Saturday, November 9, 2024 | Football, Chris Harry
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AUSTIN, Texas – This one may go down to the wire.
No, not the game. There will be predictions in this space.
Talking Florida quarterbacks here, with the (slim) possibility of freshman DJ Lagway being available versus the likelihood that walk-on Aidan Warner starts under center having everything to do with how the Gators (4-4, 2-3) might fare Saturday – not to mention external expectations – in their Southeastern Conference game and long-time-in-coming visit to face No. 5 Texas (7-1, 3-1) at Memorial Stadium.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" preview here]
Lagway, the hope and future of the Florida faithful, was carted off the field in Jacksonville last weekend after suffering a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the Gators' rivalry game against Georgia, a program that has had its way in the series (not to mention with all of college football) the last few years. UF, at the time, was winning the game, thanks to Lagway's 43-yard touchdown rocket. Aidan Warner
Enter Warner, the transfer from Yale. Warner's indoctrination to the SEC looked about how one might expect an Ivy Leaguer facing the nation's second-ranked team and its ferocious defense. He completed just seven of 22 passes for 66 yards and an interception. And yet, the Gators were in the game to the end – until Warner's game-sealing pick with just under four minutes to go – with the Bulldogs prevailing 34-20.
On Monday, UF coach Billy Napier provided a glimmer of hope that Lagway's soft-tissue injury possibly could be healed well enough to face the Longhorns, who are armed with a defense even better (statistically, way better) than UGA.
So hang on for one of those game-time decisions.
Whoever is under center against UT will stare into a defense that ranks No. 1 in the nation in allowing just 241.3 yards per game, as well as first in defending the pass (135.8 ypg). If the Gators need to play Warner, the Longhorns presumably will stack the line (they're run dense rates 16th national at just 105.5 ypg) and dare Warner to drop back.
That's what the Dogs did and Warner never looked comfortable. Maybe a week taking first-team reps at practices will make a difference, but it would help to get something out of UF freshman running backs Jaden Baugh (325 yards, 5 TD) and Ja'Kobi Jackson (227 yards, 4 TD) and their UF ground game (145.4 ypg, 83rdnationally and 12th in the SEC). The Gators managed only 122 post-Lagway yards last week on 11 possessions, with seven three-and-outs.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers
On the other side of the ball, Texas will line up with the nation's 16th-best offense, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers (1,389 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT), one of the top pro prospects in the country at the position. His wing men include tailbacks Quinrevion Wisner (409 yards, 2 TD) and Jaydon Blue (316 yards, 4 TD), plus three outstanding receiver targets in Gunnar Helm (31 catches, 419 yards, 2 TD), Isaiah Bond (23, 380, 4) and Matthew Golden (24, 332, 4).
Texas is averaging 453.1 yards per game, and 37.6 points per game, while Florida's defense is ranked is 69thtotal (390.1 ypg) and 57th in scoring (29.5 ppg).
The Longhorns, it's worth noting, just might be the best team the Gators have faced this season, which makes it also worth noting the Bulldogs went to Austin three weeks ago and dismantled the home team 30-15.
With their starting quarterback.
Coverage starts at noon on ABC, with the crew of Joe Tessitore on play-by-play, Jesse Palmer providing analysis and Katie George on the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield broadcast will air with pregame coverage beginning at 9 a.m. and eventually give way to Sean Kelley and Shane Matthews in the booth, with Tate Casey reporting from the field. For GSN stations, click here.
The game will be re-aired Tuesday at noon, and again Thursday at 2 a.m., both on SEC Network.
Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage from the game late Saturday night and follow-up content Sunday, also.
