MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The cloud of adversity hovering over the Florida football program has been there for two weeks, courtesy of the walk-off home loss to South Florida, followed by last weekend's turnover-plagued defeat at third-ranked LSU.
Since the latter, the Gators have barely had time to catch their breath. Even if they had, the hardest schedule in college football would present no such opportunity anytime soon. That's both the beauty and curse of playing a slate fraught with powerhouse landmines, one after another.
Every week offers a chance to turn a wayward season around.
The latest in the line that is looking more perilous by the week comes Saturday night when the Gators (1-2) take on cross-state rival and fourth-ranked Miami (3-0) at Hard Rock Stadium. The matchup is the return game of a home-and-home series between the two programs after UM handed UF a 41-17 statement-making loss in their season-opener last year at the "Swamp."
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" preview here]
The Gators, in particular sophomore quarterback
DJ Lagway, are looking to redirect themselves in the wake of the 20-10 loss seven days ago at Baton Rouge, where they held the Tigers to just one touchdown, 316 yards and 10 first downs on offense, but threw five interceptions that led to half of LSU's 10 points, including a killer second-half pick-6 that blew open a tight game.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are home for the fourth time in as many games to start their season and looking to build on a red-hot start. It began with a rousing 27-24 win over No. 6 Notre Dame. Then came a ho-hum 45-3 pounding of FCS-classified Bethune-Cookman, followed by a 49-12 blowout of USF.
The latter result was noteworthy in its routine and raised some alarms in Gator Nation. After all, the Canes piled up seven touchdowns, nearly 600 yards of total offense and held the ball for more than 36 minutes against a Bulls' defense that came to Gainesville a week earlier and limited the Gators to just one touchdown, 391 yards and only 26 minutes with the ball. With a chance to ice the game and run out the clock, UF was forced to punt. USF drove a maddening 87 yards on seven plays in the final 2:25 (aided by two brutal penalties) and kicked a chip-shot field goal as time expired for an 18-16 upset.
Miami has gotten solid quarterback play from transfer quarterback Carson Beck, who already has a pair of wins over the Gators on his resume during the last two seasons at Georgia. Beck, who combined to throw for 618 yards and four scores in beating UF 43-20 in '23 and 34-20 in '24, has completed 79.3 percent of his passes as a Cane for 812 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney (10) has six catches in all three of his first collegiate games and is looking like one of the best freshman wideouts in the country.
Despite coming from the football factory at Georgia, Beck may have the best receiving corps of his career, with wideouts Malachi Toney (18 catches, 228 yards, 1 TD), a true freshman, and sixth-year transfer CJ Daniels (14-175-3), plus an outstanding tailback in 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior Mark Fletcher Jr. (272 yards, 6.5 per carry, 4 TD).
The Florida defense, which ranks 28
th nationally at 264.3 yards surrendered per game, has given up just two touchdowns this season and did its part in keeping the Gators in the game last week against a very good quarterback in LSU's Garrett Nussmeier. Penalties, however, have hurt the unit at pivotal times, as has the inability to put pressure on the quarterback, with UF's two sacks placing them tied for 123
rd among FBC teams.
For Florida, the focus – again, but in a different way than even two weeks ago – will be on Lagway. This time, on his ability to bounce back from that nightmare on the bayou. Lagway (71 percent, 629 yards, 5 TD, 6 INT) finished 33 of 49 for 287 yards, one TD and the five picks at LSU, which tied for the second-highest single-game interception total in program history. Now he has to face a Miami defense with maybe the best front in the country (watch for Rueben Bain Jr. off the edge) and has forced six takeaways.
The Gators were held to only 79 yards rushing agsat LSU, with just 46 on 10 carries from tailback
Jadan Baugh (243 yards, 1 TD), who is averaging 6.6 per carry through three games. He may need to see the ball more both to take some pressure off Lagway. The UF offense is averaging 390.7 yards per game, which rates 67
th nationally.
Whether UM will represent Florida's greatest test to date remains to be seen, but it'll definitely be another significant one.
The latest in a long line.
Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. on ABC with network's "A" team of Chris Fowler on play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit providing analysis and Holly Rowe 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 Thursday at 5 a.m. and again at 9 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.
