Florida Gators football coach Billy Napier overcame a three-game losing streak to deliver the home crowd in the “Swamp” a 29-21 victory over the Texas Longhorns, who were the AP top 25 preseason poll’s No. 1 team, on Saturday. And yet, UF doesn’t have much optimism to speak of moving forward.
The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel sees the honeymoon of DJ Lagway finally figuring things out and Ron Roberts’ defense continuing a strong stretch of play ending with looming matchups with the Texas A&M Aggies, Georgia Bulldogs, Ole Miss Rebels, and Tennessee Volunteers over the next two months.
“The Gators’ defense was good enough to beat USF, LSU and maybe even Miami, but sophomore QB DJ Lagway was strangely ineffective. Not against Texas. Helped by the much-awaited debut of freshman receiver Dallas Wilson (six catches, 111 yards, two TDs), Lagway sprang to life, finishing 21 of 28 for 298 yards, two TDs and one INT. And sophomore running back Jadan Baugh (27 carries, 107 yards) hit 100 yards for the first time since Week 1,” Mandel wrote.
“It was a huge win, but before we grant Napier an extension, Florida is still just 2-3, with a trip to undefeated and No. 6 Texas A&M next week and three other Top 25 teams — including at No. 4 Ole Miss — still to come in the SEC. But at least everyone can stand down … for a week.”
The “Sun Belt Billy” experience in Gainesville has been as up and down as one could’ve ever imagined over the last two seasons. No one would’ve believed you if you had said in the preseason that UF would lose to the USF Bulls but beat Arch Manning’s Longhorns.
With that in mind, the level of defense Lagway has faced pales in comparison to what’s ahead.
Texas A&M has stabilized after a shaky start. Georgia will always be a threat with Glen Schumann running the show. Ole Miss held the Tulane Green Wave and LSU Tigers to under 30 combined points in its last two games.
Florida’s had it tough in 2025, but it could definitely get worse. Even if there’s another strong upset along the way.
Several upsets a year isn’t what the Gators wanted with Napier. Especially when several of the aforementioned teams have been able to figure it out since Florida hired Napier.