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Prediction and scouting report as Florida Football plays Texas for the first time since 1939

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The last time Florida football played Texas in Austin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president and gas cost 19 cents a gallon.

The year was 1939 and the Florida Gators suffered a 12-0 loss to the Longhorns at War Memorial Stadium, one of three losses by UF during a 5-5-1 season.

A lot has changed in college football since the days of leather helmets and two-way linemen in the 1930s. After decades of struggling in the Southwest Conference and the Big 12, Texas joined the SEC in 2024 with Oklahoma, expanding the conference to 16 teams.

Florida faces a No. 5 Texas team that is poised to return to the College Football Playoff under fourth-year coach Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns (7-1, 3-1 SEC) return 15 starters, including quarterback Quinn Ewers, from a team that won the Big 12 in its final conference season and went 12-2 after losing to Washington in the CFP semifinals completed.

“Texas is a very talented squad,” Florida football coach Billy Napier said. “I think from top to bottom in every position. It's about elite size, length, speed, athleticism. I think they have an experienced quarterback, and they have a rebuilt skill group around him and a handful of offensive linemen that have really good experience as well.”

Here are the storylines to watch from Florida football's game against the Longhorns on Saturday (noon, ABC):

Who will play quarterback for Florida Football: DJ Lagway or Aidan Warner?

Napier said Wednesday that Lagway is making progress with a hamstring injury that led to the five-star freshman being carted off the field in the second quarter against Georgia in Jacksonville. He took limited reps in practice this week and is listed as questionable on the SEC's availability report.

“It’s a very controlled environment,” Napier said. “I think we're in Phase 3 in terms of the way we're training, also in terms of the reps that he can do, that he's taking part in.”

The 6-foot-4, 239-pound native of Willis, Texas, Lagway has had the game in his home state under control since the start of the season.

If Lagway can't go, Florida will turn to redshirt freshman preferred walker Aidan Warner, who went 7 of 22 for 66 yards and an interception against Georgia and completed 9 of 25 passes for 96 yards and a rushing TD this season. The 6-3, 206-pound Warner is a transfer from Yale who played at Winter Park High School.

“He surprised us,” Napier said. “He has some arm talent. I think there are some qualities that need to be developed and he has done a good job.”

How well can Florida football run the football to take the heat off the passing game?

Texas has the SEC's best pass defense, allowing just 135.8 yards per game. The Gators could do better on the ground, although the Longhorns are stingy there too, giving up 105.5 yards per game (third in the SEC).

Starting running back Montrell Johnson Jr. remains questionable with a leg injury and Treyaun Webb is out for the season with a broken leg, meaning Florida may once again rely on the duo of freshman Jadan Baugh (70 carries, 323 yards, 5 touchdowns). and junior Ja'Kobi Jackson (40 carries, 227 yards, 4 touchdowns). Baugh and Jackson combined for 143 yards rushing and 29 carries against Georgia.

“Jadan Baugh, that’s my younger guy,” Jackson said. “We just talk to each other and motivate each other. We know when DJ dropped out, we just said to each other, 'Hey, come on, we really need to step up our game.'”

Can Florida football generate a pass rush against Texas' suspect offensive line?

The Longhorns have given up nine sacks in their last two games.

Florida is coming off a game in which it recorded two sacks against Georgia and has been able to attack the passer better lately. UF is tied for 10th in the SEC with Texas A&M and Arkansas with 19 sacks this season. Tyreak Sapp posted a team-high 3.5 sacks for the Gators this season, followed by George Gumbs Jr. with three sacks.

“It was a focus,” Napier said. “I think we reformatted some of our practice time to work on that. And then I think we've just created a lot of competitive scenarios and I think we're covering them better too. Again, there's no point in rushing if you're doing this. “I can't cover and vice versa. When the two are married, I think you have the best chance to influence the quarterback, and that's what we did.

Can Florida football get its tight ends involved in the passing game again?

UF's tight ends have recorded just two catches in the last two games, both by redshirt sophomore Arlis Boardingham. (two catches for seven yards). Redshirt sophomore tight end Hayden Hansen hasn't recorded a catch since Florida's Oct. 13 game at Tennessee.

Hansen has nine catches for 145 yards this season, while Boardingham has 15 catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-8, 267-pound Hansen from Weatherford, Texas, is motivated to return to his home state to play.

“It’s my first time going back to Texas and playing there,” Hansen said. “I have a little problem on my shoulder. I’ll have a lot of family down there that I haven’t seen in a while, so I’ll go crazy for them.”

Can Florida's football defense continue its recent streak of forced turnovers?

Florida is coming off a game in which it recorded three turnovers, all interceptions, against Georgia. Overall, the Gators have forced nine takeaways in their last four games and are fifth in the SEC with nine interceptions.

Napier said it was a byproduct of better cooperation between the pass rush and coverage. A pressure by Florida defensive lineman Kamran James led to a Devin Moore interception against UGA, while a hit by linebacker Grayson Howard on UGA quarterback Carson Beck led to a pick by Jack Pyburn in the third quarter.

“A lot of these interceptions come from the rush,” Napier said. “I think we have to continue to work together on this.”

forecast

Texas 24, Florida 7: Florida's defense will once again play admirably, but offensively the Gators will struggle to move the ball, with either Warner or a stymied Lagway at quarterback.

Kevin Brockway is the Florida beat writer for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1

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