2024-11-03 08:40:02
Welcome to November.
In most years, the open-date run-up and week-long hype around the annual Florida-Georgia game would carry the day(s), but Saturday’s showdown between the Gators (4-3, 2-2) and No. 2 Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1) at EverBank Stadium, as big as it is for both teams, represents the first turnstile – granted, a rapidly whipping one – of a brutal five-game paddle wheel for Coach Billy Napier‘s squad.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter’s comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” setup here]
After UF takes on a UGA team that has won 53 of its last 56 games, dating to the Gators’ last victory in the series back in 2020, the schedule shows a road date at No. 6 Texas, then back-to-back home games against No. 16 LSU and No. 18 Ole Miss, followed by the season-ending rivalry game at Florida State, where the Gators have won just once in 11 years.
Napier and his players, of course, aren’t looking past the immediate and monumental challenge of the Bulldogs. UGA has won three straight in the series (none of them close, with the average margin 24.0 points) and six of the previous seven, dating to 2017. The stunning 53-3 record since UF’s last victory here (when Kyle Trask led the Gators’ to a 44-28 win ) is marred only by a trio of losses to Alabama, the latest a 41-34 shootout at Tuscaloosa on Sept. 28, from which the Bulldogs have rallied for four straight wins, including a one-sided knockout of then-No. 1 Texas on the road two weeks ago.
Florida, meanwhile, has won three of four since getting clubbed at home by a pair of CFP contenders, Miami (Week 1) and Texas A&M (Week 3), the latter the lone unbeaten team remaining in the Southeastern Conference., The Gators, despite losing starting quarterback and sixth-year senior Graham Mertz, have looked much better in all three phases the last four games, but the three teams they’ve beaten over those four games – Mississippi State, UCF and Kentucky – are a combined 7-19, with MSU and UK an aggregate 1-10 in league play.
Translation: The soft part of the schedule is over.
Translation II: If Florida really, truly is a better team than a month ago, everyone will know at the end of this month.
Maybe even by Saturday night.
The Bulldogs’ ranking isn’t necessarily reflected in their conference stats, but that shouldn’t fool anyone. Quarterback Carson Beck (1,993 yards, 15 TD, 8 INT) leads an offense that ranks 41st nationally and eighth in the SEC at 427.9 yards per game and is averaging 33.0 points (35th NCAA, 6th SEC). Enthusiastic UF fans point to UGA’s struggles – and scare – in a 13-12 win at Kentucky, an opponent the Gators took to a 48-20 woodshed two weeks ago in Gainesville.
Don’t take too much from that.
Those same fans will be looking for some sort of revenge against traitor tailback Trevor Etienne (82 attempts, 422 yards, 7 TD), who transferred from UF to Georgia and is coming off a three-touchdown performance in the win at Texas.
Florida freshman quarterback DJ Lagway (1,024 yards, 5 TD, 5 INT) will get his first taste of the split-stadium rivalry, not to mention the most ferocious pass rush he’s faced as a collegian to date. Lagway completed just seven of 14 passes in his last outing, but bombed Kentucky for 259 yards – or 37.0 per completion – in targeting surging wideouts Elijhah Badger (22 catches, 525 yards, 2 TD) and Chimere Dike (21, 420, 2). Of UF’s 476 yards against the Wildcats, 197 came on the ground including 105 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns by freshman tailback Jadan Baugh (259 yards), who stepped in for injured senior starter Montrell Johnson Jr., and excelled.
Defensively, the Gators rate 73rd in the country and next-to-last in the SEC (370.9 yards per game) at 65th in scoring (23.6 points per game), but over the last three games they’ve cut those numbers to just 298.0 yards and 18.7 points.
The level of competition, however, is about increase in a most challenging way. As in the most challenging schedule in the country over the next month.
Will it be a November to remember?
The direction of the Florida program is likely riding on it.
Coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, with the A-crew of Chris Fowler on play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit providing analysis and Holly Rowe on the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield broadcast will air with pregame coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. and eventually give way to Sean Kelley and Shane Matthews in the booth, with Tate Casey reporting from the field. For GSN stations, click here.
The game will be re-aired Tuesday at 2:30 a.m. and again Thursday at noon, both on SEC Network.
Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage from the game late Saturday night and follow-up content Sunday, also.
Email Chris Harry at [email protected]
