Maybe it won’t be the Purdue showdown after all.

With Luke Del Rio, Florida’s original starting quarterback, returning to practice and taking snaps with the first-team offense, it looks like Austin Appleby might not get to start against LSU and Danny Etling after all.

If you recall, both were at Purdue at the same time. Etling transferred after the 2014 season after losing the starting job to Appleby. Appleby subsequently lost the job last season and, as a graduate, was immediately eligible to play for Florida this year.

But maybe it’s best for Florida that this not be the ex-Boilermaker showdown.

In Del Rio’s three starts, the Gators are 3-0 and scored 101 points (albeit, with UMass and North Texas among the opponents). In Appleby’s two starts since Del Rio suffered a knee injury against North Texas, the Gators are 1-1 and scored 41 points.

Del Rio’s efficiency (140.4) is better than Appleby’s (126.9).

So if you’re a Gator fan, you’re happy this week. Maybe the Gators will have the quarterback play needed to have some offense. And if you are LSU, you can relate to that problem. After all, Etling wouldn’t be starting either without the benching of incumbent starter Brandon Harris.

When LSU has the ball

QB Danny Etling vs. Florida pass defense: Etling is ninth in the SEC, averaging 162.3 passing yards per game. That’s not exactly lighting the world afire. Florida, on the other hand, leads the SEC in pass defense, giving up just 139.8 yards per game and a miniscule 86.4 efficiency.

The good news for Etling is the front seven of Florida is banged up. But freshman Jabari Zuniga already is becoming a first-class pass-rusher with five early sacks, and the LSU offensive line has also been banged up this year and will go into Gainesville likely without either right tackle Toby Weathersby or left guard Will Clapp in the lineup.

Even if LSU protects Etling, LSU’s receivers have to get open against a talented Florida secondary. Last time the Tigers faced similar talent, they struggled to get open against Auburn.

EDGE: Florida

LSU RBs vs. Florida rush defense: With or without Leonard Fournette, LSU has one of the best rushing offenses in the SEC. With Fournette out, new offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger added the twist of running Derrius Guice out of formations that spread the defense the width of the field (like a two-tight end, two-receiver look, or a four-wide look), and he responded with 163 yards on 17 carries against Missouri.

So LSU appears to have its running game in order. Florida would appear to have the personnel to make the battle interesting, and the Gators are second in the SEC in both yards allowed (90.0 ypg) and yards per carry (2.5), behind only Alabama.

But Florida has injury issues as mentioned above. Starting defensive tackle Joey Ivey and starting defensive end Jordan Sherit are both out, and several other members of the Gators’ front seven are questionable.

Of course, LSU is also banged up with the above-mentioned offensive line injuries, plus Fournette’s ailing ankle. Considering the statistics and the injuries on both sides, it’s hard to pick an advantage.

EDGE: Even

LSU receivers vs. Florida receivers: One of these days, Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural will have big days for LSU.

But for now, the top two receivers for LSU are putting up mediocre numbers with Dural going for 18 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown and Dupre with just 15 catches for 136 yards and no scores.

They have a tough matchup against maybe the best pair of corners in college football in Jalen Tabor, the more established star, and Quincy Wilson, who many are suggesting could be better than Tabor.

LSU’s best chance here may be moving the ball to some other options. The Tigers have had 13 players catch passes this year, and Etling’s biggest strength has been his willingness to spread to ball to different receivers.

EDGE: Florida

When Florida has the ball

UF QBs vs. LSU pass defense: It reflects the down year the SEC is having in quarterback play to see that between Del Rio and Appleby, Florida is in the top half of the SEC in passing at 246.4 yards per game.

But for all the quarterbacks, it’s going to be tough sledding against the better SEC pass defenses, and count LSU among them. While the Tigers are fifth in the the league in pass efficiency defense, they are coming off a stellar performance against SEC passing leader Drew Lock in the Tigers’ 42-7 rout.

The Gators will also have to protect whoever the quarterback is, and unlike Florida’s front seven, LSU’s front comes into the game firing on all cylinders. LSU outside linebacker Arden Key leads the SEC in quarterback sacks (7), and both Davon Godchaux (3 sacks) and Lewis Neal (2.5) are proven pass-rush threats. UF could be without ailing left tackle David Sharpe, which makes blocking Key that much tougher.

EDGE: LSU

UF RBs vs. LSU run defense: Despite facing some pretty good rushing attacks early in Wisconsin and Auburn, LSU is third in the SEC in rush defense, allowing 108.2 yards per game.

That bodes well against a Florida rushing offense that has been lacking, coming into the game 10th in the SEC at 160.8 yards per game.

The Gators have gone with a committee approach early, but Jordan Scarlett (55 carries, 274 yards), appears to be gaining separation from Mark Thompson (47 carries, 197 yards). But they may find tough sledding against one of the best linebackers in the SEC, Kendell Beckwith, and one of the more physical run-stoppers among the nation’s secondary players, safety Jamal Adams.

EDGE: LSU

UF WRs vs. LSU secondary: One of the best matchups of the game will be Florida’s Antonio Callaway, who is second in the SEC in receiving yards per game (92.8), against LSU’s Tre’Davious White, one of the most respected cover corners in the league.

Actually, the Gators have three pretty good pass-catchers in Callaway, Brandon Powell (19 receptions, 168 yards) and tight end DeAndre Gooslby (22 catches, 175 yards).

But LSU, the original “DBU,” has a trio of coverage specialists in the lineup — Kevin Toliver and Donte Jackson are the others — that are as strong as any trio in the league with the possible exception of the Gators. It’ll be tough for UF’s receivers to get open this time.

EDGE: LSU

Special Teams

Both teams lead the SEC in one special teams statistical category.

The Tigers have shown marked improvement covering kicks, averaging 15.9 yards in kickoff coverage, best in the league. That means LSU typically allows opponents to start inside their own 20 after a kickoff.

Florida, meanwhile, leads the SEC in net punting with Johnny Townsend booming punts at a 50.2 yards per punt clip, and the Gators are netting a league-best 43.9 yards per punt, five more yards than LSU gets per punt.

Other than that, it’s close. Kicker Eddy Piñeiro has been more accurate in field goals (7-for-9, with a long of 54) and PATs (15-for-15) than LSU’s Colby Delahoussaye (3-for-5 and 15-for-17). The Gators get more from their kick returns (20 yards per return vs. 17.3 for LSU), and LSU gets more from punt returns (9.4 vs. 3.7).

That said, neither team has been particularly remarkable on special teams.

EDGE: Florida