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    • Prediction and scouting report as Florida Football plays Texas for the first time since 1939
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    Prediction and scouting report as Florida Football plays Texas for the first time since 1939

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    The last time Florida played football in Austin against Texas, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president and gas cost 19 cents a gallon.

    The year was 1939 and the Florida Gators suffered a 12-0 loss to the Longhorns at War Memorial Stadium, one of three times UF was eliminated during a 5-5-1 season.

    A lot has changed in college football since the days of leather helmets and two-way linemen in the 1930s. After decades of toiling in the Southwest Conference and Big 12, Texas joined the SEC along with Oklahoma in 2024, expanding the conference to 16 teams.

    Florida will face a No. 5 team from Texas that is poised to return to the College Football Playoffs under fourth-year coach Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns (7-1, 3-1 SEC) return 15 starters, including quarterback Quinn Ewers, from a team that won the Big 12 in its final season in the conference and finished 12-2 after losing to Washington in the semis CFP finals.

    “Texas has a very talented roster,” Florida football coach Billy Napier said. “I think from top to bottom in every position. It’s about height, length, speed and elite athleticism. I do think they have a veteran quarterback, and a rebuilt skill group around them, and a handful of offensive linemen who have really good skills.” also experience.”

    Here are storylines to watch for Florida’s football game against the Longhorns on Saturday (noon, ABC):

    Who will play quarterback for Florida Football, DJ Laway or Aidan Warner?

    Napier said Wednesday that Lagway is making progress after a hamstring injury that led to the five-star freshman being carted off the field during the second quarter against Georgia in Jacksonville. He participated in limited reps in practice this week and is listed as questionable on the SEC availability report.

    “It’s a very controlled environment,” Napier said. “I think we’re in Phase 3 as far as the way we practice, and also the reps he participates in.”

    The 6-foot-4, 239-pound Lagway, a native of Willis, Texas, has had the game return to his home state since the start of the season.

    If Lagway can’t go, Florida will turn to the preferred walk for redshirt freshman Aidan Warner, who went 7-of-22 for 66 yards and an interception against Georgia and is 9-of-25 passing for 96 yards and a rushing TD this season . The 6-3, 206-pound Warner is a transfer from Yale who played at Winter Park High School.

    “He surprised us,” Napier said. “He’s got some arm talent. I think there are some traits that can be developed and he’s done a good job.”

    How well can Florida football run the football to take the heat off the passing game

    Texas has the SEC’s best pass defense, allowing just 135.8 yards per game. The Gators may find more success on the ground, although the Longhorns are stingy there as well, giving up 105.5 yards per game (third in the SEC).

    Montrell Johnson Jr. remains questionable. running back due to a leg injury and Treyaun Webb is out for the season with a broken leg, meaning Florida may once again have to rely on the duo of freshman Jadan Baugh (70 carries, 323 yards, 5 touchdowns) and junior Ja’Kobi Jackson (40 carries, 227 yards, 4 TDs). Baugh and Jackson combined for 143 yards rushing on 29 carries against Georgia.

    “Jadan Baugh, that’s my younger guy,” Jackson said. “We just talk to each other and motivate each other. We know that when DJ went down, we really said to each other, ‘Hey, come on, we really need to step up.'”

    Can Florida football generate a pass rush against Texas’ suspect offensive line?

    The Longhorns have given up nine sacks in their last two games.

    Florida is coming off a game in which it had two sacks against Georgia and has been rushing the passer better lately. UF is tied with Texas A&M and Arkansas for 10th in the SEC with 19 sacks this season. Tyreak Sapp has posted a team-high 3.5 sacks for the Gators this season, followed by George Gumbs Jr. with three pockets.

    “It’s been a point of focus,” Napier said. “I think we rearranged some of our practice time to work on it. And I think we’ve just created a lot of competitive scenarios, and I think we’re covering them better as well. Again, there’s no point in rushing if you can’t cover and vice versa. So when those two are married, I think that gives you the best opportunity to impact the quarterback, and we did that.

    Can Florida football get its tight ends back in the passing game?

    UF’s tight ends have recorded just two catches over the last two games, both by redshirt sophomore Arlis Boardingham. (two catches for seven yards). Redshirt sophomore Hayden Hansen has not recorded a catch since Florida’s Oct. 13 game at Tennessee.

    Hansen has nine catches for 145 yards on the season, while Boardingham has 15 catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. From Weatherford, Texas, the 6-8, 267-pound Hansen is motivated to return to play in his home state.

    “It’s my first time going back to Texas to play,” Hansen said. “I’ve got a little chip on my shoulder. I’m going to have a lot of family there that I haven’t seen in a while, so I’m going to do the best I can for them.”

    Can the Florida football defense continue its recent run of forced turnovers?

    Florida is coming off a game in which it recorded three goals, all interceptions, against Georgia. Overall, the Gators have scored nine points in their last four games and rank fifth in the SEC in interceptions with nine.

    Napier said it’s a byproduct of the pass rush and coverage working better together. A pressure from Florida defensive lineman Kamran James led to an interception of Devin Moore against UGA, while a hit on UGA quarterback Carson Beck by linebacker Grayson Howard led to a Jack Pyburn pick in the third quarter.

    “A lot of these interceptions are because of the rush,” Napier said. “I think we need to continue to work together there.”

    Prediction

    Texas 24, Florida 7: Florida’s defense will have another admirable game, but offensively the Gators will struggle to move the ball with Warner or a limping Lagway at quarterback.

    Kevin Brockway is the Florida beat writer for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1

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