BATON ROUGE, La. – After a week of toxic external cacophony, the Florida Gators get to immerse and lose themselves in the best outlet possible.
The next game.
For UF (1-1, 0-0), that's the good news, though the nattering nabobs of negativism across Gator Nation may see it differently, especially given the next task is a night game against No. 3 LSU (2-0, 0-0) at "Death Valley," one of the most hallowed and notorious home fields in college football. Those disgruntled Florida fans still seething over last week's 18-16 home loss to surging South Florida, however, may not fully comprehend is that a bad-news visit to sold-out, maniacal Tiger Stadium in the Southeastern Conference opener doubles as an incredible opportunity. Whether the Gators can make the best of it is a another conversation. But they'll get that chance.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" preview here]
The first two week's of a 2025 schedule overwhelmingly considered the most difficult in the nation were supposed to serve as a confidence-building spring board into the meat-grinder portion (LSU, No. 5 Miami, No. 7 Texas, No. 17 Texas A&M, etc.), but USF threw a green-and-gold monkey wrench in those plans. And not just with the win.
Against the Bulls, the Gators looked out of sorts in all three phases. UF quarterback
DJ Lagway and his unit were held to just 355 yards, settled for three field goals in four red-zone opportunities and failed to take advantage when plays were there. Defensively, the Gators surrendered 391 yards, including a 66-yard game-changing touchdown pass, committed the most egregious of the team's 11 penalties for 103 yards, including an incomprehensible/unforgivable spitting incident on what turned out to be USF's drive to a game-winning chip shot field goal. The unti also did not force a turnover. On special teams, UF sailed a long snap that yielded a safety on a punt attempt … in what turned out to be a two-point loss.
"Not good enough," was how Coach
Billy Napier termed the performance.
Anything remotely similar against the Tigers will spell lopsided doom.
LSU opened the season by upsetting fourth-ranked Clemson on the road. The Tigers followed that one with a 23-7 home win over Louisiana Tech last weekend. Not exactly a statement victory, but in all fairness they made one the week before. Now LSU can make another at the expense of a their longtime SEC rival.
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was among the preseason favorite for Heisman Trophy consideration.
Offensively, the Tigers are averaging 20.0 points and 360.0 yards per game, but half those numbers came against Clemson and one of the nation's best defenses. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who UF handcuffed in a 27-16 win at Gainesville last season, has completed 68.4 percent of his throws for 469 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and has another loaded receiving corps led by Aaron Anderson (14 catches, 172 yards) and Barion Brown (13, 119).
On defense, LSU is outstanding; tied for 13
th in the country (just 207.5 ypg) and 14th in scoring (8.5 ppg).
Regarding the Gators, the focus on Lagway (74.5%, 342 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT) and his health -- after he was sidelined most of the offseason with shoulder and calf issues -- will swirl until he sharpens up his accuracy and locates open receivers, both of which were issues that plagued the offense in the South Florida loss. UF is averaging 403.0 yards per game, but the struggles to finish drives at home against a non-power five opponent turned some heads, raised eyebrows and brought about the aforementioned noise.
The next chance to quiet the critics is all the Gators can ask for.
Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. on ABC with network's "A" team of Sean McDonough on play-by-play, Greg McElroy providing analysis and Molly McGrath working the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield broadcast will air with pregame coverage beginning at 4:30 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 Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. and again Friday at 12 a.m., 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.
