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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Since the moment the Gators walked off the field at Raymond James Stadium in December carrying a four-game winning streak into the offseason, Florida fans have eagerly awaited the start of Year 4 of the Billy Napier era.

The No. 15 Gators, ranked to open a season for the first time since 2021, host Long Island University on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Time to spot the ball.

“We absolutely have aspirations to be a playoff team,” Napier said during preseason camp. “That’s the intention of coming here is to win championships. Now, what do we know about that? It’s about the work we do.”

Napier revealed a renewed confidence during the preseason, an attitude undoubtedly tied to having sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway as the field general, a defense that showed drastic improvement late last season, and the infusion of fresh talent via the transfer portal and freshman class.

The Gators put in the work in the offseason. They have talked and talked some more about why they believe this team is going to be a good team. The fans have been listening.

They have high hopes for the Gators, too.

 

Preseason poll: How many games will #Gators win?

— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) August 26, 2025

All that’s left is for the games to begin and see what happens. The Gators hope to start with a win over the Sharks, which would snap a two-game losing steak in season openers.

In this edition of The Opening Kickoff, here is a closer look at Florida’s matchup against Long Island:

 

THREE STORYLINES

• After missing out on full-participation work most of spring and fall camp, Gators quarterback DJ Lagway is set to make his highly anticipated return. Of course, don’t expect Lagway to play long if this game goes as expected. Once Lagway departs, will Louisville transfer Harrison Bailey, returner Aidan Warner, or true freshman Tramell Jones Jr. take over? Regardless, don’t be surprised if all three get snaps if this one gets out of hand early.
• In a mismatch of this proportion, you know Billy Napier and his staff want the Gators to come out and play clean football and take control from the first snap. Look for a deep participation chart after the game and for many young players to get their first taste of game action.
• Finishing on a promising note a season ago, the fan base is excited about the start of a new season with Lagway as the starting quarterback and a strong mix of returning players and talented newcomers. This is Napier’s best roster since he took over the program and getting off the field healthy and with a sharp performance will only boost the interest heading into the Week 2 matchup against USF.

 

THREE (OR MORE) PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Since we have covered the obvious one, let’s go with the running back tandem of Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson. The duo gives the Gators one of the best backfields in the SEC and perhaps the country. They should be able to reel off some big runs against the overmatched Sharks defense and bring the sold-out crowd to its feet.
• Freshman receiver Vernell Brown III could possibly start his first game for the Gators. Brown has drawn praise from Napier and his teammates for his play-making ability and high football IQ. He is a threat each time he touches the ball, including in the return game.
• Cornerback Cormani McClain and freshman defensive lineman Jayden Woods repeatedly drew rave reviews during preseason camp. Now we get a chance to see what all the hype is about. Both are talented pieces of the puzzle and if they play as advertised, the Gators could be better than advertised.

 

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH … GATORS DL KAMRAN JAMES

A junior edge rusher from Orlando, James started four games and made 25 tackles a season ago. He is projected to be a key player on the defensive line in 2025.

 

Q: What have you done in the offseason to earn the respect of your coaches and teammates based on praise during camp?

A: The biggest thing has been Coach Napier is big on having a lot of guys come mentor us, and having great bodies and minds in the facility and around us at all times. So, it gets poured into each and every player every day. It’s really been connecting with me, and it’s been instilled in me. I guess time after time seeing so many greats come through here, and they’ve been where I want to get to in life. It’d be crazy not to follow their lead.

 

Q: When did you fall in love with the grind that it takes to be successful at this level?

A: It definitely was a tough transition at first, coming to college early and being a young guy here, especially coming from basketball. It was a big adjustment. I’ll say around the second half of that 2023 season when I realized I wasn’t good enough yet, but I was still traveling and getting reps. At that point, I started training, taking my reps to prepare for last season [2024]. I was intentional with everything, knowing it was going to payoff on the back end.

 

Q: As a former basketball player, what was it like to see the Gators win the national championship?

A: That was amazing. We were actually in town with the guys, so as soon as the buzzer went off, we were all outside with the fans.

Q: What’s it like to face the reality of knowing you are down the depth chart and have to improve to get on the field?

A: It’s humbling for sure, but it’s all a part of it. I feel like I have never been an entitled person, so for me it may be easier than it can be for the next person. I have a great support system, so they made it easy. My dad, he was the coach for me and all my siblings for a while, so hard truth, I’ve never been shy from it and I love to hear the truth.

Q: How gratifying is it to make the progress you have?

A: It’s amazing, but I say it’s all part of the plan. I was a leader on every team I’ve ever been on and I believe in stand down until you come up. But I knew once my opportunity came, I was going to take onto it and I’m not going to let go. It was just a long time coming.

 

THREE DIGITS
 
75 – Years since the Gators have played a team from the current Northeast Conference. Florida beat Duquesne 27-14 in 1950 at Florida Field.
88 – Combined starts for UF’s projected starting offensive line: Austin Barber (26), Dameion George Jr. (24), Jake Slaughter (21), Knijeah Harris (14) and Bryce Lovett (3).
32.6 – Points per game for Gators last season in games started by quarterback DJ Lagway.
 

INJURY REPORT
Note: The Gators won’t release an official injury report until their SEC opener against LSU. This report is based on information available via credible media reports.

FLORIDA — DOUBTFUL/OUT: WR Kahleil Jackson (knee), RB Treyaun Webb (hamstring) DL LJ McCray (undisclosed). QUESTIONABLE: WR Dallas Wilson (leg), WR Aidan Mizell (undisclosed), DL Caleb Banks (leg), LB Grayson Howard (ankle). LIU — None reported.

 

NEWS, NOTES, NUGGETS

• Florida is coming off an 8-5 season, its first winning season since 2020 and first under head coach Billy Napier.
• Napier enters his fourth season in charge with a 19-19 record and can move back above .500 for the first time since an OT loss to Arkansas in 2023 dropped him to 11-11.
• Napier and Long Island coach Ron Cooper both served stints as assistant coaches and analysts at Alabama during Nick Saban‘s tenure, though not at the same time. Cooper was an assistant on Steve Spurrier‘s staff at South Carolina for five seasons.
• Florida is favored by 45.5 points according to the Action Network. Florida’s largest margin of victory — an 82-6 win over Central Michigan in 1997 — could be challenged.
• The Gators and Long Island have never played, but UF defensive lineman Brendan Bett, a transfer from Baylor, made his collegiate debut against the Sharks in 2023.
• Napier said the safety and nickel back (STAR) positions have good depth with Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton at safety, and Sharif Denson and Aaron Gates at STAR. Newcomers Micheal Caraway Jr. (transfer from Southern Miss) and Lagonza Hayward (true freshman) providing versatility.
• Redshirt sophomore Eugene Wilson III led all Gators returning receivers with six explosive catches (15+ yards) a season ago.
• Gators senior defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp, who led the team with seven sacks in 2024, needs two tackles-for-loss to reach 20 in his career.
• Long Island quarterback Ethan Greenwood rushed for 921 yards and passed for 913 yards last season. Greenwood accounted for 13 of the Sharks’ 35 touchdowns.
• Sharks defensive back Todd Bowles Jr. is the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles. The elder Bowles plans to attend Saturday’s game with his team idle.

 

SHARK WEEK

The Long Island University campus is located in Brookville, N.Y., about 27 miles from Times Square in New York City. But with the Jets, Giants, Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Nets, Islanders, Devils and Rangers gulping most of the sports coverage by the city’s media, the Sharks don’t get a lot of attention. Still, their first game against the Gators got a page in the New York Post …

 

https://t.co/NtR2zEZOj5 pic.twitter.com/1lqBdGuOpy

— Alex V. Mitchell (@AMitchReporting) August 22, 2025

 

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THEY SAID IT

• “They understand what’s going on. They understand how to win. So having them guys back is just a lot. You know, we have a lot to work on. You have to jell as an offense. You have to stack days. That’s what we say a lot. And I feel like we’re definitely stacking days.” — Gators running back Jadan Baugh on the return of four starting offensive linemen
• “It’s the first week they’re back on campus. … You know what students do during the day, so they’ll be a little rowdy by the time we get there at night.” — Long Island head coach Ron Cooper on visiting The Swamp
• “He’s a problem. He’s exceptional. He’ll be a major factor this year.” — UF head coach Billy Napier on true freshman receiver Dallas Wilson … Note: Wilson has been injured most of preseason camp but is expected to return.

 

THEY WROTE IT

• “Can Sharks swim in The Swamp? Long Island University is gearing up for its biggest game in program history, opening on the road at No. 15 Florida in Gainesville under the lights Aug. 30.” — Alex Mitchell of the New York Post
• “The Gators will turn the corner. Unfortunately, it’s the corner of “Frustration Avenue” and “Mediocrity Boulevard.” No, no, I’m kidding. This is the year Napier finally gets his swamp legs. If DJ Lagway stays healthy, the Gators will win 10 games, beat Georgia, make the College Football Playoff — and all of those fire-Napier critics will change their social media bios to say, “Day One Billy Guy.” — Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel
• “Should this game go in the direction it should, I’ll be paying closing attention to how the backup quarterbacks perform. Napier has said that he hasn’t seen separation, and if Lagway does continue to deal with injuries down the road then it’ll be important to see if someone else can shine.” — Andrew Abadie of the Gainesville Sun

 

WHY GATORS WILL WIN
Go find a comparison of the team pictures. That’s all you should need.
 
WHY LIU WILL WIN
The Gators forfeit before kickoff.