Desperate Gators host Texas A&M as underdogs in SEC opener

GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Billy Napier resumes his quest for job security while the Gators seek to end a six-game skid against power conference foes when Texas A&M visits the Swamp.

Following a feel-good win and true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway’s coming out against Samford, UF (1-1) shifts to SEC play and the start of an unrelenting 10-game, 12-week stretch with major repercussions for Napier and the future of the program.

A win against the Aggies (1-1) would salvage a split during the two marquee games on the nation’s toughest schedule prior to the Gators’ first bye week Sept. 22-29. A home loss to Texas A&M, rebuilding under first-year coach Mike Elko, could doom Napier heading into a Sept. 21 visit to Mississippi State and UCF’s Oct. 5 visit.

The Gators can ill afford a repeat of their season-opening no-show against Miami.

Texas A&M has not lived up to its No. 20 preseason ranking, but has talent and itself a sense of urgency.

“This is huge, Miami was huge, but after the performance we had against Miami this is even bigger,” tight end Hayden Hansen said. “We were expected to do what we did against Samford and we did it, now A&M is coming into the Swamp and we need to win this game — and we should win this game.

“I’s going to come down to whichever team messes up the less, whoever just doesn’t beat themselves.”

Coaches: Mike Elko 1-1 in 1st season (17-10 overall); Billy Napier 12-15 in 3rd season (52-27 overall)

Quick slant: Napier is 10-5 in the Swamp, the lowest winning percentage (.667) of UF’s six coaches since Steve Spurrier was 68-5 (.932) on the field he nicknamed. Gators legend Emmitt Smith will serve as celebrity Mr. Two Bits against Texas A&M, where his son E.J. is a running back. Texas A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman spent 2022-23 coaching the Gators linebackers while Aggies defensive line coach Sean Spencer held the same role at UF before Napier fired him.

About Texas A&M: Elko, the Aggies defensive coordinator from 2018-21, returned to College Station from Duke to replace Jimbo Fisher. Despite a good bit of attrition amid the upheaval, talent awaited following four straight top-10 classes, but much work remained after Texas A&M went 11-11 in past two seasons. A Week 1 loss at home to Notre Dame exposed vulnerabilities with the passing game, spearheaded by 5-star quarterback Conner Weigman, and on the defensive front. The Aggies’ 100.85 passer rating is an SEC low while the run defense (189 yards per game) ranks 15th of 16 teams. A&M can run the football (239.5 pgg, 5th SEC) behind Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels. An SEC-low one sack is another source of concern, but the Aggies have 10 tackles for loss overall and could capitalize on the Gators’ offensive line as coaches continue to seek the right combination.

About UF: Veteran Graham Mertz returns from a concussion that allowed Lagway to shine and spur a quarterback controversy. Mertz will get a chance to rebound from his season-opening struggles against Miami, but Lagway will have an elevated role after passing for 456 yards and 3 scores during his first start. Whoever lines up at QB will have options. Against Samford, young receivers Aidan Mizell and Tank Hawkins caught their first touchdowns, Arizona State transfer Elijhah Badger had 123 yards on 3 receptions and top player Tre Wilson scored an 85-yard touchdown on a shovel pass. Veteran tailback Montrell Johnson Jr., whose 30 rushing touchdowns are tops among active SEC players, will shoulder the load. True freshman Jadan Baugh averaged 8.5 yards on 4 carries against Samford, but also fumbled into the end zone. UF tallied 12 tackles for loss, three by Northern Illinois transfer George Gumbs Jr., but will face a bigger, stronger O-line.

3 things to watch

Weigman vs. Gators pass defense: The QB aims to improve his 52.3% completion rate and 5.1 yards per attempt, both SEC lows, against a defense struggling to generate a consistent rush and allowing a 69.6% completion rate  — 73.3% to Miami’s Cam Ward.

UF’s ground game: Expect the Aggies, who allow an SEC-worst 5.25 yards per carry, to stack the box to prevent the Gators from gaining a foothold running the ball. Napier will need to adjust his play-calling rather than force the issue.

Explosive plays: The Gators registered nine plays of 20 yards or longer against Samford after managing just one against Miami, but held the Bulldogs to just one after yielding a dozen during a 41-17 loss to the Hurricanes. Texas A&M has a SEC-low four 20-yard plays, but has allowed just six.

Up next …

When: Saturday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 3:30

TV/radio: ABC; Radio: AM 540/FM 93.1 WFLF, Sirius/XM 374

Weather: 84 degrees, 40% rain chance

Favorite: Texas A&M by 3.5 points

Online: orlandosentinel.com/gators; @edgarthompson on X

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com