GAINESVILLE — After a Week 1 warmup, No. 15 Florida begins an increasingly formidable three-game September stretch.
Coming off a 55-0 shellacking of Long Island University, the Gators host USF, fresh off one of Week 1’s biggest upsets. Visits follow to LSU and Miami — each coming off wins against top-10 foes Clemson and Notre Dame, respectively.
The Tampa-based Bulls routed No. 25 Boise State last Thursday for their first win against a ranked opponent under third-year coach Alex Golesh. USF now looks to stun UF in the fourth meeting between the schools and the final game of a three-game series.
“It’s exciting,” said Tampa native Tre Wilson, UF’s redshirt sophomore slot receiver. “I’m excited for every opponent coming up on our schedule. Just gotta do the preparation and keep our heads down. Make the main thing the main thing.”
How do the Gators slow Bulls dual-threat star Byrum Brown?
The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Brown is a beast in the run game and a productive passer playing in an up-tempo offense for a coach capitalizing on his skill set.
Napier saw the combination firsthand during the Gators’ 38-33 loss at Tennessee in 2022. Quarterback Hendon Hooker rushed for a 112 yards and passed for another 349 during a 38-33 win with Golesh the offensive coordinator for Vols’ coach Josh Heupel.
USF quarterback Byrum Brown breaks a tackle from Miami’s Jaden Harris in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Sept. 21, 2024 in Tampa. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Mobile quarterbacks have been Gators kryptonite under Napier. None ran through and around the UF’s defense like LSU’s Jayden Daniels, who had 216 rushing yards in 2023 and ended the season as one of two QBs with more than 3,000 yards passing and 800 on the ground.
The other one was Brown, then in his first season with Golesh. A broken left leg ended Brown’s 2024 season with eight games remaining, but the 20-year-old appears back and better, posing a major challenge for an improved Florida defense.
The Gators held LIU to just 86 yards and two first downs, but will have to keep their eyes on Brown, limit his room to roam and wrap up after missing just six tackles last weekend.
Turn your back to Brown or lose leverage and pay the price. In 2023, he forced 48 missed tackles and had 31 runs of at least 10 yards.
On his 23-yard touchdown run against Boise State, he ran over a safety at the goal line.
“It’s the unannounced plays, and it’s the extra hat in the run game,” Napier said. “They’re covered, and he takes off. Those are always an issue, especially with the types of coverages that we play. It’s going to be important.
“We’re going to have to rush as a team and work together there to compress the pocket and keep the guy in the pocket.”
Is UF kicker Trey Smack shaken?
The Gators senior entered 2025 a preseason All-SEC second-team pick and one of the most powerful and accurate kickers in UF history, converting on 35 of 42 field goals (83.3%).
But against LIU, he opened with a 49-yard miss. He was later off the mark from a mere 39 yards. Sandwiched between was 56-yarder — tied for 2012 All-American Caleb Sturgis the second longest in Gators history.
After hitting a 41-yard field goal, Smack hit the left upright from 57 yards, a cruel ending to a tough night featuring as many misses (three) as he had in 2024.
Florida kicker Trey Smack missed three of five field-goal attempts during the Gators’ opener after making 35 of 42 the past two seasons. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Despite Smack’s struggles, Napier didn’t sound concerned.
“Nobody needs to be jumping off a bridge out there,” he said Monday. “The guy’s an elite competitor, and he is phenomenal at his job. It’s important to him, so he’s going to work extremely hard and he’ll be ready. That’s what makes him great.”
Smack proved as much in 2024. A miss from just 30 yards Nov. 9 at Texas in a 14-0 game help send the Gators spiraling during a 49-17 loss. A week later, he hit a critical 55-yarder during an upset of LSU. Smack then made a 53-yard field goal during a Nov. 23 upset of Ole Miss.
Napier’s conservative coaching style is sure to give Smack many opportunities to redeem himself.
“Great shooters, when they miss early, they don’t stop shooting,” Napier said. “They keep shooting. So we’ll keep letting Trey shoot.”
Can Bryce Lovett handle right tackle?
Lovett has drawn praise for his ability to play all five positions on the offensive line. The Gators need him to play just one, and much better, going forward.
The redshirt sophomore struggled mightily during the Gators’ season-opening cruise against an outmanned FCS opponent. Lovett yielded four of LIU’s five quarterback hurries. On one play, he missed his assignment and amid the confusion blocked All-American center Jake Slaughter. Lovett did quickly disengage before hitting his helmet with his hands in a sign of exasperation.
Lovett wasn’t the only offender during a mildly disappointing performance for the O-line, but he stood out.
“Some of it was new scheme, very unique scheme I might add,” Napier said of LIU’s defensive alignment. “Once we got that identified, we settled in there. It’s not concerning.”
The Gators have limited options behind Lovett, who won the starting job at right tackle during the spring to position him as the final piece for a veteran O-line with four returning starters and considered among the nation’s best.
The 20-year-old pushes to bounce back against a USF defense that forced three Boise State fumbles and registered turnovers on downs four times.
With the SEC adding a league game, will UF prioritize in-state opponents beyond FSU?
The Gators-Seminoles annual clash isn’t going anywhere as the SEC moves from 8 to 9 league games. Matchups with Sunshine State opponents, like USF, would be appealing for the 11th spot on the slate, with the 12th going to a gimme similar to LIU.
Florida will host FAU and Campbell in 2026, but in 2027 brings South Alabama and Charleston Southern to the Swamp. In 2028, Napier’s alma mater Furman is on a schedule now with 13 games. Florida A&M is slated in 2030 along with a visit to UCF that UF athletic director Scott Stricklin said should be safe when asked by the Orlando Sentinel. The Gators and Knights are scheduled to meet again in 2033 in Gainesville.
No other in-state schools are on tap at this point. Whenever they are, Napier knows the Gators had better win.
“You want to take care of business in these games,” he said.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
USF (1-0) at No. 15 Florida (1-0)
When: 4:15 p.m., Saturday
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
TV: SEC Network
Favorite: Florida by 18.5 points
