Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) passes throughout the first half an NCAA soccer sport in opposition to Texas in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 4, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] By no means thoughts that Florida is 2-3 and has but to win on the street this 12 months.
In accordance with Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, his fifth-ranked workforce will likely be dealing with its hardest opponent this 12 months when the Gators invade Faculty Station for a Southeastern Convention matchup Saturday night time.
“By far and away, essentially the most gifted workforce we have performed this 12 months,” Elko stated. “They have a wonderful group of gamers. They’ve performed a really aggressive schedule. They’ve performed in two top-10 environments already, so they are going to be well-versed in what that is like.”
That being stated, there’s a purpose the Aggies (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Convention) are robust favorites and ranked within the high 5. They’ve confirmed they’ll win any sort of sport, whether or not it is a blowout (Utah State), a shootout (Notre Dame) or a defensive slugfest (Auburn).
A 31-9 house win over Mississippi State final week in all probability traits nearer to the Auburn sport than the Utah State contest. It was 7-3 at halftime and 14-3 after three quarters earlier than Texas A&M lastly bought a working margin with two fast fourth-quarter touchdowns.
The protection has carried the Aggies via the groups’ first two SEC video games. Texas A&M allowed solely 19 factors whole, routinely profitable on first and second downs earlier than locking down on third down. Opponents have transformed simply 1 of 23 the previous two weeks.
“A big a part of our success is we have been very a lot in advantageous third-down conditions,” Elko stated. “A workforce goes first-and-10, second-and-6, third-and-2, your third-down proportion is clearly not going to almost be what it has been for us.”
The Texas A&M offense is paced by quarterback Marcel Reed, who has accomplished 59.7 % of his passes for 1,256 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions. Le’Veon Moss has added 343 yards and 5 scores on the bottom.
In the meantime, Florida (2-3, 1-1) snapped a three-game shedding streak final week with a formidable 29-21 house win over then-No. 9 Texas, a end result that despatched the Longhorns plummeting all the way in which out of the High 25.
Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway shredded the Texas protection for 298 yards on 21-of-28 passing, throwing for 2 touchdowns. The Gators’ protection allowed simply 52 yards on the bottom and compelled Arch Manning to go it alone, sacking him six instances and intercepting two passes to offset 263 yards and two scores.
It was a giant win for embattled coach Billy Napier, who landed again within the sizzling seat after consecutive losses to South Florida, then-No. 3 LSU and then-No. 4 Miami (Fla.). After getting the response to adversity he wished, he’s desirous to see how the workforce handles success in opposition to a top-five opponent on the street.
“Bought to show round and play an excellent workforce,” Napier stated. “That is an extremely gifted (Texas A&M) workforce. Massive, lengthy and quick. A really powerful, bodily group. We respect the opponent, clearly.
“The quarterback is ready to make unannounced performs. It’ll be a terrific problem, and we will have to be at our greatest. It is what you’d count on on this league.”
Lagway has thrown for 988 yards and 7 touchdowns however has additionally tossed seven interceptions. Jadan Baugh leads the bottom sport with 396 yards and three scores.
The Aggies personal a 4-3 collection lead, together with a 33-20 victory final 12 months in Gainesville, Fla.
–Area Stage Media
