In a season marked by disappointment and frustration, the Florida Gators finally had reason to celebrate on Saturday. Billy Napier’s squad regrouped from back-to-back losses to stun the No. 21 LSU Tigers 27-16 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, snapping an eight-game losing streak against ranked opponents in the process.
Lagway’s Return Sparks Gators Offense
The hero of the day for Florida was quarterback DJ Lagway, who returned from a two-game absence due to a strained left hamstring. The dynamic signal-caller threw for 226 yards and a touchdown while expertly navigating the pocket to extend plays. His 23-yard scoring strike to Elijhah Badger in the first quarter set the tone for the Gators’ inspired performance.
Badger Emerges as Go-To Target
Speaking of Badger, the sophomore wide receiver enjoyed a breakout game, hauling in six catches for 131 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. His 36-yard reception in the fourth quarter positioned Florida for the decisive score, a 1-yard plunge by running back Ja’Kobi Jackson that put the Gators ahead for good.
“Elijhah was phenomenal today,” Lagway gushed after the game. “He ran great routes, made tough catches, and really stepped up when we needed him most. I’m excited to see what the future holds for him in this offense.”
DJ Lagway on Elijhah Badger’s performance
Dominant Defensive Effort
Not to be outdone, the Florida defense produced its finest outing of the season, sacking LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a staggering seven times. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks was a menace in the trenches, recovering a key fumble in the third quarter that swung momentum in the Gators’ favor.
“I think last week was unacceptable and they took ownership of that,” Napier said of his defense’s bounce-back effort. “There was no moping around. They came out today with something to prove, and boy did they prove it.”
Tigers’ Tumble Continues
For LSU, the loss was their third straight and all but eliminates any hope of extending Brian Kelly’s streak of seven consecutive 10-win seasons. The Tigers struggled to generate any offensive rhythm, with Nussmeier frequently running for his life behind a porous offensive line.
“Disappointing performance all around,” a dejected Kelly admitted in his postgame press conference. “We got beat in every phase today. Credit to Florida, they wanted it more and it showed. We have to regroup quickly with some tough games still ahead.”
Brian Kelly on LSU’s loss to Florida
Bowl Hopes Alive for Florida
With the win, Florida improves to 5-5 on the season and 3-4 in SEC play. More importantly, the Gators are now just one victory away from securing bowl eligibility, a proposition that seemed far-fetched after their recent two-game skid.
“This was a huge win for our program,” Napier acknowledged. “To beat a ranked team, to get that monkey off our back, it’s a testament to the resiliency and character of our guys. We still have a lot to play for and today was a big step in the right direction.”
The Gators will look to carry this momentum into their final two regular season contests, a road date with Vanderbilt and a home finale against in-state rival Florida State. Win either of those, and Florida will be bowling for the first time since 2021.
As for LSU, the Tigers will attempt to regroup before closing out their SEC slate at Texas A&M. A season that began with such promise has quickly unraveled, leaving Kelly and his staff searching for answers heading into an uncertain offseason.
One thing is for certain – on this day in Gainesville, the Gators reigned supreme. And for a fan base starved for something to cheer about, that’s cause for celebration, even if rushing the field wasn’t in the cards.
