Game Day: Florida vs Texas A&M (Saturday, 3:30 pm)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jimmy Johnson, who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys during the 1990s by constructing and managing some of the greatest rosters in NFL history, was once asked about the starting status of a player who was returning from injury. A media type made the suggestion (assumption, actually) that cited an age-old adage that a player could not lose his job because of injury.

“Where does it say that?” Johnson shot back. “Whoever said that was probably injured.”


Which brings us to Saturday’s Southeastern Conference opener between Florida (1-1, 0-0) and Texas A&M (1-1, 0-0) at Spurrier/Florida Field and, more specifically, the five-alarm storyline for the Gators.

Graham Mertz or DJ Lagway?

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

Mertz, the sixth-year senior and 2023 incumbent starting quarterback, was under center for UF’s season opener two weeks ago against No. 19 Miami, an ugly 41-17 blowout loss when he completed just 11 of 20 passes for 91 yards and an interception before exiting the game in the fourth with a concussion. Lagway, the heralded freshman and five-star recruit, went three of six for 31 yards, a pick and a touchdown drive in mop-up duty against the Hurricanes, then assumed the Week 2 starting spot while Mertz was in concussion protocol.

Against FCS foe Samford, Lagway played to his five-star 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year credentials. He went 18-for-25 for 456 yards (the ninth-highest single-game total in UF history) and three touchdowns in a 45-7 rout of the Bulldogs.

So Gators coach Billy Napier had a decision to make this week. Would he reinstate Mertz for the first conference game or ride with Lagway and the electrifying energy he zapped into “The Swamp” in his starting debut? Florida fans, via social media, broadcast airwaves and messages boards, made clear who they wanted (The Kid), but Napier had to balance what Mertz’s steady hand and on-field management of the offense has meant for the program the last two seasons against the impressive one-game statistics Lagway put up against a vastly inferior opponent and decide which QB gives the Gators the best chance to win.

Napier already has said both will play (with all signs point to Mertz getting the starting call), but which one runs out there first will have a lot to do with the collective early game mood of the sold-out crowd at “The Swamp.” Then again, if either (or both) can move the football, the joint should be jumping.

Whoever is under center, the defensive talent and resistance put up by A&M, in their first season under Mike Elko, will be far greater than what the Gators faced against Samford, but probably not in the class of the Hurricanes. UM, with its ferocious front and all-around speed, held UF to just 261 yards of total offense. The same day the Hurricanes were steam-rolling the Gators, the Aggies were beaten 23-13 at home by then-No. 6 Notre Dame and were gashed by the Fighting Irish for 198 rushing yards and 356 total. 
 

A&M, like UF, rebounded against an inferior foe last week, smashing McNeese State 52-10 and cranking out 529 yards of total offense and 29 first downs. Sophomore quarterback Connor Weigman, after going just 12 of 30 with two interceptions and no TDs against Notre Dame, was 11 of 14 for 120 and two scores without a turnover. The Aggies did the bulk of their offensive damage by rushing 38 times for 338 yards and five scores. 
 
On paper, the two teams would appear to be pretty evenly matched (especially when weighing ND’s loss last week to Northern Illinois) and given the Aggies have lost 10 straight true road games. It may come to down to which quarterback plays better. 
 
And which UF quarterback plays. 
 
Coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, with the crew of Joe Tessitore on play-by-play, former UF quarterback Jesse Palmer providing analysis and Katie George 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 Kelly, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey from the field on the call. For GSN stations, click here. A national ESPN broadcast with Marc Kestecher and Kelly Stouffer is on the dial, as well. 
 
The game will be re-aired Tuesday at noon and again Wednesday at 1 a.m. on the 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.