jump up and say something insightful about Napier’s really good qualities, but in these past two-plus years I’ve never had the opportunity to get to know him. Never talked with him on the phone or exchanged emails. Sometimes I’m not even able to get in a question at a press conference. So I gave up trying. (I got people who do my heavy lifting.) I realize he is a very busy man and has big responsibilities. And I’m not all that important in the scheme of things.  Just sayin’.   I’m not of the mind to pull the ripcord on Billy -- yet the ball is in his court and something has to change, fast. If it even can. However, my people out here in Basement USA are hurting and asking me questions in record numbers that I can’t answer.   “I can’t imagine what it’s like,” Urban Meyer said to me the other day, remembering his time in Gainesville before and after winning two national championships. “If we lost ONE GAME it was miserable.”   When he spoke to the Ocala Quarterback Club Wednesday night, Chris Doering asked that any of his critical comments not be repeated or posted online, saying that while he was disappointed there wasn't more change, he wasn't ready to call for Napier's firing. "It looks like that 7-8 win season we hoped for now isn't going to happen now," said Doering. Just before Doering went on, Napier issued an apology, saying his basement comment "was a poor choice of words."   There’s enough grief, heartache, shock, bewilderment and misery to go around — and then there’s Samford. Samford? We’re worried about Stinkin’ Samford? Yep, we’re worried about Stinkin’ Samford?   As for the aftermath of the beatdown by Miami — did that really happen, or was that just a nightmare? — somehow, we’ve got to leave it in the rear-view mirror. So I took a beat to try and do that despite You Tube audiences that have been 5 and 6 times larger than normal on The Buddy Martin Show.   For me it was almost PTSD. It was like a flashback to surveying the damage of Hurricane Charley in 2004 in downtown Punta Gorda. “What just happened? What hit us? Oh my God, this place looks like a war zone! What do we do?” A lot of people walking around with a dazed look.   Meanwhile. I’d like to be able to share some unflattering critical things that some people fairly high up in the pecking order told me. But I won’t throw them under the bus.   So I decided to seek a few other opinions. And I will delay my responses for a bit.   OTHER VOICES   “The coach is terrible and they suck,” wrote one of my famous friends who isn’t a Florida fan but is well known as a football expert. “They are a terrible football team.”   “He’s done,” said a  former All-American.   Danny Sheridan, professional handicapper As I pointed out the week before the UM game & in my speech 8/29 to the Florida Gator Touchdown Club: That the ONLY thing that UM was missing was a QB & that signing Cam Ward was their answer to a 10-2 or 9-3 UM season and challenging FSU & Clemson for the ACC Title, saying Clemson & FSU's problems (both with a lot of talent like UM) were simply: the. QB position. In 2023 I told the FGTC, UF would win 5 games. This year I predicted (& hope I'm wrong) that UF would win 4-5 games max & if 6, Napier would be my choice for coach of the year, with that schedule, which I wrote in my Worst 20 CFB Teams article I sent you (UF ranked #20 due to their schedule). there are no easy games on the schedule but Samford & @ Ms State.  UCF & KY are very capable of beating UF. Then factor in UF's last 5 opponents who were 59-9 last year! BRUTAL ! UF's preseason schedule is the hardest I've seen since I began handicapping CFB games professionally some 40 years ago ! If a change is made at season's end, some very lucky coach will greatly benefit from Napier's recruiting, just like Mullen did from McElwain's recruits. the top SEC head coaches were very saddened when Mullen was fired, as his arrogant butt couldn't & didn't recruit.  Same thing with Mike Shula, which took Saban 3 years to correct (playing or starting 10-12 freshman per year) ...no matter what, I'd give BN another year, as he's no Saban (who did it in 3 years) & if BN can't do it in year 4, then he should be gone.     GatorBaitMedia.com Intern Jack Moore Noah “Miami out played us, out coached us.” Since January, Head Coach Billy Napier had been relaying the message to Gator fans and the college football world that Florida Football was establishing their identity this offseason. With the transfer portal and impatience of fanbases, taking over a program is no easy task, but the offseason was exciting. The general college football world only talked about the schedule when talking about Florida football. Very few were talking about the actual coaches, players, and team, other than Billy Napier. He reiterated all offseason how the culture and identity of this team has shifted. After Saturday’s performance, how can anyone believe that? The schedule is what it is. It's tough. No one is arguing that. What Gator Fans wanted to see was the team go out there and compete. Forget the result, Florida looked hopeless in their home opener against Miami. In state rivalry, sold out Swamp, and Miami dominated in every single aspect of the game, outside of special teams. Florida generated no pass pressure, the offensive line got beat up the entire game, and the energy wasn’t even there. Outside of Graham Mertz firing up the crowd after a first down run, there was hardly any buzz from the Florida sideline. Miami was having fun, finishing runs, and flying around on defense. At no point did it look like Florida belonged to be on the same field as Miami. Which is why Napier said this in his opening statement for the post-game press conference: “Miami out played us, out coached us”. Overall, a disappointing start to the season for the Florida Gators. It’s going to take strong leaders from both the coaching staff and players to turn things around.   John McLeod, Ocala   Last text from me this year lol. I really want Napier to turn things around but after Sat I just have my doubts. My comment to you is Lane Kiffin my first choice. Last time, even a possibility after that, Jed Fisch/ Urban, again/ or even Kerwin. For some reason nobody wants to give Kerwin a chance. I think he would be awesome. Still hoping for Billy but being realistic.

Center Jake Slaughter ( 66) was one of the few O-line bright spots for the Gators against Miami (Photo by Chris Spears) A few thoughts to jump start your Wednesday morning: “Football is blocking and tackling. Everything else is mythology.” – Vince Lombardi   Against Miami, the big guys in the trenches didn’t get the job done. Other than left tackle Austin Barber and center Jake Slaughter, Florida’s offensive line had a day to forget. Over on the defensive side of the ball, the linemen neither stuffed the run nor put any pressure on Miami QB Cam Ward.   Fingers can be pointed in a lot of directions when it comes to Florida’s 41-17 loss to the now 12th-ranked Hurricanes, but the place to start is up front where games are won and lost in the Southeastern Conference. Miami isn’t an SEC foe, but the Hurricanes played like one on both sides of the line of scrimmage.   Barber, who graded out at 73.2 percent overall, was at the Heavener Center along with most of his offensive line teammates Sunday studying film, trying to figure out what went wrong.   “This is the most guys I've seen in the building wanting to get better,” Barber said Monday.  “Coming in, watching the film, learn from what we did wrong, look at what we did right, take the things into next week. I think there's a lot of guys here that care and want to win. I just saw so many guys, the passion. It's not what we wanted, but we have to get better and move forward.”   Barber and Slaughter will definitely be in the starting lineup when the Gators play Samford Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN+) but the rest of the O-line could see a shakeup. It’s highly unlikely that Kamryn Waites will start given his 0.0 grade on pass blocking against The U. He could be replaced by Devon Manuel or Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson. Right guard Damien George Jr. graded well as a pass blocker but struggled on running plays. Left guard Knijeah Harris graded poorly both in pass and run blocking. Bryce Lovett and Roderick Kearney could start or at least get plenty of reps Saturday as the Gators try to solve the O-line puzzle prior to SEC play starting in two weeks against the Aggies.   On the D-line, nobody graded well as a pass rusher (UF only sacked Ward one time), but Joey Slackman and Dez Watson graded above 70 percent overall. Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks were both below 61 percent. Tyreak Sapp graded 76 percent off the edge including 68 percent as a pass rusher.   If the Gators are unable to block Samford and get pressure on the Samford QB, then we know not only is there a huge problem but likely it will be a very long season.   Associated Press top 25: 1. Georgia 1-0; 2. Ohio State 1-0; 3. Texas 1-0; 4. Alabama 1-0; 5. Notre Dame 1-0; 6. Ole Miss 1-0; 7. Oregon 1-0; 8. Penn State 1-0; 9. Missouri 1-0; 10. Michigan 1-0; 11. Utah 1-0; 12. Miami. 1-0; 13. Southern California; 14. Tennessee 1-0; 15. Oklahoma 1-0; 17. Kansas State 1-0; 18. LSU 0-1; 19. Kansas 1-0; 20. Arizona 1-0; 21. Iowa 1-0; 22. Louisville 1-0; 23. Georgia Tech 2-0; 24. North Carolina State 1-0; 25. Clemson 0-1   AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Georgia 1-0; 2. Ohio State 1-0; 3. Texas 1-0; 4. Alabama 1-0; 5. Ole Miss 1-0; 6. Oregon 1-0; 8. Notre Dame 1-0; 9. Michigan 1-0; 10. Missouri 1-0; 11. Utah 1-0; 12. Tennessee 1-0; 13. Oklahoma 1-0; 14. Southern California 1-0; 15. Miami 1-0; 16. Kansas State 1-0; 17. Oklahoma State 1-0; 18. Arizona 1-0; 19. LSU 0-; 20. Kansas 1-0; 21. Iowa 1-0; 22. Clemson 0-1; 23. North Carolina State 1-0; 24. Louisville; 25. Washington 1-0   THIS WEEK’S PLAYOFF PREDICTOR SEC Contenders: Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri Pretenders: Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU   Everybody thinks Georgia can win it all but the Bulldogs have to go to Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss. Texas has the fastest team in the country and a quarterback in Quinn Ewers who knows how to win on the road in tough places (Alabama). Just because Nick Saban retired doesn’t mean Alabama is going anywhere anytime soon. Kalen DeBoer is 105-12 in his coaching career and he has a stud QB in Jalen Milroe. Lane Kiffin finally has a defense to go with perhaps the most offensive talent in the country. QB Jaxson Dart can throw to the best collection of wide receiver talent in the country. Alabama’s off the schedule and the Rebels get Georgia in Oxford. Missouri has the easiest schedule in the SEC and firepower to score on anyone with QB Brady Cook throwing to outstanding wide receivers led by Luther Buren III.   Prediction: Five SEC teams make the playoff prompting screams of outrage from the Big Ten and ACC.     BIG TEN Contenders: Ohio State, Penn State, Southern California, Oregon Pretenders: Michigan, Iowa, Washington, Nebraska   Ohio State may have the most talent of any team in the country. Everybody talks about the offense but the Buckeyes have the studs on defense, particularly nose tackle Tyliek Williams. He’s scary good. Penn State has the defense and a schedule that screams 10 wins as long as Drew Allar remembers to throw the ball to people wearing the same color shirt he’s wearing. Southern Cal QB Miller Moss might end up the Big Ten Player of the Year. This is supposed to be a rebuilding year, but Lincoln Riley has a better team, not better individuals.   Prediction: Ohio State wins the league. Penn State and Southern Cal make the playoff while Oregon disappoints by losing three games, failing to make the playoff.   BIG 12 Contenders: Utah, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State, Arizona Pretenders: West Virginia, Iowa State, Texas Tech, UCF   With the ACC looking so weak, the Big 12 is looking like a 2-big league. Utah, because of quarterback Cam Rising and a typical Kyle Whittingham defense that gets after people should get one of the bids. Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman is in his seventh year of college football while playing for his third team, but if he can avoid big mistakes while letting running back Ollie Gordon carry the offense, the Cowboys should be very good. Kansas has the best quarterback you’ve never heard of in Jalon Daniels. K-State is going to grind people into a pulp with the running game and it’s everybody out for a pass at Arizona.   Prediction: Utah wins the league title while Lance Leipold guides Kansas into the playoff as the second team from the Big 12.   ACC Contenders: Miami, Louisville, SMU, Clemson Pretenders: North Carolina State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech   Miami asserted itself as the team to beat the way the Hurricanes turned the Gators into their personal whipping boys. The Hurricanes have the QB in Cam Ward and enormous talent on both lines of scrimmage. The only tough game remaining on the schedule is at Louisville next month. Louisville has a world class defense and a QB in Tyler Shough who is prone to completing passes to the other team. The Cardinals play Notre Dame, SMU, Miami and Clemson. Clemson’s offense is way too erratic but the defense gets after people. SMU has the QB in Preston Stone, one of the best tight ends in the country in RJ Maryland and a defense that puts enormous pressure on quarterbacks.   Prediction: Miami finally wins the ACC, SMU pulls a shocker and makes the playoff as an at-large. Only two bids for the ACC.   MOUNTAIN WEST Contenders: UNLV, Boise State, Fresno State Pretenders: Air Force, San Diego State, San Jose State   Barry Odom is going to use this season to get an HBC job in a power conference. UNLV can win with defense while the offense catches up. Boise State has the offense and the league’s best running back in Ashton Jearton, but a rotten defense that will get torched Saturday by Oregon. Fresno State could have beaten Michigan in the Big House. If Jeff Tedford can find a running game, the Bulldogs could win the league.   Prediction: UNLV wins 10 games but can’t crack the playoff.   AMERICAN Contenders: Memphis, Tulane, UT-San Antonio Pretenders: East Carolina, South Florida, Army   Memphis has an unstoppable pass-catch combo in QB Seth Henigan and WR Roc Taylor. The Tigers will score points, but can they stop anybody. If they beat FSU in Tallahassee Saturday, they’re for real. Tulane lost its coach to Houston but Joe Sumrall brought the Troy offensive scheme with him and the Green Wave won’t miss a beat, especially with the league’s best offensive line. UTSA will go as far as QB Owen McCown and running backs Kevorian Barnes and Robert Henry will take them.   Prediction: Memphis wins the league and gets an at-large bid to the playoff.   SUN BELT Contenders: Appalachian State, James Madison, Texas State Pretenders: Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Marshall   Appalachian State has the league’s best player in QB Joey Aguilar, the best wide receiver in Kaedin Robinson and the best offensive line. The Happy Appys could beat Clemson Saturday. James Madison lost its coach, quarterback and a slew of good players, but the Dukes have a future star in QB Alonza Barnett III. Former James Madison QB Jordan McCloud has found a new home at Texas State where he can rely on running back Ismail Mahdi and WR Joey Hobert to put a lot of points on the scoreboard.   Prediction: Appalachian State wins the league and gets a good bowl game.   MAC Contenders:  Toledo, Northern Illinois Pretenders: Miami, Bowling Green, Central Michigan   Miami probably has the best team in the league, but opens the season consecutively with Northwestern (13-6 loss), Cincinnati and Notre Dame. The Red Hawks can win the league with three non-conference losses but can’t get in the playoff. Toledo has the best pass-catch combo in Florida kids Tucker Gleason (Tampa, QB) and Jerjuan Newton (St. Petersburg, WR) and only one paycheck game. Northern Illinois has the best running back you’ve never heard of in Antario Brown. The Huskies have two paycheck games. If anyone can crack the top 25 it’s Toledo.     Prediction: Miami wins the league. No playoff.   CONFERENCE USA Contenders: Liberty Pretenders: Everybody else in the league   In Kaidon Salter, Jamey Chadwell has a quarterback probably 90 percent of the teams in Division I would kill to have running their offense. If the Flames are to win the conference and finish the highest ranked Group of Five team, then Salter has to play lights out, stay healthy and get the ball in the hands of Quinton Cooley on a regular basis.   INDEPENDENTS Contender: Notre Dame   If the Irish can’t win 11 games with their pansy schedule then Marcus Freeman needs to be sent packing. Notre Dame has the defense and if QB Riley Leonard can stay healthy they have the triggerman to score enough points to win every game. Ten wins will get the Irish in the playoff, but they should win 11 and they have a very good chance to run the table.   Prediction: Notre Dame runs the table.   ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Isn’t it interesting that after an offseason of threats and lawsuits against the Atlantic Coast Conference, both Florida State and Clemson are looking like spoiled brats who have been ordered to bend over and hold their ankles while 15 of their fraternity brothers line up to smack them with one-inch thick oak paddle?   Florida State is 0-2, having lost both games to teams it was favored to win by 10 or more points. Clemson is 0-1 after a 34-3 bludgeoning by Georgia. Dabo is fortunate that Kirby Smart was intent on getting as many players in the game as possible, otherwise it could have been much, much worse.   FSU and Clemson seem to believe that if they can simply extricate themselves from the clutches of the ACC that they will be welcomed with open arms to either the Southeastern Conference or Big Ten. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth and the way their seasons have begun, their already no way and no how chances of moving on up have settled with the single cell life forms on the bottom of the ocean.   Nice try, though. Did someone say, “Thank you sir! May I have another?”

Freshman QB DJ Lagway gets ready to take a snap in Florida's loss to Miami (Photo by Chris Spears) One day after practice years ago with the media gathered around him, then Florida coach Urban Meyer said it only took a few minutes watching film and he could determine the weak spot of any team. “It’s a team game and it takes all 11 guys working together,” Meyer said. “The film doesn’t lie. You can’t hide once the ball is snapped.”   Wednesday evening at the Heavener Center, when answering a question about his offensive line, Billy Napier replied, “Whoever had a great team without a good offensive line? Whoever had a really good offensive unit without a great offensive line? And the film is who we are at this point. No matter how much work we've done since the first day of the offseason until now, we went out there and we put that on tape. Okay, so, that's who we are.”   Yes, that is exactly who the Gators are right now, a team that has talent and speed at the skill positions but lacks the ability to move defenders out of the way. Other than Montrell Johnson Jr.’s 71-yard run the Gators rarely executed well on running plays. It was rare when Graham Mertz had time to set up, look the field over and then deliver the ball to an open receiver. Ultimately, the Miami pass rush got to Mertz, knocking him out of the game with a concussion in the fourth quarter.   The concussion is why true freshman DJ Lagway is expected to be the starter at quarterback Saturday against Samford (7 p.m., ESPN+/SEC Network+).     “Graham did not practice today,” Napier said. “He is farther into the [concussion] protocol and he's doing better, but he's hasn't quite passed the final test. He's doing better, but he's not quite there yet. So, as of now, DJ will start the game and then Clay (Millen) and Aidan (Warner) will be the backups.” When Mertz went down against Miami, Lagway came on to complete 3-6 passes (1 interception) for 31 yards while running four times for 20. Lagway led the Gators on a 9-play, 58-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.   No matter who starts at quarterback, Florida’s offensive line has to play much, much better starting Saturday. Against Miami, the offensive line played poorly, but let’s be honest here. Other than Florida’s special teams, there wasn’t even one unit that played well consistently against the Hurricanes.   Was that an omen of things to come in the next 11 games or simply a bad first outing against a talented, motivated team that played with a chip on its shoulder?   Since the O-line had visibly the worst game of any Florida unit against Miami it’s fair to make that the first place to start when asking what has been going on starting Monday to make the necessary corrections?   “I see the guys like Jake Slaughter stand up and say that will never happen again,” Napier said. “That's what I see, and I see coaches accepting the challenge as well. I think that, ultimately, those guys understand that if we're going to have a football team, a quality football team, it's always going to start up front.”   It always starts up front. You don’t win more college football games than you lose without a good quarterback who can avoid mistakes and knows where to go with the football, but even the most talented quarterbacks don’t function well if they aren’t protected by an outstanding line.   When the O-line couldn’t handle Miami’s pressure and physicality, the entire offense broke down. Once again, is this a correctable issue?   “There's only one way to fix that and it's to put good tape together one week at a time moving forward,” Napier said. “So, I think they're itching to get back out there because they're embarrassed. You get criticized and I think we're in it together, you know? I think that group, we all understand there's only one way to fix it and we've got work to do in order to do that.”   Although there are certainly exceptions, Napier is a real believe that you play like you practice. Good practice weeks typically lead to playing well on Saturdays. Leading up to Miami, the Gators had some good practice days but they had other days that lacked the intensity and focus Napier wanted to see.   Perhaps there is a sense of urgency after the egg the Gators laid against Miami, but this week the practices have been much better, much more consistent.   “I think there were parts of practice [last week] that could have been better, just to be totally transparent, and I think we pointed that out,” Napier said. “And I would tell you we've had weeks where we've been sluggish and played great. We've had weeks where we've had great weeks that we've been a little bit not as good as we would like. I think the key is that we see improvement on the film. We see individual players improving, communication, fundamentals and then flat-out execution and doing your job. So you start with the attitude, though, and I think we had that today.”   Will it carry over? Samford is from the D1AA Southern Conference so the Gators should win this handily. Florida has better personnel and a much deeper roster, so think of this as a get well game to prep the Gators for Texas A&M on September 14.   NAPIER QUOTE OF THE DAY ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE “It is literally one day at a time right now. Based off of what I watched Saturday, it's show me on Tuesday, show me on Wednesday, show me on Thursday, and then we'll decide on who's going to play."   INJURIES FORCE THE SECONDARY TO SHUFFLE Three starters in the secondary will miss the Samford game – corner Devin Moore and safeties Asa Turner and Sharif Denson. Per the UF depth chart released Wednesday evening, the Gators will start Jason Marshall and Ja’Keem Jackson at the corners, Jordan Castell and DJ Douglas at the safeties with Aaron Gates or Alfonzo Allen Jr. as the starter at the STAR position.   Also out will be D-lineman Joey Slackman, safety Bryce Thornton and wide receivers Kahliel Jackson, Andy Jean and Ja’Quavion Fraziars.

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning: “I think ultimately a loss early can be a blessing if you don't waste it,” Billy Napier said Monday when he met the media.   That’s pretty much a stiff upper lip approach favored by military men who have to at least give the appearance of calm outwardly when their insides are churning with category five intensity. It might not be the words Florida fans want to hear after the Gators’ 41-17 season opening loss to 19th-ranked Miami, but nobody has to remind Napier that his team could be teetering on the verge of a disastrous season if they see anything but calm leadership in the face of a storm.   “There is no better learning experience than game experience,” he said. “I mean, there's an old military line: We can have a lecture about bullets flying, and we can talk about that for years, but when you're in there and the bullets are flying, I think that's the scenario where the consequences become real.    “I played on championship teams. I've been a part as a coach on national championship teams, SEC championship teams, conference and division champions. Very rarely did we win every single game.”   The odds of an undefeated season were long to begin with. They’re gone forever after the Miami game, so the only choice for Napier and his coaches is to impart the right mentality on a team whose confidence might be fragile after the way they were manhandled by Miami.   “One thing I can say is we have a group that's working hard,” Napier said. “I do think that we have character. We got to go to work on the football part. I think we got to become a more consistent team and we have to execute better. If we can focus on those things and not necessarily what some guy in his basement is saying in rural central Florida on social media, then we got a chance to get better, right? I think that's the key.”   High character teams are a real blessing, but it’s best to have the football part down pat before taking on a team that has the personnel to not only win its conference championship but to also make a run in the College Football Playoff. It would have been so much simpler if the Gators could have opened the season with a team willing to take a beating in exchange for a paycheck that will keep the lights on. It’s much easier to iron out the kinks against a team that stands a two percent chance of beating you than one that wants to come into your place and beat you into submission with a tire iron.   That was Miami. Better coached. Better prepared. Polished. Angry. Although the Hurricanes filled the cracks in their foundation with an abundance of transfers, they played like a veteran team that has been together a long time.   The Gators played like a team still trying to figure things out.     Napier is correct that early season losses can work in your favor, but only if they create a sense of urgency and focus within the entire organization. The Gators get Samford next in a paycheck game, then the SEC portion of the schedule begins with Texas A&M at home and a roadie with Mississippi State. If the Gators finish September 3-1 then it’s possible the first game loss can be that blessing Napier was talking about.   UF VOLLEYBALL: PARKS SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK Setter Taylor Parks was selected SEC Freshman of the Week after 114 assists in three matches as the Gators opened their season with wins over Colorado State, Northern Colorado and Michigan State in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Gators, who moved up to No. 10 in the latest AVCA rankings, will host South Florida, Southern Indiana and Ohio State in the Florida Invitational starting Friday.   AVCA Top 25: 1. Texas 1-0; 2. Nebraska 3-0; 3. Pittsburgh 2-0; 4. Louisville 2-0; 5. Stanford 2-0; 6. Wisconsin 0-2; 7. Penn State 2-0; 8. Purdue 3-0; 9. Kentucky 3-1; 10. FLORIDA 3-0; 11. Creighton 3-0; 12. Oregon 1-1; 13. Kansas 3-0; 14. BYU 3-0; 15. Florida State 3-0; 16. Arizona State 3-0; 17. Tennessee 0-2; 18. Minnesota 0-1; 19. Georgia Tech 1-1; 20. Southern California 2-0; 21. Arkansas 3-0; 22. Dayton 2-0; 23. Baylor 3-0; 24. Marquette 1-0; 25. UCLA 2-0   SEC FOOTBALL No. 5 Alabama (1-0): Kalen DeBoer has handled the pressure of following the legend quite nicely, but he hasn’t had a close call or a loss yet. When that happens he’s going to get sick of hearing “well this is how Nick would have done it.” … Safety Keon Sabb was selected SEC Defensive Player of the Week and wide receiver Ryan Williams was selected SEC Co-Freshman of the Week. Saturday’s game: South Florida (1-0)   Arkansas (1-0): Even though it was an outmanned Arkansas-Pine Bluff team the Razorbacks played in the season opener, it was easy to see the effect Bobby Petrino has on the Arkansas offense. The Hogs threw for 408 yards and ran for 279 … Fernando Carmona Jr. was selected SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week. Saturday’s game: at No. 17 Oklahoma State (1-0)   Auburn (1-0): Some of Auburn’s players used NIL money to contribute to 13 families to keep their children out of the foster care system … The Tigers still haven’t settled on a clear No. 1 left tackle among Dillon Wade and Percy Lewis. Saturday’s game: California (1-0)   No. 1 Georgia (1-0): Georgia’s defensive front seven are as physical as any in the country. They manhandled what was supposed to be a good Clemson O-line while holding the Tigers to 46 rushing yards on 23 attempts … Carson Beck was selected SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week and kicker Peyton Woodring was selected SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. Saturday’s game: Tennessee Tech (0-1)   Kentucky (1-0): The Wildcats’ 31-0 win over Southern Miss in the season opener was called with 9:56 remaining in the third quarter due to several lightning delays. Saturday’s game: South Carolina (1-0)   No. 13 LSU (0-1): Brian Kelly’s post game rant after the Tigers lost to Southern California (27-20) chapped Paul Finebaum, who said, “It’s on Brian Kelly and don’t give me this I need to do a better job coaching. You’re paid $11 million to coach into the game and through it, not acting after the game.” Saturday’s game: Nicholls State (0-1) Mississippi State (1-0): Defensive tackle Kalvin Dinkins, injured in the Bulldogs’ win over Eastern Kentucky, is listed day-to-day for Saturday’s road game to Arizona State. Saturday’s game: at Arizona State (1-0)   No. 11 Missouri (1-0): Wide receiver Theo Wease and tight end Brett Norfleet suffered minor injuries that caused them to miss the second half of the Tigers’ season opening win over Murray State but both are expected to play Saturday. Saturday’s game: Buffalo (1-0)   No. 16 Oklahoma (1-0): The Sooners averaged a pathetic 5.4 yards per pass attempt against Temple. They will find it hard to move the ball on SEC defenses if they can’t get the ball downfield better than that … Kicker Tyler Keltner was selected SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. Saturday’s game: Houston (0-1)   No. 6 Ole Miss (1-0): Pro Football Focus gave Jaxson Dart the highest rating (95.7) of any quarterback in the nation. Dart threw for 418 yards and five touchdowns against Furman while playing just one half. Saturday’s game: Middle Tennessee State (1-0)   South Carolina (1-0): Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart were selected SEC Co-Defensive Linemen of the Week … True freshman Josiah Thompson (6-7, 300) will get the start at left tackle when the Gamecocks travel to Lexington Saturday. Saturday’s game: at Kentucky (1-0)   No. 15 Tennessee (1-0): The Vols have opened up as 6-point favorites for their neutral site game with North Carolina State … Quarterback Nico Iamaleava was selected SEC Co-Freshman of the Week. Saturday’s game: vs. No. 24 North Carolina State (1-0) in Charlotte   No. 4 Texas (1-0): Despite losing their top two running backs to season-ending injuries, the Longhorns still ran for 190 yards and three touchdowns in their win over Colorado State … Offensive lineman Cameron Williams was selected SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week. Saturday’s game: at No. 9 Michigan (1-0)   No. 20 Texas A&M (0-1): Starting center Mark Nabou Jr. is done for the season after suffering an injury in the Aggies’ loss to Notre Dame … The Notre Dame game drew 107,551 to Kyle Field. Saturday’s game: McNeese State (0-1)   Vanderbilt (1-0): Quarterback Diego Pavia was selected SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week … The Commodores overtime win over Virginia Tech broke a 10-game losing streak. Saturday’s game: Alcorn State (0-1)   FOOTBALL AROUND THE STATE No. 10 Florida State (0-2): FSU’s ACC championship and College Football Playoff hopes are in the septic tank after Boston College hammered the Seminoles, 28-13. BC ran for 263 yards on what was supposed to be an outstanding FSU defense. Saturday’s game: Memphis (1-0)   No. 19 Miami (1-0): The Hurricanes have never made it to the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game but with FSU starting 0-2 (both league losses) and Clemson going belly up against Georgia in game one, they look like a lock to play for the title … DE Reuben Bain Jr. will miss at least a couple of weeks with a soft tissue injury suffered against Florida. Saturday’s game: Florida A&M (1-0)   UCF (1-0): Saturday’s game: UCF leads the nation in rushing after going off for 454 yards in their season opening win over New Hampshire. RJ Harvey led the Knights with 142 yards on 11 carries while Toledo transfer Peny Boone had 81 yards on seven carries. Sam Houston State (1-0)   South Florida (1-0): The Bulls, who had Alabama on the ropes last year in Tampa, have their work cut out for them this week in Tuscaloosa. Alabama put up 63 points and 600 yards in its season opening win over Western Kentucky. Saturday’s game: at No. 5 Alabama (1-0)   Florida Atlantic (0-1): The Owls couldn’t generate any offense in their 16-10 loss to Michigan State, generating only 248 yards (116 rushing, 132 passing). Saturday’s game: Army (1-0)   Florida International (0-1): The Golden Panthers generated only 53 yards in 30 rushing attempts in their 31-7 loss to Indiana. Saturday’s game: Central Michigan   ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: The fallout from the disintegration of the Pac-12 Conference continues. Washington State and Oregon State, who entered into a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West Conference for 2024 couldn’t reach an agreement to extend the contract to 2025, a move that puts the two former Pac-12 schools in peril moving forward. They both need Division I opponents to fill out their schedules, but more important, they need a league.   When the Pac-12 broke up, Washington State and Oregon State came away with $265 million in severance. It was thought that the money could lure the Mountain West schools into a merger that could elevate the MWC into power conference status, but other than a 1-year scheduling agreement for 2024, the talks have been fruitless.   Without the extension of the scheduling arrangement, Washington State and Oregon State don’t have a full schedule of 2025 opponents. They will both have to scramble to fill their schedules and on such short notice that will be extremely difficult. Washington State and Oregon State were original members of the Pac-12. If they can’t find a conference they could become schools constantly in search of paycheck games to fill out their schedules.

Billy Napier walks off the field after Miami swamped the Gators, 41-17 (Photo by Chris Spears) A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning: “We seem to be a little short on brotherly love around here.” – Butch Cassidy from the 1969 film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”   One day after Florida’s epic beatdown at the hands of 19th-ranked Miami, there is very little in the way of brotherly love for head coach Billy Napier. Everyone is in complete agreement that Billy is one of the nicest and best intentioned head coaches in the business. Most everyone is also of the opinion that 26 games into his seven year contract nice isn’t going to cut it. The only thing that is going to calm the storm and quiet the critics is winning football games.   Just like brotherly love, winning football is in short supply around here.   The Gators have lost six consecutive football games, something that hasn’t happened since Will Muschamp’s injury-plagued 2013 season that saw Skylar Mornhinweg start the last two games including the infamous 26-20 loss to Georgia Southern. Miami’s 41 points were the most ever scored against the Gators in a season opener. The loss ended a streak of 34 wins in home season openers.   The Twitterverse erupted during the game and went sub-orbital throughout Saturday night and into Sunday, nearly everyone calling for Napier’s dismissal, some suggesting a Godfather offer made to Urban Meyer as the only answer, others a similar offer to Lane Kiffin.      Paul Finebaum, whose voice is almost always the one most listened to, said, “The one thing Billy Napier couldn’t afford to do, he did. The credibility that he gained in the offseason, the goodwill, it just seemed like it all went down the drain at The Swamp. The question now is can he put back the shattered pieces because, at this point, every single week is going to be a referendum on Billy Napier’s future.”   Matt Hayes of USA Today Sports, who wrote “It won’t end well for Napier,” also stated after the Miami loss that, “The only shocking part of it all was the same operational mess. The same strange play-calling (two third-and-long run plays). The same historically bad defenses of the past two seasons: Miami had 529 total yards, converted 50% of third down attempts and averaged 7.6 yards per play. Florida is now 11-15 under Napier, and has lost five home games in two seasons and one game. Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier lost five home games in 12 seasons.”     Others weren’t nearly as kind.   Amid all the talk of buyouts and a seat that pundits near and far are describing as blowtorch hot, Billy Napier can quiet the critics and douse the flames by going 7-4 the rest of the way. Given Florida’s schedule it’s a very tall order, but not impossible. Improbable for sure, but not impossible.   The question that needs to be asked right now is if Billy can string together three wins (Samford, Texas A&M, at Mississippi State) to finish September with a 3-1 record, will the fan base get behind him? By the time the fourth quarter rolled around Saturday it seemed there were far more Miami fans than Florida fans. If The Swamp is rocking, Napier will have a fighting chance to salvage the season and perhaps his job.   Without the fans getting loud and getting funky, it won’t happen. Is there enough brotherly love out there to fill The Swamp and help save Billy Napier’s job?   SEC FOOTBALL No. 5 Alabama (1-0): Jalen Milroe accounted for five touchdowns in Bama’s 63-0 demolition of Western Kentucky. Milroe ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns while completing 7-9 passes for 200 yards and three TDs … Western Kentucky managed only 145 yards against the Alabama defense. Next week: South Florida (1-0)   Arkansas (1-0): In the Hogs’ 70-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Boise State transfer Taylen Green hit 16-23 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns plus ran for 88 yards and two more touchdowns … The Arkansas defense gave up only seven rushing yards and 123 passing yards. Next week: at No. 17 Oklahoma State (1-0)   Auburn (1-0): Payton Thorne threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns in the Tigers’ 73-3 win over Alabama A&M. Thorne also ran for 49 yards and a TD … The Tigers racked up 628 offensive yards while the defense held Alabama A&M to 240. Next week: California (1-0)   No. 1 Georgia (1-0): Georgia’s defense was impressive in its 34-3 win over Clemson, allowing the Tigers just 188 yards and just four third down conversions in 13 attempts … Florida transfer Trevor Etienne was suspended for the game. Next game: Tennessee Tech (0-1)   Kentucky (1-0): Kentucky’s offense sputtered (317 total yards) in its 31-0 win over Southern Miss, but the defense gave up only five yards rushing, 131 yards overall … Brock Vandagriff completed 12-18 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns … OT Courtland Ford will be out for an extended period of time per HBC Mark Stoops. Next week: South Carolina (1-0)   No. 13 LSU (0-1): The Tigers gave up an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the final 1:39 as they dropped their season-opener to Southern California, 27-20. The Tigers gave up 378 passing yards and committed 10 penalties for -99 yards … The bright spot was quarterback Garrett Nussmeier who completed 29-38 passes for 304 yards and two TDs. Next game: Nicholls State (0-1)   Mississippi State (1-0): The Jeff Lebby era opened in Starkville with the Bulldogs delivering a 56-7 drubbing of Eastern Kentucky as Baylor transfer Blake Shapen threw for three touchdowns and ran for another … Jordan Mosely caught five passes for 104 yards and a TD. Next game: at Arizona State (1-0)   No. 11 Missouri (1-0): The Tigers lead the nation in total defense after allowing Murray State just 85 yards in a 51-0 win … Brady Cook threw for 219 yards and a TD while running for 22 more and another TD. Next game: Buffalo (1-0)   No. 16 Oklahoma (1-0): The Sooners clubbed Temple, 51-3, despite converting only 1-12 on third down … Quarterback Jackson Arnold threw for four touchdowns, but he averaged a meager 5.6 yards per attempt … The Oklahoma defense held Temple to 69 rushing yards on 36 carries, racked up six sacks for -28 yards in losses and forced six turnovers (4 fumbles, 2 interceptions). Next game: Houston (0-1)   No. 6 Ole Miss (1-0): The Rebels lead the nation in total offense (772 yards) and scoring (76 points) after their season opening destruction of Furman. Jaxson Dart threw for 418 yards and five touchdowns in the first half. Tre Harris caught eight passes for 179 yards and two TDs. Next week: Middle Tennessee State (1-0)   South Carolina (1-0): South Carolina fans booed several times during the Gamecocks’ 23-19 win over Old Dominion … The South Carolina offense netted only 288 yards. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers completed only 10-23 passes for 114 yards … Arkansas transfer Raheim Sanders ran 24 times for 88 yards and a TD. Next game: at Kentucky (1-0)   No. 15 Tennessee (1-0): The Vols generated 718 yards of offense in their 69-3 win over Chattanooga, 414 through the air and 304 on the ground. Dylan Sampson ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 22-28 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Next game: No. 24 North Carolina State (1-0)   No. 4 Texas (1-0): Quinn Ewers threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the Longhorns’ 52-0 win over Colorado State. Backup Arch Manning completed 5-6 passes for 95 yards and a TD … The Texas defense was outstanding, holding Colorado State to just 74 yards (3.1 per attempt) while picking off two passes. Colorado State managed only 192 yards for the game. Next game: at No. 9 Michigan (1-0)   No. 20 Texas A&M (0-1): The Aggies played good enough defense to beat No. 7 Notre Dame, but the offense wouldn’t cooperate. The Aggies gained only 246 yards, converted only 4-13 on third down and averaged just 3.62 yards per offensive play. Quarterback Conner Weigman was 12-30 throwing the ball for 100 yards (3.3 per attempt) and two interceptions. Next week: McNeese State (0-1)   Vanderbilt (1-0): The Commodores took out Virginia Tech 34-27 in overtime behind New Mexico State transfer Diego Pavia, who threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns while running for 104 including the game winning TD. Next game: Alcorn State (0-1) UH-OH, THE NCAA IS THINKING OF MORE CHANGES The NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, is once again trying to assert itself as the final word in collegiate athletics. This time the only organization on the planet more inept than the United States Congress is thinking to tinker with eligibility rules. In this latest proposal, athletes in all sports will be able to participate in a certain percentage of games during a season while maintaining their eligibility. In football, here’s how it works: A player can participate in four games during the regular season, get a redshirt and still have four years of eligibility. The NCAA recently upgraded its policy so that bowl games won’t count against the redshirt.   In this new proposal it will be up to each sport to determine what percentage of games will be allowed while still preserving the redshirt.   A better idea would be to give athletes five years. Period. No redshirt not even medical. From the day the athlete starts school he/she would have five years to participate. At the end of five years, that’s it. The NCAA isn’t proposing that one. It makes too much sense and as we all know, anything that makes sense isn’t allowed by the NCAA.   Also under consideration by the NCAA are the elimination of the spring transfer portal for football, the elimination of the National Letter of Intent and allowing athletes to retain an agent for draft and professional purposes without affecting their eligibility if they decide to return to school.   ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Just when you thought we were through with conference realignment and expansion for awhile, Big 12 commish Brett Yormark is close to staging an eyebrow-raising coup. Word has leaked that the Big 12 and UConn are have gotten past the dating stage and are close to an engagement ring being slipped on a finger with a wedding date scheduled for 2025-26.   Such a move would eliminate traditional basketball rivalries in the Big East for UConn such as St. John’s, Georgetown and Villanova, but the Huskies would be joining a league that is already the toughest in the college game. UConn in a league that includes Kansas, Baylor, Arizona, Houston, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Iowa State would definitely move the television needle. The Huskies have won six NCAA men’s national championships since 1999. The clout of UConn women to the Big 12 would be huge. Danny Hurley has won the last two NCAA men’s titles while Geno Auriemma has won 11 and is the winningest college basketball coach of all time, either men or women.   UConn basketball will thrive no matter what league it is in. What UConn needs in the worst way is a football league and the Big 12 is the answer. Adding UConn would also add the New York market for television which would help the Big 12.

Florida loses first home opener since 1989 in embarrassing fashion. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com , Football Analyst The Gators were bigger, stronger, faster, and in Billy Napier’s words all of this was “verifiable”. This was the year that Napier stated “all of our processes are in place”, and the roster was constructed to his liking. Even those around the program were observing a more determined, disciplined team, and after three years had a ton of Napier’s favorite word “character”. So in the build- up to yesterday’s contest against in-state rival Miami, the Gators, with an experienced signal-caller and improved roster were going to show that year three of the Napier experience was going to be much different than the first two.   Unfortunately that could be further from the truth as the Gators looked as outmatched at home as they did on the road a year ago at Utah. There were no duplicate numbers on the field but there were duplicate mistakes. There were fewer but still costly penalties, the play calling was head-scratching to say the least, and the defense looked like it picked up right where it left off. Historically, I repeat historically bad. Florida has played football since 1906 by the way. So let’s go back about 19 hours or so and sum up this “embarrassing” home loss.   What We Thought: While much was made of the quarterbacks (Graham Mertz and Cam Ward) this game would be a showdown in the muck. The team that dominated the line of scrimmage would be the victor. Miami featured one of the ACC’s best defensive lines against a retooled and confident Florida offensive line. The Gators had six or seven defensive lineman as well as transfer linebacker Pup Howard that would make life hard for the Miami offense and first year quarterback Cam Ward. The Swamp would be rocking, and if anything that would tilt the scales as Ben Hill Griffin is far more intimidating than Sun Devils Stadium in Tempe or Rice-Eccles in Salt Lake City. The Gators were supposed to be experienced and well coached on offense and rebuilt and retooled enough on defense to steal a win at home.    Florida Head Coach Billy Napier (Chris Spears photo) What We Got: True to prognostication, the team that won the trenches dominated and won this football game. Unfortunately for Gator fans it was Miami. The Gators were beat in every phase of the football game except special teams and that is because Miami only punted twice. Cam Ward had no issues navigating the Miami offense and as for the crowd noise, I tell people all the time, “fans don’t block or tackle”. Who did play was a Florida defense that despite all we heard cleans the locker room better than they tackle, and defend the pass. Ward was 26 of 35 for 385 yards, completing three touchdown passes to three different receivers. In the running game Miami was effective enough to gain first downs on short yardage with Florida getting zero push up front. When asked about the inability to affect the game up front Napier deflected the notion that strength and conditioning was a factor but never gave a reason why his team continues to make no impact on short and manageable downs against opposing offenses. Defensively Miami was just as dominant against a basic and again head-scratching Florida attack. Mertz had possibly his worst game as a Gator managing a QBR of just 19.1. The retooled offensive line would struggle as well rushing for just 138 yards (71 on one play) and giving up three sacks. Offensively the Gators lacked any imagination schematically and still have issues identifying ways to get their playmakers the football.   The Skinny: While you may not agree with Napier on much. He is correct, this was embarrassing. Football games will be lost, the other team is just better. The problem is over and over you are told that things have improved and the product on the field is not indicative of the chatter. With a limited sample size and inexplainable vail of secrecy all you have to go on is no longer "verifiable". Yesterday many observed a team that was not prepared mentally or physically to play one of the best the ACC has to offer. That would lead one to question, how will these team navigate the best in its own conference? The answer is none of it matters and here is the reason why? Schematically the offense resembles nothing that those far more adept at offense have seen or recognize. The defense while talented on paper continues to be a constant disappointment and lacks zero physicality, a calling card for any defense. The coaching staff while well respected has no support. Not because of their ability to coach but because of the cloak and dagger approach no one knows just how hard this team is being coached. There was an erroneous and disrespectful rumor that Napier had an altercation with Albert the Alligator in the tunnel following the game, I dont believe that to be true. What was true was the spattering of boos that awaited the coach as he went in to address his team. This program is on the injury report and week to week. The arrival of Samford next Saturday will provide some temporary glee, but like a bouquet of flowers it only lasts for about a week. This team has flaws that mystify traditional norms, with plenty of resources and personnel to boot. Yesterday was not good, but at least the locker room is clean.  Final Score: Florida 17 Miami 41 (Prediction-Florida 27 Miami 21) No after party in The Swamp (GatorBait photo)