Florida heads into its bye week with momentum after a thrilling comeback victory at South Carolina. Florida’s road win was just the 2nd under Billy Napier, and while beating a 2-3 South Carolina team on the road isn’t proof Florida has it all figured out under the second year staff, it is a tangible sign that the Gators are making progress and learning how to win in difficult environments. 

Florida is still only a season and a half into Napier’s slow rebuild, and games like Saturday provide proof of concept. The proof of concept under Napier is buttressed by the reality that the Gators started only 1 senior (who is not eligible to play college football in 2024) at Williams-Brice Stadium and won the game thanks to critical plays on both sides of the football by freshmen and sophomores. Underclassmen find their names on 21 of the 24 spots on Florida’s 2-deep roster, and Florida leads the Power 5 in freshmen and sophomore participation rate. In other words — Napier is playing his kids, and it is starting to make a difference.

How much a difference? We’ll learn the answer to that quickly. After the bye, Florida begins the most brutal 5-game stretch in college football this season, with games against No. 1 Georgia, at No. 19 LSU, at No. 20 Missouri, and home against No. 4 Florida State. A home date with Arkansas, which put a scare into Alabama last weekend, also looms on the horizon. Florida must win 1 of those 5 games to earn the extra practices a bowl game offers and with a bowl game, a chance at the program’s first winning season since 2020. That’s heady stuff, but it’s exponentially better to be playing for something than playing out the string.

Let’s dive into my email bag and answer some questions for y’all as the Gators hit the bye week.

Florida’s defense has struggled in 2 of its past 3 games. As the schedule stiffens, how concerned should we be? (Riley, Clearwater, Fla.)

Florida’s defense has struggled in 2 of its past 3 games, no question. The biggest issues have come up front. The Gators were bullied by Kentucky’s offensive line and put in a disappointing showing against a South Carolina unit that had been one of the nation’s worst in 2023. The Gamecocks went for a season high 152 yards rushing. Kentucky rushed for 329! If I am Georgia and Mike Bobo, I am running until the Gators stop it. Without Brock Bowers, there is simply no need to make Carson Beck do too much at the Cocktail Party.

Florida has to get the run game defense tightened up.

The good news for new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong is that the Gators still rank 20th in total defense and 18th in success rate defense. After 3 consecutive seasons outside the top 50 nationally in total defense, Florida has obviously improved immensely on defense.

Florida is also quite good in pass defense, ranking 24th nationally in yards allowed (3rd in the SEC) and 12th in success rate against the pass (2nd in the SEC, behind Georgia). Florida’s corners have been terrific this season, grading out as the 3rd-best group in the SEC, behind Alabama and Georgia.

That mettle is about to get tested in the biggest way, of course.

The Gators will face Beck, who has been very good since the second half of Georgia’s comeback win at Auburn, and 3 of the nation’s best quarterbacks after him in Arkansas’ star KJ Jefferson, LSU’s dynamic Jayden Daniels, who is the probable SEC Player of the Year, and Florida State All-American Jordan Travis. If Florida doesn’t improve against the run, there will be a couple of long Saturdays on that side of the ball.

What was your reaction to Graham Mertz’s winning touchdown to Ricky Pearsall? (Billy, Gainesville, Fla.)

Nothing but heart and guts from both players.

It wasn’t quite “Doering’s Got a Touchdown!” legend status at Florida, but the program needed Saturday badly. And so did Florida’s fans, the silent majority of whom support Napier, are tired of changing coaches and just want to start winning games again.

Mertz has exceeded every expectation. The “Spurs Up Show” ranked Mertz dead last among SEC quarterbacks in July.

They were far from the only ones, but those takes are reaching “Old Takes Exposed” levels of foolish. Mertz now ranks 4th in the SEC in passing yards, No. 1 in completion percentage and No. 2 in TD-INT ratio (6-1). He’s clearly a different player from the one who struggled mightily at Wisconsin under Paul Chryst. The Badgers, by the way, rank 88th in passing offense and 94th in passing success rate without Mertz, and just scored 6 points in a home loss to Iowa this past weekend. Who needed who?

As for Pearsall, he’s as good a slot receiver as there is in the sport right now, and South Carolina was the latest team to throw the kitchen sink at him in coverage. They tried bump coverage, press coverage, double coverage, two high help: none of it worked. Pearsall now ranks in the top 5 in the SEC in receptions, yards, and percentage of targets caught. Those numbers are positively … Doering-like.

What’s up with our D Line woes? It seemed like a strength at the beginning of the season … (Michael, Gainesville, Fla.)

Florida’s defensive tackles are better than they have been in recent seasons, but the bar was low. Reality? You’re right that the Gators are struggling up front. The film suggests the biggest issues are at tackle right now. Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks have played beautifully in The Swamp, when the crowd noise and opponents using silent counts allows them a split second head start. They have not done as well on the road. Note how they are mauled on this long Ray Davis touchdown, for example.

Florida has tried some other bodies as a result, and Chris McLellan made a difference when he came in against South Carolina. Florida is also playing a number of talented but green bodies up front, including blue-chip freshman Kelby Collins, who played a career high in snaps against Vanderbilt and delivered a huge pressure late to force a Spencer Rattler interception last weekend.

The bottom line, though, is Florida needs more from the interior of that group, especially away from home.

Who is Florida’s best matchup against a ranked team down the stretch? (Jason, Chattanooga)

It’s always good to get an out-of-state fan with a question, and I liked this one given Florida closes with 4 ranked foes.

The answer is Florida State, for 2 reasons.

First, the Gators are at home, where they have been a much better team all season, especially defensively.

Second, Florida is “strong on strong” in this game. While FSU hits big plays in the passing game against everyone they play, Florida has a good pass defense and outstanding corners. The Gators also have been balanced on offense at home and should be able to consistently move the football against FSU’s defense, which ranks 72nd against the run, 64th against the pass, and 67th in success rate defense. 

The Seminoles’ offensive line has not been as good as advertised this season, and if Florida can pressure Travis on occasion, they may limit Florida State just enough to compete for a win at home.

The other 3 matchups against a ranked team feature 1 glaring Florida weakness against an opponent strength (Georgia, Missouri) or it comes on the road against an offense they’ll have to outscore (LSU). If the Gators want to beat someone they aren’t supposed to, FSU may be their best opportunity.