Gameday: Florida at No. 5 Texas (Saturday, noon)

No, not the game. There will be predictions in this area.

I’m talking about Florida quarterbacks here, with the (slim) possibility of a rookie DJ Lagway Availability versus the likelihood of just moving on Aidan Warner starts under center and has everything to do with how the Gators (4-4, 2-3) might perform in their Southeastern Conference game on Saturday and the long-awaiting game against No. 5 Texas – not to mention the external expectations (7-1, 3-1) at Memorial Stadium.

[Read senior writer Scott Carter’s comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” preview here]

Lagway, the hope and future of the Florida faithful, was carted off the field last weekend in Jacksonville after suffering a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the Gators’ rivalry game against Georgia, a program that has (not) prevailed in the series. . (not to mention college football) in recent years. UF was on pace to win the game at the time thanks to Lagway’s 43-yard touchdown rocket.

Enter Warner, the transfer from Yale. Warner’s indoctrination in the SEC was about what one might expect from an Ivy League player facing the second-ranked team in the country and its ferocious defense. He completed just seven of 22 passes for 66 yards and one interception. And yet the Gators were in the game until the end – until Warner hit the game-winning pick with just under four minutes left – and the Bulldogs won 34-20.

On Monday, UF coach Billy Napier offered a glimmer of hope that Lagway’s soft tissue injury might be healed well enough to face the Longhorns, who have an even better (statistically much better) defense than UGA.

So wait to make one of these game-winning decisions.

Whoever is under center against UT will be staring at a defense that is ranked No. 1 in the country by allowing just 241.3 yards per game and also ranks first in pass defense (135.8 ypg). If the Gators have to play Warner, the Longhorns will probably come out on top (they’re a tight 16).^Th nationally at just 105.5 ypg) and are challenging Warner to fall behind.

The Dogs did that and Warner never seemed comfortable. Maybe taking first-team reps at practice for a week will make a difference, but getting something out of UF freshman running back Jaden Baugh (325 yards, 5 TD) would help Ja’Kobi Jackson (227 yards, 4 TD) and their UF ground game (145.4 ypg, 83^approxnational and 12th^Th in the SEC). The Gators managed just 122 post-yardage yards on 11 possessions and seven three-and-outs last week.

On the other side of the ball, Texas will line up with the nation’s 16 players^Th-best offense, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers (1,389 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT), one of the country’s top pro prospects at the position. Its wingers include tailbacks Quinrevion Wisner (409 yards, 2 TD) and Jaydon Blue (316 yards, 4 TD), as well as three standout receiver targets in Gunnar Helm (31 catches, 419 yards, 2 TD) and Isaiah Bond (23, 380). , 4) and Matthew Golden (24, 332, 4).

Texas averages 453.1 yards per game and 37.6 points per game while Florida’s defense ranks 69th^Thtotal (390.1 ypg) and 57^Th in scoring (29.5 ppg).

It’s worth noting that the Longhorns may be the best team the Gators have faced this season. It’s also worth noting that the Bulldogs traveled to Austin three weeks ago and dismantled the home team 30-15.

With their starting quarterback.

Coverage begins at 12pm on ABC, with Joe Tessitore’s crew on play-by-play, Jesse Palmer on analysis and Katie George on the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network broadcast from Learfield will air starting at 9 a.m. pregame and will ultimately leave Sean Kelley and Shane Matthews in the locker room while Tate Casey reports from the field. For GSN stations click here.

The game will be re-aired Tuesday at 12 p.m. and Thursday at 2 p.m., both on SEC Network.

Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis during the game. FloridaGators.com will feature full post-game coverage late Saturday evening and follow-up content on Sunday.