No, not the game. There will be predictions in this space.

We’re talking about Florida quarterbacks here, with the (slim) possibility of freshmen DJ Laway available versus the likelihood of being walked through Aidan Warner starts under center and has everything to do with how the Gators (4-4, 2-3) might do Saturday — not to mention outside expectations — in their Southeastern Conference matchup and the long-awaited visit to No. 5 Texas (7-1, 3-1) at Memorial Stadium.

(Read senior writer Scott Carter’s extended preview here)

Lagway, the hope and future of the Florida faithful, was taken off the field last weekend in Jacksonville after suffering a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the Gators’ rivalry game against Georgia, a program that has gotten its way in the series (not to mention all of college football) in recent years. UF won the game at the time thanks to Lagway’s 43-yard touchdown rocket.

Enter Warner, the transfer from Yale. Warner’s indoctrination to the SEC was about how you would expect an Ivy Leaguer to face the nation’s second-ranked team and its ruthless defense. He completed just seven of 22 passes for 66 yards and an interception. And yet the Gators were in the game until the end – until Warner’s game-tying pick with just under four minutes remaining – with the Bulldogs winning 34-20.

Monday UF coach Billy Napier provided a glimmer of hope that Lagway’s soft tissue injury might be able to heal well enough to face the Longhorns, who are armed with a defense that is even better (statistically much better) than UGA.

So hold off on making any of those decisions during the match.

Whoever is under center against UT will be staring down a defense that ranks No. 1 in the country in allowing just 241.3 yards per game, as well as being first in pass defense (135.8 ypg) . If the Gators have to play Warner, the Longhorns will presumably stack the line (they have high rates 16^e nationally at just 105.5 ypg) and dare Warner to fall back.

That’s what the Dogs did and Warner never looked comfortable. Maybe a week of first-team reps during practices will make a difference, but it would help to get something out of UF freshman running backs Jaden Baugh (325 yards, 5 TD) and Ja’Kobi Jackson (227 yards, 4 TD) and their UF ground game (145.4 ypg, 83^rdnational and 12^e in the SEC). The Gators managed just 122 yards after Lagway on 11 possessions last week, with seven three-and-outs.

On the other side of the ball, Texas will join the nation’s 16^e-best offense, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers (1,389 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT), one of the best professional players in the country at the position. His wingmen include tailbacks Quinrevion Wisner (409 yards, 2 TD) and Jaydon Blue (316 yards, 4 TD), plus three outstanding receiver targets in Gunnar Helm (31 catches, 419 yards, 2 TD), Isaiah Bond (23, 380). , 4) and Matthew Golden (24, 332, 4).

Texas is averaging 453.1 yards per game and 37.6 points per game, while Florida’s defense ranks 69.^etotal (390.1 ypg) and 57^e in scoring (29.5 ppg).

It’s worth noting that the Longhorns are arguably the best team the Gators have faced this season, which also makes it worth noting that the Bulldogs went to Austin three weeks ago and dismantled the home team 30-15 .

With their starting quarterback.

Coverage begins at noon on ABC, with the crew of Joe Tessitore doing play-by-play, Jesse Palmer on analysis and Katie George on the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network broadcast from Learfield will air with pregame coverage starting at 9 a.m., eventually making way for Sean Kelley and Shane Matthews in the booth, with Tate Casey reporting from the field. For GSN stations click here.

The game will air again Tuesday at noon and again Thursday at 2 a.m., both on SEC Network.

Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will receive full post-match coverage late Saturday evening as well as follow-up content on Sunday.