The days of it being a “great day to be a Florida Gator” seem far behind.
Morale in The Swamp has plummeted as the Gators’ struggles under Billy Napier continued with Saturday’s loss to Texas A&M—a game Paul Finebaum labeled as crucial for both the team and Napier’s future.
Instead of rising to the challenge, the Gators appeared completely out of sync, falling 33-20 to the visiting Aggies. Napier was booed off the field, acknowledging the remaining fans’ frustration.
“I don’t have anything negative to say about it. When you play like that in this environment, you’re going to face criticism. This stadium has a rich history, tradition, and high expectations, with many great teams having played here. If you play poorly, and it looks as bad as it did, it comes with the territory. Honestly, I’d probably have done the same thing.”
Meanwhile, the game showcased several positives for Texas A&M, while also raising a significant question.
Here are four key takeaways from both sides of Florida’s loss to Texas A&M.
1. Florida Gators have seen the last of Billy Napier (or very close to it)
This game was a must-win for Billy Napier, who was already feeling intense pressure, and he fell short in a big way. With a 1-7 record in his last eight games, Napier has been unable to build momentum, even after securing a top-15 recruiting class. His overall record at Florida stands at 12-16, with a 6-11 mark in conference play—well below the expectations for an SEC program of this caliber. In fact, it’s the worst performance by a Florida head coach since Raymond Wolf’s 13-24-2 run from 1946 to 1949.
If fired without cause, Napier’s buyout is estimated to be around $28 million.
2. It’s DJ Lagway time (at least in some capacity)
I’ve been one of the biggest advocates for giving Graham Mertz a fair shot, especially after the improvement he showed last season. But at this point, it might be time to consider gradually easing DJ Lagway into the starting role or at least implementing a rotating quarterback system, given some of the inconsistencies Mertz has displayed. Lagway, a former Gatorade National Player of the Year, has made a strong impression despite very limited playing time.
Florida legend Steve Spurrier had high praise for the young quarterback during a recent interview on “The Paul Finebaum Show.”
“He’s the quarterback of the 2020s. He can run, he can escape defenders, and he’s an excellent passer. In fact, he’s a better passer than many scrambling quarterbacks. As we saw in last week’s highlights, he was hitting receivers in stride with deep balls, and the wideouts finally got plenty of opportunities.”
3. The future of QB Conner Weigman could be uncertain
Conner Weigman entered the season as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, with some analysts projecting him as a potential first-round pick, and a few even labeling him as a contender for the best quarterback in the country. However, his season hasn’t lived up to the hype so far. In the season opener against Notre Dame, Weigman struggled mightily, completing just 40% of his passes for 100 yards and throwing two interceptions.
Recently sidelined with an AC joint sprain, Weigman watched as backup Marcel Reed exceeded expectations in his absence. Reed went 11-for-17, throwing for 178 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 83 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. His strong performance raises questions about whether he might challenge Weigman for the starting job moving forward.
4. Texas A&M offensive line shines
A successful offense always begins in the trenches, and Texas A&M’s offensive line delivered on Saturday. The unit provided excellent protection and created wide-open run lanes, enabling the Aggies to dominate Florida’s defense on the ground with a total of 310 rushing yards.
This follows a similar performance just a week earlier, where they amassed 333 rushing yards. The strong play up front also set the stage for Marcel Reed’s standout performance, both in the passing game and with his rushing efforts.
A successful offense always begins in the trenches, and Texas A&M’s offensive line delivered on Saturday. The unit provided excellent protection and created wide-open run lanes, enabling the Aggies to dominate Florida’s defense on the ground with a total of 310 rushing yards.
This follows a similar performance just a week earlier, where they amassed 333 rushing yards. The strong play up front also set the stage for Marcel Reed’s standout performance, both in the passing game and with his rushing efforts.
