DJ Lagway flashes promise in Florida's spring game, other Gators notes
DJ Lagway just made the summer in Gainesville a little more interesting.
The backup quarterback is always the most popular player on a football team. Especially when the backup is a 5-star freshman who hasn’t put a foot wrong and the football team is coming off a losing season. Many will be calling to see Lagway right away. Whether Billy Napier and Co. acquiesce to those calls remains to be seen.
Lagway was the only quarterback to see the field for the Orange team through the first three quarters in Florida’s annual Orange and Blue Game. He hit 12 of his 21 passes for 173 yards and a pair of touchdown strikes with 1 interception when all was said and done.
The interception wasn’t the only throw Lagway put in danger, it was just the only time he was burned by it.
That turnover came midway through the third quarter when, faced with a third-and-16, Lagway tried to force a pass to his left as he climbed in a crowded pocket. Mannie Nunnery jumped in front of the ball and ended a 7-play drive just outside of scoring position.
You expect to see a young player make throws like that. They trust their arm because they were able to win with their talent no matter the coverage at the high school level. You learn and you grow. If Florida were to roll with Lagway throughout the upcoming season, there would undoubtedly be more of those kinds of giveaways.
You just don’t expect to see the same kinds of throws from a veteran like Graham Mertz, who was picked off on the very next drive when he threw into tight coverage and missed his spot.
Mertz played the full game, attempting 27 passes. He completed 15 of them for 243 yards with 1 touchdown and the aforementioned pick.
Lagway had 5 completions of at least 20 yards. Mertz had 3, though he had a 60-yard touchdown to Tre Wilson III and a 50-yarder to Kahleil Jackson.
Of course, the key here is to temper any takeaways for either quarterback. Florida’s secondary was suspect a year ago and it looked suspect again. Wilson’s touchdown catch was an uncontested post route down the middle of the field. The rush was a base package and Wilson still managed to run free through the middle to scamper for a score.
Receivers were running open in behind defensive backs regularly. Between Mertz and Lagway, the quarterbacks combined for an average of 8.7 yards per pass attempt. Florida’s 119th-ranked pass defense gave up 8.3 yards a pass last season.
If Napier is to move off the hot seat, that’s as vital an area as any to address.
But Lagway also flashed his promise. His legs helped him escape a couple of times. He had a handful of layered throws that were put where they needed to be put. An incompletion intended for Aidan Mizell on the Orange team’s second-to-last drive was one of his most impressive throws of the day. (Mizell had a foot out when he caught it.)
His first touchdown came on a 22-yarder to Mizell in the first quarter.
Touchdown Orange!! ?@DerekLagway connects with @AidanMizell ‼️
? https://t.co/cDmbrV8uRG pic.twitter.com/745yf4SEiM
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 13, 2024
The talent is obvious. We’re talking about a consensus 5-star recruit here. But, the smart money is on Lagway to enter the season as Florida’s backup. Mertz has years of experience to call on. The ceiling isn’t as high, but the variance might also not be quite as wide. Remeber, Mertz hit 73% of his throws and had just a 0.8% interception rate last fall.
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During the SEC Network+ broadcast, Danny Wuerffel provided some commentary on the quarterback situation at Florida. Experience in the system, Wuerffel said, is a major advantage for Mertz. In that thinking, it’s probably safe to consider him an extension of the coaching staff.
“In any system, it’s a big deal,” Wuerffel said. “However, I would say it’s even bigger here. This offense, to me, is very sophisticated for a quarterback to run. There are so many checks and alignments and all these different things, so I think it really takes a bit before all that becomes second nature. You don’t want to be thinking about shifts and motions when you’re gonna be playing quarterback.”
But that aspect of the position isn’t for fans to consider. They want to see an exciting offense. They want to see a dynamic attack. And they want to see the new guy who has done nothing but tease his potential.
To that end, the conversation surrounding Florida’s quarterback spot will be something to watch as the summer months come and go.
Other notes and tidbits from the scrimmage
>> The sequence of events leading up to Lagway’s interception in the third quarter was a mess from a play-calling standpoint. Florida tried to run a reverse flea flicker that was promptly snuffed out by the defense and resulted in a 12-yard loss on first down. The second-down play — a designed draw for Lagway — was blown dead because of a false start. Second-and-27 two plays after a 20-yard gain to move into plus territory is a back-breaking swing in a real game.
>> Florida’s backfield took a hit when Trevor Etienne decided to skip town, but the room looks like it’ll be fine going forward. Montrell Johnson Jr., last year’s leading rusher, is a fine No. 1 option. Freshman Jordan Baugh looks capable of producing right away. He showed some shiftiness and ran for 77 yards on 12 carries. Ja’Keem Jackson had 5 carries for 60 yards for the Blue team.
>> Florida shanked a punt out of bounds late in a situational moment. The Orange team kicker missed all 3 of his field goal attempts, including a 34-yarder. A PAT in the opening seconds of the second quarter featured only 10 players lined up on the defensive side of the ball. The walk-off field goal that won the game for the Blue team had a blocker running onto the field late. From an operational standpoint, it was a little sloppy on special teams. The positive was Trey Smack, who made all 4 of his kicks, though all of them were within 40 yards. Florida needs him to stay healthy or it’ll be in trouble.
>> Tre Wilson can be a major weapon for the Gators. He was a bright spot as a freshman last season, and if Saturday’s spring showcase was any indication, he’ll be a focal point in 2024. Wilson finished with 8 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. He had 6 catches at halftime — 2 of which came on third downs.
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Baugh and Wilson III were very impressive. DJ Lagaway is as promised…Loved the eco- friendly paint used on the field. Baby Woke will now be allowed to roll around on it. I hear the orange one will be in NYC for a few months…
STEVE SPURRIER PREDICTION…..
He said Florida fans would do cartwheels if Florida went 8-4 and won a bowl game…. He also made that his prediction…. Nevertheless, I don’t believe 8-4 would make the Florida fans happy!!!
While I believe it would buy Napier another season or so… If those 4 losses were say Miami, Georgia, FSU and Tennessee or possibly Kentucky again… I think fans would say. It’s not okay losing to all our biggest rivals!!!
My prediction is that Florida best be happy if they can just get 6 wins!!!! Because I can see a scenario where Florida might barely win 3 to 5 games again. Especially with this new hard schedule!!!!!
Heck I even worry a little about Georgia because of this new crazy hard SEC!!! It’s not only that we are adding two good teams… Rather it’s because it seems like all of our schedules were made way harder with or without the two new teams!!!!!!
I PERSONALLY WORRY ABOUT THE COMMITTEE GETTING IT WRONG!!!
Putting an unbeaten team that played nobody in over a team that played most every powerhouse in the league!!!!!! The SEC needs to be fairly represented on the committee…. The SEC is BY FAR the strongest conference in the country period!!!!! To me the SEC should have THE MOST COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE….. Because if the others (NON SEC) had their way. No SEC team would ever get in!!!! THEY WOULD SIMPLY FREEZE US OUT!!!!!
Last season Georgia belonged in the playoffs!!! With a 29-1 record with 2 national championships back to back and an SEC championship. Plus 3 straight regular season unbeaten seasons in the SEC…. If that little 3 point loss in the SEC title game was enough to keep Georgia out. Especially when if they had replayed a catch that wasn’t a catch… Alabama doesn’t score on that drive and Georgia wins… BUT WHAT ELSE IS KNEW??? Nevertheless, if that is enough to prevent Georgia from going after a 3peat….. To me that is sickening and unfair!!!!!! Again, what else is knew????
Nevertheless know this…. Now Georgia will be out for blood!!!! They will be on the hunt and angrier than ever!!!!!!
PS. When angry players are smiling… That means they know something you don’t!!!!
TIME TO BRING THAT PAIN!!!! LOL
Negan
It’s spring. Everyone’s undefeated. (rolls eyes emoji inserted here)
Yep everyone is undefeated… But not everyone gave up 31 points in just the first quarter on Saturday like Alabama did!!!!! CKD had to call the offense off the defense!!!
CKD started putting in the third string and when he did put Milroe back in the game. He was calling different plays to make sure they went 3 and out!!!!!!
THE FACT THAT THE OFFENSE WENT 3 AND OUT NEARLY THE ENTIRE 2ND QUARTER AND THE 2ND HALF….. THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY ON PURPOSE!!!!!
CKD thought about the transfer portal. He knew if he destroyed the defense 80-0 that they would all transfer like Caleb Downs did!!!!! I’m telling you. That was bad!!!!! No positive way to spin it!!!!! I don’t even believe your offense is going to be as good as you think in YEAR ONE!!!!!
SOME FANS QUESTIONED CARSON BECK’S PERFORMANCE…. WHY I DON’T KNOW? HE PUT 20 POINTS UP ON THE #1 DEFENSE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!!!!
It did take Beck the entire game to get 20!!! Not 31 in the first quarter!!!!! LOL… Seriously, we all know Carson Beck is an ELITE LEVEL QB!!! He broke Georgia passing records in his first season as a starting QB!!!! I also believe Milroe is probably going to rock n roll under CKD!!!!!
STILL AS OF ” RIGHT NOW ” TODAY. I HONESTLY BELIEVE ALABAMA HAS ISSUES!!!
PS. Surely seeing that 31 point first quarter when the defense couldn’t stop anything… Alabama fans must know that??? I guarantee you Saban saw what I did!!!!! LOL
Negan
ONE LAST THING…..
That scoring system CKD put in place for his defense made very little sense!!! Either way… The starting defense gave up 31 points in the first quarter anyway you look at it!!!
And in real games. The defense can’t get you a touchdown by a 3 and out! I’m telling you Alabama has problems not easily fixed! Your DC is a pal of CKD!!!! ITS THE OLD BUDDY SYSTEM!!!!!
PS. Alabama wasn’t built on the buddy system and you know it!!!!
Negan
I don’t think there is any doubt who the UF starting QB will be. It’s Mertz, and I suspect the fans realize this also. Not much of a debate, yet.
How many wins do you see with Mertz?
I don’t see a winning record during the regular season. Tough schedule and a weak coaching staff.
Then shouldn’t they start Lagway?
I wouldn’t at the beginning. How many true freshmen are ready to start at QB in the SEC? It could mentally break him if he’s not ready. Mertz isn’t their biggest issue.
LSUSMC…… I agree with SMC here… Not everyone is mentally ready to play as a true freshman in the SEC!!!
Jake Fromm took Georgia to an SEC championship and a national championship game as a true freshman…. The difference is Fromm had elite players all around him and had practiced against the best in the country before he took over!!! He played in place of the injured Jacob Eason! He was hurt vs app state…
Funny thing is I believe Georgia might have lost to App state if Eason had continued to play!!! Jake Fromm just happened to blend perfectly with Georgia from day one!!!!
Florida basically ruined Felipe Franks playing him too soon!!! He was a 5 star QB with literally every gift a QB needs physically speaking!!!!
He was 6 foot 6 I believe, and well over 200 pounds. He could throw it accurately 70 or 80 yards and he could run!!!!
STILL THE SEC SCHEDULE ATE HIM UP AND SPIT HIM OUT!!! ESPECIALLY GEORGIA 42-7!!! HE JUST WASN’T READY!!!!
Franks didn’t have an elite offensive line with MULTIPLE UNBELIEVABLE RUNNING BACKS!!!! THAT SEASON GEORGIA HAD SEVERAL 5 STAR WIDE RECEIVERS AND A 5 STAR TE AS WELL…. YOU ALL KNOW WHAT WE BRING/BROUGHT ON DEFENSE!!!!
Fromm was protected and Franks was not!!! And DJ Lagway is also on his own!!! Mertz is a better bet, but Florida fans might as well get used to it….
Your record ain’t improving playing a 100 times tougher schedule!!! If you win 5 games you should be happy… Win 6 and you might give Billy a Jimbo Fisher contract!!!!! LOL
Florida ain’t a terrible team as far as talent goes… But clearly something is off!!!!
My point I hope Georgia doesn’t play with Florida next season…. I hope we end it early!!! Never allow a decent team that hates you to stick around!!! LOL
Florida should begin putting packages in place for Lagway. Like RedZone packages when you want a play with potential to run or throw!!!! If it were me. I would include a few packages for Lagway from day one!!!! And just add a little as the season goes on… This way if he were forced into action around mid season. He would be much much more comfortable!!!! Then who knows??? LOL
I am not even a Florida fan. And yet Billy Napier moves so slowly that it even drives me crazy at times!!! LOL
PS. How do Florida fans feel about his sloooooow process? Surely it can’t be just me!!! LOL
Negan
I think they could get 6 wins, maybe more if the team really starts to click as the season progresses. I feel hopeful that they will improve from last season.
Those last five games have to be the toughest schedule in the country. They need to get off to a good start. Miami is almost a must win for them in order to have a chance at a winning record. The SEC did them no favors.
I’d trade with them.
The away part is tougher for UGA. As far as opponents, I think UF has the tougher go. They aren’t near as good as UGA, so that also makes things look worse from a Florida perspective.
UGA plays Clemson.
UF has Miami and FSU
Tougher for UF.
As far as conference opponents go, they have Texas A&M and LSU while UGA has Alabama and Auburn. That’s about a wash. Your Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss games would be expected losses for UF, no matter where those games are played. That makes a difference from a UGA perspective. Having all three on the road would be brutal for anyone.
In conclusion, your schedule is harder for you and UGA would benefit by having UF’s schedule because the only tough road game for UGA would be Texas.
Florida would actually have a better chance at 7 wins with your schedule.
So, I think both would benefit by having the other’s schedule.
Georgia could easily go 10-2 with their schedule. If they had UFs schedule and home game set up 11-1 and SECCG at worst. I don’t think Florida would fare any better vs GT and Clemson as they will vs U and FSU. GT did beat the U last year btw.
GFA….. You are nearly exactly the same team as last season… You might add a young D lineman or so… But I think Lagway is too young and raw!!!! Mertz nolonger has his top reciever either!!!!!
You MIGHT can win 6 if you play inspired football… But you need to be ready to potentially have an even worse record than last season!!!!
That schedule that Florida and Georgia has to play is no joke!!!! We both play the strongest schedule ever!!!!!
GEORGIA IS STACKED ON OFFENSE & DEFENSE!!! AND I’M STILL A BIT WORRIED!!!
I believe Georgia wins a national championship this season… But these schedules are out of this world!!!!
Some terrible ACC teams could go unbeaten… Only because they play NOBODY!!!
PS. It’s not close to fair!!!! Oh well. LOL
Negan
LSUSMC…… Observe my theory…
” They aren’t near as good as UGA, so that also makes things look worse from a Florida perspective.
UGA plays Clemson.
UF has Miami and FSU
Tougher for UF. ”
I disagree… I don’t believe there is any way to know how good FSU will be this season… Plus Miami was terrible last season!!! Clemson had a few down years. One was a 2 loss season. Many would like to be down like that!!! And Clemson had a winning season last year… Most people expect Clemson to again challenge for the ACC title!!!!!
As far as Georgia being better than Florida… That doesn’t change who plays the toughest schedule!!!!
Personally I don’t think the SEC did Georgia or Florida any favors!!!
I would much rather play Miami rather than Clemson!!! Not scared of FSU at all!!!!
Maybe Georgia can bring that pain again in the playoffs if FSU doesn’t opt out again!!! LOL
LOOK AT MY PS….
PS. Look at the Georgia schedule and then think… Even if we could go unbeaten… Look how many teams we might have to BEAT TWICE in order to win the national championship!!!! LOL
Negan
It was a fun game to watch. I think Lagway will be a lot of fun to watch this year as he grows and learns. Wilson was electric as usual, and I was impressed by Baugh. Smack definitely needs to stay healthy or the Gators will be in trouble. Overall I liked what I saw, given those not playing due to injury and that they will be working together as a team during the season.
Steve Spurrier seems very interested in Florida doing well… I wonder why he doesn’t coach Florida??? Just like Saban. Spurrier is AGELESS!!!!!
As for recruiting. He could hire young coaches who are great recruiters!!! Then I might be a bit more fearful of Florida!!!! Because I know the head ball coach can coach his rear off!!!!!
PS. Actually just forget my idea…. Keep Billy!!! LOL JK….
Negan
GFA: Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how one sees the current problem, I’m afraid 6 wins won’t cut it for CBN’s future with the Gators. That said, with this schedule in 2024, if he pulls out an 8 win regular season and wins a decent bowl game ….. I think that would be evidence that the corner will have been turned for most everyone except for Gaga.
Either way, for Lagway’s sake, I hope he doesn’t get thrown to the wolves prematurely. The line about Mertz being an extension of the coaching staff at this point is SPOT ON.
doc…Napier will be living on a two-edged sword this Fall. His team desperately needs to show improvement and we all know who is the most popular guy on campus=#2 QB. Billy will feel the pressure of giving the fans hope by some of Lagway’s explosiveness, but if he plays Lagway too much it spells disaster for the Gators. Trevor Lawrence started his fifth game & he was a “Generational QB” & was surrounded by 6 ft. 5 in elite receivers and a great “O” line, plus that Clemson team was loaded across the board. We’ll all find out as the season progresses. Hopefully Billy sees that Mertz can give the team more wins than occasional flash by Lagway. That Miami game looms large so Go Gators !
8 wins lol. Not happening chump
I agree that 6 wins won’t cut it for the most part, unless the Gators get a couple of big wins at the end against high ranked teams and the team seems to be gelling well together, especially if Lagway and other freshmen are showing a lot of promise. Then, I think that CBN would be retained to keep the team together, unless they had the opportunity to hire a sure fire winning coach (which is unlikely but never say never!)
Seems similar to what the gators showed during the season. QB room is solid, great WR1 (now EW3 instead of pearsall), and deep rb room. Jadan Baugh could be trouble for sec defenses. 3rd level of defense is still soft, and troubling special teams organization on the field. OL seemed to let the pocket collapse especially in second half, with pressure on the tackles. Still given all the changes I believe CBN is ahead of where he was a year ago.
This is such a reasonable post I couldn’t think of much to say other than– well done.
Thanks Truth, reasonable posts on the topic of actual football being played on the field don’t generate much comments
Well, this one should.
The key to success for the Gators this season is improved defensive play. The third level may have played soft at times, but at least they had two picks, which are 2/3 of all they had the last 13 games. That includes last spring!
I do too, Les – but as Emilio always says, “we’ll see”. I don’t like the negative report on the secondary being week, gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, but not drawing any conclusions until the season is under way and things are not scripted. I do think though that if Mertz rises to the occasion again at this late point in his college career, his secondary role as peer Motivator-in-Chief will be a combat multiplier for sure. Absent that, maybe CBN ought to post some of Gaga’s scree on the locker room bulletin board, or maybe use his name, image and likeness as a tackling dummy!
Doc, I did like the desire by Blue to win at the end and pay it off. These guys need to experience victory at every chance so they can develop that “winning is a habit”. Maybe Mr truth is finally right – CBN realizes he has to win first and be champions of life second.
I wouldn’t call it champions of life, but the first thing he needed to do was establish a culture. He has now had enough time to accomplish that. We will see if he has.
So I’m not a football expert like Nash and some others here but still. I can’t understand why would anyone call for Lagway to start ahead of Mertz. Mertz was dang good last year and he should be better this season and yet here we are with all the Lagway noise. As if Mertz was the reason we did so poorly last year.
Maybe it’s just me but this feels like some Bizatto world kinda sheet where everything is upside down. I just think these people need to get their heads out if their arse. But maybe it’s just me and my limited knowledge
With Mertz having the experience he does, he should be starting this season. I do think he’ll be QB1 for the season barring some regression. I am hoping that Lagway will have some special packages each game like Tebow did so he can get the experience and because he is a talented young man.
I mean Mertz’s ceiling as a 6th year Senior is probably 7-5 and the 8th best QB in the SEC. Between that and the transfer portal being a thing I think you play Lagway in special packages early and if it looks like he’s ready you make the switch. Won’t happen, but probably should for the future of the program.
Cojones – Don’t sell yourself short! Nash, StL, and Marsh are in a league of their own and we all go to school on then …. I had the opportunity to sit in the backseat of Nash’s luxury hot rod last fall (shorter legs) and listen to Emilio and him talk football on the way up to Waco (and got out feeling like a dummy myself by the time we got to Baylor).
You, GFA, Les and old Mr Truth pick up things all the time that I don’t see at first blush – keep it up! It all counts except for Gaga & Negan. :)
Very encouraging to read that Billy continues to feature his astonishing array of Acme brand gadget plays! The unstoppable reverse flea flicker once more dazzled the defense. Here’s what it comes down to: If Billy calls at least 7 gadgets a game the Gators go undefeated! Get ready to see Lagway strap on a pair of rocket powered roller skates and be launched onto the field by a canon!
I hear you truth but at least none of our QBs are doing backflips in pre game warmups and I haven’t heard any of them bragging about hitting the roof of the practice facility, so there’s that
LOL! Baby steps!
MRTRUTH: LOL!!
I think the point being that successful coaches drill the fundamentals over and over again until they become a reflex in any situation. That’s essentially what a master at any position is made of, and once mastered you move on to the advanced techniques. At least that’s how you train infantrymen for combat, so the corollary ought to hold for football players.
Gadgets have their place, but you can’t build a whole offense on them – especially when players haven’t even shown that they have mastered the fundamentals yet. I’m with GFA though – I think this team has matured in the last year. I just hope their coaches have too.
I feel it will mostly come down to whether the defense shows significant improvement. Just kidding on the gadget play offense. I feel they really only have a chance to work when your base offense works to the point the defense feels stressed.
No excuse for Florida not to go 8-4 – Mertz has the most experience of any QB Florida will be playing against – the U, the team that lost to Rutgers, TAMU and MSU has new coaches, the Vols and UK have new QBs to break in, and fsu really? after the OB showing?
that leaves 4 tough games – if napier can’t do that in year 3 he needs to go
Agreed. 8 wins is reasonable and not a high bar at all.
I hate putting up any kind of high expectations on this Gator team full of question marks, but it’s just simple math. Given the five opponents they’ll face in November, they must find a way to be 5-0 by the time they get to Rocky Top on 10/12 to even get a shot at 8-4.
THAT won’t happen if Lagway finds himself QB1 any time this season.
Agree. 8-4 in the regular season is NOT a high bar with this much talent on hand. The schedule may be a blessing in disguise if it gets heads out of butts, and I’m primarily referring to the coaching staff there. Players will always play to their standards as none other than Dan Mullin proved once and for all.
I read with amusement the comparisons of schedule difficulty between Georgia’s and Florida’s schedules in the comments above. I think the differences are a little more obvious in the format below.
Georgia: 2 FCS, 4 Unranked, Plays 4,6 and 16,19,23
Florida: 1 FCS, 2 Unranked, Plays 1,4,6 and 12,15,16,23,24,25
GEORGIA
———-
19 Neutral
FCS
23 Away
9 Away
SEC Unranked Home
SEC Unranked Home
4 Away
SEC Unranked Neutral
6 Away
16 Home
FCS
ACC Unranked Home
FLORIDA
———-
24 Home
FCS
25 Home
SEC Unranked Away
UCF Unranked Home
16 Away
23 Home
1 Neutral
4 Away
12 Home
6 Home
15 Away
Ouch! Putting it this way really makes it sink in what a tough schedule the Gators have this season. Hoping for the best possible outcome!
Left out that Georgia plays 9 Away (Alabama) in horizontal listing above. Georgia’s best case is probably 11-1 and worst case 9-3.
Florida’s best case is probably 9-3 and worst case 6-6.
Georgia’s best case is 12-0 and worst case 11-1 if they played Florida’s schedule
Florida’s best case is still 9-3 and worst case 5-7 if they played Georgia’s schedule.
You guys keep going on about how tough Miami and FSU are, ignoring the fact that Clemson is every bit as tough a win as FSU would be, and GT did in fact beat Miami last year…I don’t understand. The only argument in favor of Florida’s schedule being tougher is the two other non-conference games. In conference I would certainly rather have Florida’s schedule…
I am not arguing that Miami or FSU are tough. I think FSU takes a huge step back this year and the game is only somewhat challenging because it’s in Tallahassee.
The argument for Florida’s schedule being tougher is that it clearly is. The higher home game count for Florida does not in any way offset Georgia playing two FCS teams and four unranked opponents.
So then, your numbers don’t include FSU as a ranked opponent? Sounds like you made a strong argument for them not to be…but to my real point, searching both teams schedule for manageable wins for Florida, I don’t see more than 5 or 6 with both scenarios…UGa’s schedule may appear weaker only because we play UF, UF on the other hand has to play UGa…
Hump. Georgia plays two FCS opponents and four unranked opponents. Six games.
Florida plays one FCS opponent and two unranked opponents. Three games.
I only consider one Florida game “manageable” until I see the offensive line play. That said, Florida should be significantly better this year.
Nothing you posted changes my mind. Much rather play UF’s schedule.
Georgia’s two toughest games are the same opponents Florida plays, albeit with Ole Miss away. Georgia has six unranked and FCS opponents to Florida’s three.
Florida’s schedule will be more fun for the fans. I’m looking forward to both Florida and Georgia coming to Austin. If that’s your perspective, I agree with you.
I assume you understand that I am solely looking at this form a UGA perspective. The only game on UF schedule that would scare me, as a UGA fan, is the Texas game. UGA’s schedule includes, in addition to the Ole Miss game, Bama and Texas on the road. All three scare me. A ranked Miami, LSU, Ole Miss or TAMU played in Athens do not.
Understood. You don’t have to play Georgia.
True! They get Florida instead.