Lagway vows Gators will improve after third loss
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Andrea Adelson
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway guaranteed the Gators would play better on offense following a 26-7 loss to Miami on Saturday following the worst offensive showing under embattled coach Billy Napier.
The Gators had 141 total yards, their fewest in a game since 1999 against Alabama and went 0-for-13 on third down, its worst showing since 1998 vs Florida State. Lagway, a week after throwing five interceptions in a loss to LSU, went 12-of-23 for 61 yards passing. According to ESPN Research, he totaled minus-3 air yards on his 12 completions, as seven of them were caught behind the line of scrimmage.
Asked about his struggles after leading Florida to a 6-1 record last year as the starter, Lagway said, “It’s been hard, but let me tell y’all something. We’re going to get things changed for sure. I can guarantee that. This is not acceptable at all. I’m not going to sit here and lie to y’all and make this seem like this is OK. This isn’t OK. We’ve got to play better football, and it starts with me.”
Lagway missed all of spring football and was limited for most of fall camp with various injuries, and both he and coach Billy Napier have pointed to that as one big reason why he has struggled. Taking out the opener against FCS Long Island University, Lagway is 68-of-105 for 507 yards with two touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Against Miami, Florida struggled against a fierce pass rush, as Lagway was sacked four times and often overshot open receivers. In the first half alone, Florida only had 32 total yards — including four three-and-outs and six punts.
“I didn’t play my best ball tonight,” Lagway said. “I took what the defense gave me. I didn’t make a lot of plays that I needed to make to stand out in the game. I kind of just managed it. I didn’t make a lot of big plays, so I’m trying to find the balance between both. And still just development. Just trying to get better.”
But an 80-yard drive on its first drive of the third quarter gave Florida some hope, as the Gators trimmed the lead to 13-7. Then, the Gators got the ball back immediately after Carson Beck threw an interception. Florida moved into Miami territory, but Lagway threw short on fourth-and-3. Miami then put the game out of reach with a definitive 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that took 7:12 off the clock.
Florida has now scored 10 or fewer points in consecutive games for the first time since 1989, putting more pressure on Lagway and Napier, who calls the plays.
“Every position is contributing to our issues,” Napier said. “Obviously, we talked about DJ and what he’s been through this offseason. I do think that there’s some rhythm missing there, and we’re going to go back to the drawing board, and I think the open date’s coming at a good time there. We’ve got to evaluate everything we’re doing on that side of the ball.”
There may not be a better time for an open date for the Gators. When Florida plays next, it hosts No. 8 Texas on Oct. 4, before going on the road to play No. 10 Texas A&M on Oct. 11.
Lagway said he guarantees things will change because, “I’m going to start with it.”
“I’m going to demand greatness from everybody,” Lagway said. “We’re done with the playing around stuff. It’s time to get serious. It starts with me. I’ve got to set the tempo. I’ve got to set the tone in practice in meetings around the building. I know for a fact it’s going to change because it’s going to start with me.”
Two top five teams lost in Week 8, with Miami losing to Louisville and Ole Miss blowing a multi-score lead against Georgia. Texas Tech’s first loss of the season came in a squeaker against Arizona State. Meanwhile, Ohio State looked as steady as ever in a 34-0 shutout of Wisconsin and Indiana blew out Michigan State to remain undefeated.
What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.
Stats courtesy of ESPN Research.
All times Eastern.
Previous ranking: 1
2025 record: 7-0
Week 8 result: Defeated Wisconsin 34-0
Stat to know: Ohio State has won 15 straight games as the AP No. 1, the longest streak by a Big Ten team.
What’s next: Nov. 1 vs. Penn State
Previous ranking: 3
2025 record: 7-0
Week 8 result: Defeated Michigan State 38-13
Stat to know: Indiana is now 16-0 against unranked opponents under Curt Cignetti.
What’s next: Saturday vs. UCLA
Previous ranking: 4
2025 record: 7-0
Week 8 result: Defeated Arkansas 45-42
Stat to know: This is Texas A&M’s first 7-0 start since 1994.
What’s next: Saturday at LSU, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 6
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated Tennessee 37-20
Stat to know: With the win over Tennessee, Alabama became the first team in SEC history to win four straight games, all against ranked teams, with no bye week mixed in.
What’s next: Saturday at South Carolina, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 9
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated Ole Miss 43-35
Stat to know: Georgia is 2-0 at home under Kirby Smart when trailing by nine or more points entering the fourth quarter.
What’s next: Nov. 1 vs. Florida (in Jacksonville, Florida), 3:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 8
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated Rutgers 56-10
Stat to know: Oregon is 6-0 following losses under Dan Lanning.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Wisconsin
Previous ranking: 12
2025 record: 7-0
Week 8 result: Defeated Duke 27-18
Stat to know: Georgia Tech had a 95-yard fumble return in the first quarter, the longest in school history.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Syracuse, noon
Previous ranking: 5
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Lost to Georgia 43-35
Stat to know: Ole Miss gained just 13 yards in the fourth quarter, tied for its third-fewest in a quarter under Lane Kiffin.
What’s next: Saturday at Oklahoma, noon, ABC
Previous ranking: 2
2025 record: 5-1
Week 8 result: Lost to Louisville 24-21
Stat to know: The loss to Louisville was Miami’s fourth home less as a double-digit favorite under Mario Cristobal, the most losses in FBS in that span (since 2022).
What’s next: Saturday vs. Stanford, 7 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 17
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated LSU 31-24
Stat to know: This is Vanderbilt’s first 6-1 start since 1950.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Missouri
Previous ranking: 15
2025 record: 7-0
Week 8 result: Defeated Utah 24-21
Stat to know: BYU has started 7-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
What’s next: Saturday at Iowa State, 3:30 p.m., Fox
Previous ranking: 13
2025 record: 5-2
Week 8 result: Defeated USC 34-24
Stat to know: Notre Dame has won seven of its past eight meetings with USC.
What’s next: Nov. 1 at Boston College
Previous ranking: 14
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated South Carolina 26-7
Stat to know: This was Oklahoma’s first win against South Carolina.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Ole Miss, noon, ABC
Previous ranking: 7
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Lost to Arizona State 26-22
Stat to know: The loss to Arizona State was Texas Tech’s first game of the season with 20 or more points allowed.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Oklahoma State, 4 p.m.
Previous ranking: 16
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated Auburn 23-17 (2 OT)
Stat to know: Missouri has won 22 straight games against unranked opponents.
What’s next: Saturday at Vanderbilt
Previous ranking: 18
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated Washington State 22-20
Stat to know: Virginia’s 6-1 start is its best through seven games since 2007.
What’s next: Saturday at North Carolina, noon, ACC Network
Previous ranking: 11
2025 record: 5-2
Week 8 result: Lost to Alabama 37-20
Stat to know: Tennessee’s 20 points against Alabama is its fewest scored in a game this season.
What’s next: Saturday at Kentucky, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 19
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated Florida Atlantic 48-13
Stat to know: The win over FAU was South Florida’s fourth straight game with at least 48 points.
What’s next: Saturday at Memphis, noon
Previous ranking: NR
2025 record: 5-1
Week 8 result: Defeated Miami 24-21
Stat to know: Louisville’s win over Miami was its second over an AP top-2 team in program history.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Boston College, 7:30 p.m., ACC Network
Previous ranking: 10
2025 record: 5-2
Week 8 result: Lost to Vanderbilt 31-24
Stat to know: Garrett Nussmeier has thrown a passing touchdown in 13 straight games, the third-longest active streak among current SEC quarterbacks.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 24
2025 record: 6-1
Week 8 result: Defeated Oklahoma State 49-17
Stat to know: This is Cincinnati’s first 6-1 start to a season since 2022.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Baylor, 4 p.m.
Previous ranking: 21
2025 record: 5-2
Week 8 result: Defeated Kentucky 16-13 (OT)
Stat to know: Texas’s 179 total yards against Kentucky marked its fewest in a win in the past 30 years.
What’s next: Saturday at Mississippi State
Previous ranking: NR
2025 record: 5-2
Week 8 result: Idle
What’s next: Saturday vs. Washington
Previous ranking: NR
2025 record: 5-2
Week 8 result: Defeated Texas Tech 26-22
Stat to know: Arizona State is now 6-1 against AP-ranked opponents since the start of the 2024 season.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Houston, 8:00 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: NR
2025 record: 5-2
Week 8 result: Defeated Washington 24-7
Stat to know: Michigan is on a 28-game home winning streak against AP unranked teams.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Michigan State, 7:30 p.m., NBC
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