Preview: Following a Bye Week, No. 9 Texas and Florida Set to Clash in Gainesville

After a bye week for both teams, Texas and Florida will face off in Gainesville on Saturday. These programs are trending in opposite directions, but the time off should allow each to enter the matchup refreshed. This marks Texas’ first SEC contest, while Florida has already faced LSU. Texas hasn’t played a team of comparable caliber since its season opener against Ohio State. Florida, meanwhile, has dropped three games—falling to USF at home and to LSU and Miami on the road.

Having already faced three ranked opponents, Florida is clearly the more battle-tested team. And it’s not as if the Gators were blown out in those losses. They had USF on the ropes before committing critical fourth-quarter mistakes. Despite quarterback DJ Lagway throwing five interceptions against LSU, Florida only lost 20–10, with LSU’s final touchdown coming on a pick-six midway through the third quarter. Against Miami, few expected Florida to be competitive, yet they had multiple chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter. One pivotal moment came early in the quarter when Florida was stopped on fourth down at Miami’s 33-yard line. Had they converted, they might have gone ahead, trailing by just six at the time. Though the defense eventually gave way, Texas will need a strong performance to escape the Swamp with a win.

Arch Will Be Tested Once Again

Arch Manning hasn’t had the start to the season that he—or anyone else—anticipated. Saturday’s game will be his toughest test since the opener against Ohio State. In that matchup, Arch looked like a completely different quarterback than the one we saw last year—trying too hard to be perfect and not letting the game come to him. That same pattern continued against San Jose State and UTEP, but signs of progress emerged versus Sam Houston State.

Before that game, Coach Steve Sarkisian even noted that Arch and other players weren’t having fun and were pressing too hard to be flawless. While Texas had a clear talent advantage over Sam Houston State, Arch appeared more relaxed and played freely. Scoring five touchdowns certainly helped boost his confidence. Florida is expected to deploy zone coverage similar to Ohio State’s, which gave Arch fits in Week 1. This game will reveal whether he’s turned a corner. It should offer valuable insight into what the Texas offense might become this season.

Can DJ Lagway Avoid Crucial Turnovers

Florida sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, like Arch Manning, was ranked as the top QB in his class by some outlets in 2024. While Lagway has shown flashes of brilliance, he has yet to consistently meet expectations. In 11 games against Power Four opponents, he’s thrown just nine touchdowns to 12 interceptions—a major factor in Florida’s 5–6 record in those contests. If the Gators hope to salvage their season, it starts with Lagway protecting the football and producing more positive plays. So far in 2025, that hasn’t happened.

Lagway’s challenge only intensifies with Texas’ defense coming to town. The Longhorns haven’t missed a beat from their elite 2024 unit. Through four games, they’re allowing just over seven points per contest. While their schedule hasn’t been SEC-level tough—aside from Ohio State—the defense held the Buckeyes to just 203 yards and 14 points. Though they didn’t force any turnovers in that game, they still stifled a strong offense. Against lesser opponents like San Jose State, UTEP, and Sam Houston State, Texas forced six turnovers. If they can generate even one or two takeaways against Florida, the Gators could be in serious trouble.

Will Sark Take the Points?

Red zone efficiency remains a lingering concern for Sarkisian and the Texas offense. Too many drives have stalled on fourth down inside the 20—even against weaker competition. That’s a major issue, especially when facing elite teams. We saw the consequences in the loss to Ohio State. No coach enjoys settling for a 24-yard field goal, but it’s better than coming away empty-handed.

Few teams boast a defense like Texas, which means Sarkisian should consider taking the points more often. With a unit that can hold opponents in check, 24 points may be enough to win most games. These red zone struggles have persisted for three seasons now, and it might be time to rethink the approach. Three points aren’t always ideal, but failing to score in the red zone often leads to chasing points for the rest of the game.