GAINESVILLE — Florida’s brutal schedule resumes Saturday night at No. 4 Miami, the Gators’ second straight matchup with a Top-5 opponent.
UF coach Billy Napier has yet to beat a ranked team away from the Swamp, where his Gators are 5-14 after a 20-10 loss at offensively challenged LSU. UF (1-2) will now face a Hurricanes’ squad that dominated both sides of the ball to trounce USF 49-12 a week after the Bulls upset the Gators 18-16 in the Swamp.
“This Miami team has capable weapons in all parts of their team,” Napier said.
Questions abound as Napier looks to avoid the program’s first 1-3 start since 1986 under Galen Hall.
Where is quarterback DJ Lagway’s confidence level?
The Gators’ struggling quarterback aims to shake off a soul-crushing 5-interception night at LSU against a talented Miami defense looking to rattle him again.
The last UF quarterback to throw five interceptions was Shane Matthews, a two-time SEC Player of the Year who went on to have a long NFL career.
Matthews, who currently serves as the color analyst on radio broadcasts, recalled his performance during a 30-7 loss at Mississippi State. Two of the interceptions were tipped balls, he said, and another came on a Hail Mary to end the first half.
“We couldn’t block anyone in the game,” Matthews told the Orlando Sentinel Tuesday. “Coach Spurrier made two changes on the line the next week.”
Each of Lagway’s interceptions were on him.
Several were thrown into double, even triple coverage. Lagway’s pick six hit LSU safety Dashawn Spears right in the hands in the flat as a Florida receiver ran his route down the field.
The 20-year-old assumed ownership, calling the performance “horrible football.”
Florida followed Matthews’ dreadful night in Starkville with seven straight wins and an appearance in the SEC title game.
Lagway’s response remains to be seen.
Florida head coach Billy Napier paces the sideline during the Gators’ 41-17 loss to Miami Aug. 31 in the Swamp. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Can Florida handle the Hurricanes up front?
Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor anchor one of the nation’s top defensive lines.
The pair are Miami’s two leading tacklers, combining for 28 stops, including 3.5 sacks. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain, a projected first-round NFL draft pick, also has an interception and a force fumble.
Meanwhile, UF’s offensive line has underperformed.
The unit entered the season considered among the nation’s best, but has committed five penalties during each of the past two games. This includes two each by All-American center Jake Slaughter and preseason first-team All-SEC tackle Austin Barber.
LSU also sacked Lagway three times.
“We just have to be better,” Barber said.
Miami will pose the toughest test to date.
“They’re definitely a great group,” Barber said. “We saw ’em last year. We’ve got to go in there and prepare …. Prepare, prepare, prepare.”
Barber and Co. have not seen the Canes defensive front at its best. During Miami’s 41-17 season-opening win in the Swamp, Bain injured his calf during the opening series and would miss the next four games.
How does Florida unleash Jadan Baugh?
The sophomore tailback is the Gators most unique offensive weapon, blending power, speed and agility at 6-foot ¾, 230 pounds.
But Baugh failed to find the end zone during losses to USF and LSU. He also managed just one play of 15 yards or longer in each game.
At LSU, Florida got Baugh involved in the passing game to get him in space. Having never caught more than one pass in a game, he finished with 7 receptions for 59 yards.
But he also finished with just 46 yards on 10 carries as Napier went away from the run game and Lagway finished with a career-high 49 passing attempts.
“Some of that was when the game became a two-score game,” Napier said after the loss.
The Gators would be wise to control the ball and tempo against Miami. The Hurricanes averaged 38 points in wins against Notre Dame and USF, compared with 13 points per game by UF in losses to USF and LSU.
To run the ball against Miami, Napier might steal a page from Notre Dame. The Irish could not generate yards between the tackles against the Canes, but had some success by spreading out the defense.
UF running back Jadan Baugh (13) leaps for extra yardage during the USF at UF college football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday, September 6, 2025. USF won the game 18-16. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Does Florida-Miami have a future?
Saturday’s game will conclude a rare home-and-home series between two longtime rivals.
The Gators and Hurricanes played every season from 1938 to 1987 (except ’43 because of World War II), but now play sporadically. It could be awhile before their next meeting.
The SEC’s move to nine league games and the Gators’ annual matchup with Florida State leaves little room on the schedule for another top-shelf opponent.
UF has begun to shed future Power Four games. A source confirmed the school recently cancelled its contract with Arizona State to play in 2028 and 2031, joining N.C. State (’26, ’32) and Cal (’26, ’27) on the cutting-room floor.
Athletic director Scott Stricklin told the Orlando Sentinel last month the Gators aim to maintain matchups with UCF in 2030 and 2033, and Notre Dame in 2031 and 2032.
An FCS opponent and Group of Five opponents likely will round out Florida’s future schedules, making future games with Miami unlikely.
How will Caleb Banks’ injury impact the defense?
Banks returned at LSU after he’d missed two games with a foot injury and made his presence felt. Even though he did not record a tackle, the 6-foot-5 ¾, 330-pound redshirt senior created interior push sorely missing against USF.
But after fewer than 30 snaps, he re-injured his foot and ended the game on crutches while wearing a protective boot. On Monday, Napier said Banks will be out for an extended period of time.
Banks’ loss amplifies Brendan Bett’s role. Bett sat out the first quarter at LSU after he drew a costly unsportsmanlike penalty for spitting on USF’s game-winning drive.
The Baylor transfer publicly apologized for his actions, and then responded with a strong performance at LSU. He finished with 4 tackles and a quarterback hurry.
The Gators will need Bett at his best — and best-behaved — at Miami, where emotions are sure to run high.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
