The Gators play at Texas A&M for the fourth time since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012, but for the first time at night. (UAA file photo)
Game Day: Florida at No. 5 Texas A&M (Saturday, 7 pm)
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | Football, Chris Harry
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Welcome to college football's version of the Texas Two-Step.
In the big picture, no one is quite sure how significant Florida's upset last week of Texas will turn out to be. Were the Longhorns, who entered the 2025 season atop the Associated Press and coaches polls, worthy of their No. 9 ranking at the time or just a bunch of underachievers?
That is a conversation they had this week in Austin, which might be only 100 miles from Kyle Field but feels like light years from the narrative surrounding the fifth-ranked and unbeaten Texas A&M Aggies (5-0, 2-0) as they head into their Saturday night Southeastern Conference showdown against the erratic Florida Gators (2-3, 1-1).
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
The Aggies, in their second season under Mike Elko, have rocketed up the polls, with a surge that began with an epic 41-40 upset win at then-No. 8 Notre Dame a month ago. A&M chased that with home wins over Auburn and Mississippi State at their 102,000-seat cathedral, and now welcomes the Gators, who have a little bounce to their step following the upset over the Aggies' cross-state (and hated) rival just a week ago.
In any other season, a road date against a top-five opponent would represent a signature moment on the schedule. For Florida '25, it's another Saturday. A&M will represent a third top-five challenge and program-record fourth straight against an opponent ranked in the top 10. That's crazy.
Last year, the Aggies came to Gainesville and had a major hand in scripting what remains the Gators' narrative under Coach Billy Napier. UF was two weeks removed from opening its season with a humiliating 41-17 loss to Miami, and following a ho-hum defeat of FCS-classed Samford, was looking to right (and rewrite) that narrative. A&M, with its starting quarterback sidelined by injury, scored the game's first 20 points, opened a 26-point second-half lead and left town with an easy 33-20 victory. The Aggies, meanwhile, left the UF fanbase in beehive mode.
Kyle Field, with its capacity of 102,733, is the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference and fourth-largest in the nation, behind only the venues at Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State.
That A&M backup quarterback, Marcel Reed, is now directing an offense that is averaging 466.6 yards (22ndnationally) and 34.8 points per game (42nd). Reed, who helped the Aggies crank out 488 yards (318 on the ground) in the last meeting, has completed 59.7% of his passes for 1,256 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions, while also helping key the nation's No. 37 rushing attack (195.4 ypg) with 201 yards and two touchdowns.
In other words, just another day at the turf office for a UF defense that has faced, in succession, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Miami's Carson Beck and Texas' Arch Manning the last three outings.
To the unit's credit, the Gators (No. 24 overall at 295.6 yards per game) have kept their team within fourth-quarter striking distance throughout the season, even in the losses to South Florida, LSU and UM. The performance against the Longhorns, in generating turnovers and sacks, had Florida playing from in front the entire game. Doing so again, especially on the road, will be imperative. Obviously.
On that front, sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway needs to build on his bounce-back performance against Texas, when he went 21-for-28 for 298 yards and two touchdowns, without a turnover or a sack. Lagway got a huge boost from the debut of true freshman wideout Dallas Wilson, who in his first collegiate game caught six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns, pairing beautifully with classmate and playmaker Vernell Brown III (team-highs of 21 catches, 291 yards). After putting up 457 yards – including a career-high 114 from sophomore tailback Jadan Baugh, the SEC's No. 3 rushing leader at 396 yards – the Gators moved into the top 100 in total offense at 354.0 yards per game.
No, that's not great, but it's a start. If the Gators have their way Saturday night, they'll make it a Lone Star State start to remember.
Coverage begins at 7 p.m. on ESPN with Mark Jones on play-by-play, Roddy Jones providing analysis and Quint Kessenich working the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield broadcast will air with pregame coverage beginning at 4 p.m., and eventually give way to the team of Sean Kelley, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey on the call. For GSN stations, click here.
The game will be re-aired Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and again Friday at midnight., both on the SEC Network.
Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) on X 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.
