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USA Today
23-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN says this early-season SEC matchup is Florida football's swing game for 2025
Florida football's swing game for the 2025 college football season will come during the Week 3 contest against the LSU Tigers, according to ESPN. On Wednesday, ESPN compiled a list of swing games for every Top 25 college football team and for the Gators, they decided to land on the matchup with the Tigers. A swing game is essentially the one game on the schedule that determines whether the season is going to be successful and an early-season road test at Death Valley under the lights certainly fits that criteria. Last season, Florida took care of business against LSU in the Swamp, winning 27-16. DJ Lagway threw for 226 yards and a touchdown while Jadan Baugh rushed six times for 65 yards and a score. But this year's factors–a road game, early-season matchup and new faces–present a bigger challenge for the Florida Gators. If head coach Billy Napier can prepare his team and come up with a game plan to win this road test, the Gators have a chance to build momentum and make some noise in the SEC. Here is everything ESPN's Harry Lyles Jr. said about why LSU is Florida's swing game for the 2025 season. Why ESPN said Florida's swing game is at LSU "Swing game: at LSU, Sept. 13" "Florida once again didn't get any favors from the schedule makers, and the Gators will get an early test in Baton Rouge against LSU. On paper, this feels like a year that Brian Kelly is going to have things put together in the Bayou, in part because he has the coveted returning starter at QB in Garrett Nussmeier. "Along with the incumbent talent, Kelly and his staff did a really good job in the transfer portal and will be a tough out every Saturday this fall. If Florida wins this game, or even loses a close one, it will bode well for the rest of the season." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Gators 2025 Position Preview: Running Backs
Florida Gators 2025 Position Preview: Running Backs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier has always loved to run the ball. In his coaching career, Napier's teams have been known to have incredible running back rooms. Advertisement This has especially been true since he took over in Gainesville. Last year, the Gators rushed for 161 yards per game and had one of the best backfield groups in the SEC. Now, even with one of Florida's top rushers gone from a year ago, the Gators still have a loaded running back group in 2025. With Montrell Johnson Jr. leaving for the NFL, the top of the backfield belongs to a sophomore coming off a very impressive freshman year and a veteran poised for a big 2025. Dec 20, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh (13) celebrates after he runs with the ball during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Florida's leading rusher from 2024 is back with Napier to join star quarterback DJ Lagway in the backfield. Jadan Baugh, who earned Freshman All-SEC honors last season, broke out in a big way in his first career start, which came against Kentucky last season. He rushed for 106 yards and an absurd five touchdowns, tying a single-game program record. Advertisement In total last year, Baugh led the Gators in rushing yards with 673, attempts with 133 and was tied for the team-high with seven scores on the ground. Coming off this monstrous freshman season, he is ready for another big year in 2025. The back who was tied with Baugh for the team lead in rushing touchdowns was Ja'Kobi Jackson, who is entering his fifth collegiate season and third in Gainesville. Jackson played in all 13 games last year with one start. The Pensacola, Florida, native ran the ball 95 times for 509 yards and seven touchdowns. Behind Baugh and Jackson in the depth chart will likely be redshirt sophomore Treyaun Webb and redshirt freshman KD Daniels. Webb started as Florida's backup last year for the first four games before suffering a season-ending fractured tibia, earning a redshirt. He totaled 98 yards on the ground and one score. As for Daniels, he was one of the top running back prospects in the country in the 2024 class out of West Point, Mississippi. Like Webb, Daniels played four games last season. He had 11 carries for 77 yards and one touchdown, which came in Florida's Gasparilla Bowl victory over the Tulane Green Wave. Advertisement Although Lagway will get most of the headlines before the 2025 season, the Gators' loaded backfield group will definitely be one to watch out for. Athlon Sports' Florida Gators 2025 Position Previews: Quarterbacks This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Florida Gators rankin USA TODAY Sports' post-spring top 25 rankings
Where Florida Gators rankin USA TODAY Sports' post-spring top 25 rankings The Florida Gators continue to rise in national expectations. Following spring practice, USA TODAY Sports ranked Florida No. 11 in its post-spring "too-early college football top 25" for the 2025 season, as reported by sports writers Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith. Florida's strong finish to the 2024 season clearly made an impression. The Gators closed the year at 8-5 and head into 2025 with significant momentum on both sides of the ball. With quarterback DJ Lagway entering his sophomore season after a promising freshman campaign, Florida's offense could take a major leap. Running back Jadan Baugh is expected to lead the ground game, while defensive linemen Tyreak Sapp and Caleb Banks will anchor a defense that surged in the second half of last season. USA TODAY Sports praised Florida's development across the roster and cited Lagway's progression as a key factor for the Gators' potential push into the top third of the SEC standings. Expectations in Gainesville are certainly growing. Florida ranks ahead of major programs like Kansas State, Illinois, Tennessee and Michigan. Only a handful of SEC programs, including Georgia, LSU and Alabama, are placed higher than the Gators. Sitting just outside of the top 10 in USA TODAY Sports' rankings, the Gators have the chance to surprise some people and make a playoff push if key pieces develop under head coach Billy Napier. Here is everything USA TODAY Sports said about Florida football as well as their top 10 rankings. What USA TODAY Sports said about Florida football "There's going to be big expectations around the Gators after their strong finish to 2024. Can that momentum carry over? There are enough pieces to push for a place among the upper third of the league should QB DJ Lagway be healthy and make the expected jump in his sophomore season. RB Jadan Baugh will carry the running game. The defense also made major strides in the second half of last season and will be led by linemen Tyreak Sapp and Caleb Banks." USA TODAY Sports' college football top 10 rankings Miami Hurricanes Alabama Crimson Tide Oregon Ducks Notre Dame Fighting Irish LSU Tigers Clemson Tigers Georgia Bulldogs Texas Longhorns Penn State Nittany Lions Ohio State Buckeyes Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports ranks Florida football RB Jadan Baugh among top SEC feature backs
CBS Sports ranks Florida football RB Jadan Baugh among top SEC feature backs Florida football running back Jadan Baugh has been ranked by CBS Sports as the sixth-best feature back in the SEC heading into the 2025 season. Baugh, going into his sophomore season, brings rare size and power to the running back position. His late-season surge was one of the biggest storylines in a season that saw Florida rebound from a slow start to finish strong. With the departure of veteran backs like Montrell Johnson Jr., Baugh is expected to be the centerpiece of the Gators' ground game. Last season, Baugh earned Freshman All-SEC honors after leading the team in rushing yards (673) and total touchdowns (8) while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. In his first start, Baugh rushed for five touchdowns against the Kentucky Wildcats, tying the Florida football program record with Trey Burton (2010) and Tim Tebow (2007). Being ranked as the No. 6 lead back in the SEC is not bad, and it's another sign that Billy Napier's backfield is in good hands. If Baugh continues to trend upward, he could be one of the most productive running backs in the SEC. Perhaps even a potential breakout star on the national stage. Here is everything CBS Sports writer Shehan Jeyarajah said about Baugh. What CBS Sports said about Jadan Baugh "Baugh took a while to take over the starting job. When he did, it helped change Florida's season. Baugh rushed for 520 yards and seven touchdowns in his final seven games after taking over as the Gators' feature back, including 106 yards against Kentucky. He helped key upsets over Ole Miss and LSU, posting 71 all-purpose yards against the Rebels. At 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, Baugh boasts a massive frame for his age." CBS Sports' SEC feature backs rankings Damari Alston (Auburn Tigers) DeSean Bishop (Tennessee Volunteers) Sedrick Alexander (Vanderbilt Commodores) Rahsul Faison (South Carolina Gamecocks) Logan Diggs (Ole Miss Rebels) Jam Miller (Alabama Crimson Tide) Dante Dowdell (Kentucky Wildcats) Davon Booth (Mississippi State Bulldogs) Ahmad Hardy (Missouri Tigers) Jadan Baugh (Florida Gators) Nate Frazier (Georgia Bulldogs) Quintrevion Wisner (Texas Longhorns) Le'Veon Moss (Texas A&M Aggies) Caden Durham (LSU Tigers) Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma Sooners) Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
