Gator Nation expected better and deserved better. As 17.5-point favorites entering their week two matchup with USF, No.13 Florida fell at home by a score of 18-16. Inexcusable in year four under Billy Napier.
Despite an ugly showing offensively, the Gators had a chance to essentially put the game away with just one first down after starting at their own 40-yard line with 2:52 to play. Florida managed to gain two yards and take off just 27 seconds off the clock, punting the ball back to USF with 2:27 to play and only a one-point lead.
It gets worse. Prior to Florida’s first snap on that drive, Napier called a timeout. Not only did the Gators gain zero yards on the play after the timeout, but they stopped the clock with an incompletion. I haven’t even mentioned that Napier could have used that timeout to stop the clock on USF’s game winning possession.
The Gators continued to shoot themselves in the foot. After not being penalized in the season opener, Florida was flagged 11 times for 103 yards including a 13- and 15-yard penalty on USF’s final drive. The latter was for defensive tackle Brendan Bett spitting in the opponent’s face.
It wasn’t all on the coaching either. Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway arguably played his worst game as a Gator, completing 22-33 passes for 222 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Lagway missed several wide-open receivers and failed to make the correct reads, seemingly losing confidence as the game progressed.
The Gators moved the ball well in the first half, totaling 212 yards of offense on just three drives. They averaged over 70 yards per drive and 6.6 yards per play in the first 30 minutes but could only manage nine points on three field goals. Red zone miscues were a huge part in USF even being in this game in the second half. Drops, penalties, and poor play calls caused it.
The mistakes continued in the second half, except Florida couldn’t even get into field goal range. The Gators’ only score in the final 30 minutes came after an electric 40-yard punt return from freshman receiver Vernell Brown III. Late in the game, USF started stacking the box and making Florida beat them through the air, and Florida couldn’t execute. The Gators rushed the ball 16 times for 48 yards in the second half after averaging 5.7 yards per carry in the first half.
Florida had multiple chances to win the game on Saturday night and failed to do so. That’s been the story of Billy Napier’s tenure at UF through 40 games.
Th Gators travel to Baton Rouge next weekend to take on No.3 LSU. Florida drops to 1-1 (0-0 SEC) on the 2025 season.