The Florida Gators must bounce back quickly, as a new SEC foe awaits. Traveling out to Austin, Texas to take on the Longhorns, this is yet another ranked opponent. Fresh off the heartbreaker to the Bulldogs, the road doesn’t get any easier. Taking place at noon, it will be loud and hostile. A top-five team in the country, Texas has a playoff spot to fight for. The Gators did get good news this week, and that is that most of the injuries suffered appear less serious. Specifically, there is optimism that quarterback DJ Lagway could play again this year, and possibly even this weekend. However, fans won’t want to rush him back, and more than likely Aidan Warner will get the start. A freshman transfer from Yale, he struggled in spot duty against the Georgia Bulldogs. Unfortunately, another tall task awaits this upcoming weekend.
The Gameplan
Now with a full week of practice, Warner should be much more comfortable with Billy Napier’s system. Forced to come in against Georgia, that is a rough spot for any quarterback to make their debut. This will be another tough defense, and Warner will have to lean on his playmakers. For Napier, the gameplan is simple, don’t ask the young quarterback to do too much. There is talent at the skill positions, and he simply needs to manage the game. Against the Longhorns, the odds will be stacked against him, and no one is expecting an MVP performance. The key is keeping the ball out of harm’s way, and hoping the defense keeps the Gators in the game. Momentum will be pivotal, as Texas will make big plays throughout the game. Warner and the offense must remain steady, not getting overwhelmed by any small mistakes.
Injury Concerns
Last weekend, the Gators were decimated by injuries, losing key players on both sides of the ball. However, the Gators have received good news on both fronts. As discussed above, it appears that Lagway’s season may not be over, which was previously thought to be the case. Defensively, Napier noted that both corners Devin Moore and Dijon Johnson could both be available this weekend. Huge for the defense, they are already without top corner Jason Marshall Jr. for the rest of the season. After accumulating numerous injuries, this is the type of news the program needed. Going against their new foe Texas, the Gators are already huge underdogs. If they want to compete for the rest of the season, the health of this group will be key. With Ole Miss and LSU still coming up, the Gators must get healthy, and fast.
Lean on Defense?
We have continued to praise this unit, and we will continue to do so after last weekend. Defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong has flipped a switch, and the defense has kept the Gators in games. Even when the offense struggles, the defense has been a power unit, stifling opposing quarterbacks. Unfortunately, no more bye weeks remain, and the group is dealing with injuries. If they want to avoid a blowout against their new foe, the Gators’ defense must bail out the offense. With Lagway more than likely missing this affair, this could be tough sledding for the offense. Although against a stout Georgia defense, Warner had a tough time moving the ball down the field. Another vaunted team, this game could be similar to the second half of last weekend. With Texas flexing a high-powered offense, the defense will be challenged and must step up despite the injuries.
Run, Run, Run
With Lagway out, the passing game will of course be a struggle, and the running game will be leaned on. Against the Bulldogs, Ja’kobi Jackson stepped up, scoring a touchdown to go along with 74 rushing yards. The previous weekend, freshman Jadan Baugh rushed for a whopping five touchdowns. Now without Treyaun Webb for the rest of the season, these two backs will receive a ton of carries. With no word yet on starter Montrell Johnson Jr., the young backs will have to step up. Warner showed toughness last weekend, but that won’t be enough to beat a top-ranked team. Expect the Gators to lean heavily on their improving run game. Texas knows the run game is coming, and Napier can’t be bland with it. He must be creative with his run calls, focusing on getting to the perimeter.
Final Thoughts
The Gators enter this matchup against the Longhorns as 21.5-point underdogs. Not expected to compete, things could get ugly in Austin. This would be a different discussion if Lagway was still healthy. Having to turn to Warner puts a ceiling on how productive this offense can be. Defensively, the Gators will be tasked with stopping quarterback Quinn Ewers and this Texas attack. Turnovers will be key, as Ewers has shown some carelessness in his previous games. Fans know that the odds of the Gators pulling this out are slim to none. Even with this improved defense, the offense will struggle to carry its weight. They will be hungry and ready to play, but unfortunately, it won’t be enough. Expect a somewhat competitive first half, as the Gators won’t lay down and quit against their new foe. Eventually, the floodgates should open, leading to a double-digit win for the Longhorns.
Prediction: Florida 13 Texas 31
