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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 13-ranked Gators opened the season with a convincing win against overmatched Long Island University.

No doubt, Week 1 was a breeze. Week 2 not so much — not after the Gators dissected film of USF’s season-opening victory over then-No. 25 Boise State, the Bulls’ first win over a ranked opponent in nine years.

“There’s just enough on this tape to make us restless,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said. “I think our players have some maturity. I think we’ve got good leadership. So, this is a huge game for us, and we totally understand the dynamic when it comes to this team.”

 

it’s about the next opportunity@Coach_bnapier on Gator Talk🎙️ #GoGators | @Dream_Finders pic.twitter.com/joyc2ay5Fd

— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) September 5, 2025

In the first matchup between the programs since 2022, USF visits Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday afternoon with more pep in its step, thanks primarily to head coach Alex Golesh. The third-year coach has revived a USF program that was 4-29 in the three seasons before his arrival. Golesh took over USF after two seasons as offensive coordinator at Tennessee.

USF used a bruising defensive effort that forced three turnovers to beat Boise State. The Gators, meanwhile, racked up 451 yards of total offense and 28 first downs in their victory over LIU.

The Bulls haven’t defeated a ranked opponent on the road since a win at Notre Dame in 2011 and would like nothing more to spoil Florida’s bid to win its first two games of the season for the first time under Napier. Still, they know what they did against Boise State matters little to the Gators.

“I think any time you’ve got an opponent like we’ve got here, if you’re looking behind in any way, you’re out of your mind,” Golesh said. “And truly, I think these guys are … mature enough to understand that, one, it’s a long season. But two, all you have to do is look up and see, man, if you’re going to take a breath and enjoy anything that happened a week ago, you’re going to get your brains beat in.”

The Gators are a heavy favorite (17.5 points) and The Swamp is sold out for the 14th consecutive game on what is billed as “Championship Reunion Weekend.” The Gators will honor past UF teams that won Southeastern Conference championships during the game, including the 2000 UF football team.

Come Saturday afternoon, both coaches will learn more about what kind of team they have.

“It’s definitely going to be a challenge,” Napier said. “We’re on a mission to try to get back on top and that’s one day at a time.”

In our latest edition of The Opening Kickoff, here is a closer look at Florida’s matchup against USF:

 

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THREE STORYLINES

• The quarterback battle between Florida’s DJ Lagway and USF’s Byrum Brown is worthy of attention. Both are big, mobile athletes who can make plays with their arm and legs. Lagway made his return to action following an offseason hampered by injuries. He hit 15 of 18 passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns before turning it over to true freshman Tramell Jones Jr. in the second half. Brown, who missed the final eight games a season ago due to a leg injury, returned to account for 253 yards (210 passing, 43 rushing) and two rushing touchdowns (15 and 23 yards). Florida is 7-1 with Lagway as the starting quarterback.
• Florida’s veteran offensive line will be tested against a rebuilt USF defensive front heavy on veteran transfers. LIU managed to record 11 tackles-for-loss against the Gators, though not all of them came against Florida’s first unit. Starting right tackle Bryce Lovett was inconsistent and a talking point for fans and media during the week.
• The Gators face one of the most difficult stretches in program history after hosting the Bulls. They travel to No. 9 LSU next week in their SEC opener, and then visit No. 10 Miami. After a bye week, the Gators host preseason No. 1 Texas and visit No. 19 Texas A&M. Florida cannot afford a misfire against USF to be a serious contender for a College Football Playoff berth.

 

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THREE (OR MORE) PLAYERS TO WATCH

• True freshman receiver Vernell Brown III had a memorable performance in his collegiate debut. Brown caught three passes for a team-high 79 yards and showcased instictive play-making skills in the return game. Of course, his one-handed, 41-yard reception served as the highlight moment. “Being able to see him go out and do what he did with one hand and all that type of stuff, it was great to see,” teammate J. Michael Sturdivant said. Brown is young, but after one game, it’s obvious he is very talented.
• Fifth-year senior defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp had a nondescript performance in the opener, registering only one tackle in limited snaps. With USF quarterback Byrum Brown a threat to run each snap, the Gators could use a vintage Sapp performance like he displayed often in the team’s late-season turnaround in 2024.
• The last time USF played at Florida, the Bulls had a chance to tie the game but former kicker Spencer Shrader missed a late field goal. Meanwhile, Gators kicker Trey Smack missed three of his five attempts against Long Island, raising some eyebrows. UF coach Billy Napier is not concerned, his only message to Smack: “Keep shooting, baby.” Nico Gramatica of the Gramatca kicking family is now the Bulls’ kicker. He made a 50-yarder against Boise State. Smack made a career-long 56-yarder against LIU despite his struggles. If the game is close, one of these two could play an important role.

 

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FIVE QUESTIONS WITH … GATORS WR EUGENE WILSON III

The talented receiver from Tampa missed all but four games in 2024 after surgery to repair a congenital hip condition. Wilson returned to action in the season opener and caught a touchdown pass.

Q: What was your excitement level to play again?
A: I feel like that just kind of came from it being built up from last season being missed out on, excited for the moment coming up throughout the whole offseason, especially coming out of that tunnel.
 
Q: How scary was it to be told about your hip condition?
A: It kind of got to do with the tone when they tell it to you, but they told me everything. I feel like we had a good understanding of what was needed to be done. I trusted them, and I feel like God had me.
 
Q: When did you start to feel normal again after the procedure?
A: Pretty much around spring when I started running full speed. Obviously, had to get my feet back under me, running out all excited, all explosive and jumping, but just keeping everything detailed and locked in.

Q: Any apprehension about taking that first hit?

A: No. I feel like if you think about having injuries and stuff, it’s more likely to happen. It’s more like a psyche thing. You’re not really supposed to be thinking about that type stuff while playing football. It’s a grown-man sport.

Q: What was it like to have your family at the game to watch you get back out there?

A: We’ve been waiting for that. We haven’t been all together in a long time, so it was definitely a good moment.

 

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THREE DIGITS
 
23.6 – Margin of victory for the Gators during their five-game win streak.
11-1 – Florida’s all-time record against in-state FBS schools other than Miami and Florida State. The Gators are 3-0 vs. USF, 3-1 vs. UCF, 1-0 against FIU and 4-0 against FAU.
1 – FBS teams without a penalty after the first week of the season. You guessed it, the Gators. Florida did not allow a point or commit a penalty, a first in program history.
 

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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), OL Fletcher Westphal (wrist). QUESTIONABLE: WR Dallas Wilson (leg), WR Aidan Mizell (undisclosed), DL Caleb Banks (leg), LB Grayson Howard (ankle), DB Jamroc Grimsley (undisclosed), DB Ben Hanks III (undisclosed). USF — QUESTIONABLE: DT Dre Butler (undisclosed).

 

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NEWS, NOTES, NUGGETS

• This is the fourth all-time meeting between the schools. Florida has won the three previous encounters, including a 31-28 victory over the Bulls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in head coach Billy Napier‘s first season.
• The Gators have won five consecutive games, which is tied with Ohio State, Illinois, Air Force and Memphis for the longest active streak among FBS programs.
• The matchup with USF marks Napier’s 40th game as UF’s head coach. He moved above .500 (20-19) with last week’s win.
• Florida’s 55 points in the win over Long Island were its most under Napier and the program’s highest output since a 70-52 win over Samford in 2021.
• Gators running back Jadan Baugh rushed for 104 yards in the season opener. Baugh is off to a good start in pursuit of becoming UF’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor in 2015. The 10-year stretch matches the longest in program history without a 1,000-yard rusher. After Jimmy DuBose rushed for more than 1,300 yards in 1975, it wasn’t until 1985 that Neal Anderson (1,034) became Florida’s next 1,000-yard rusher.
• USF coach Alex Golesh, who is 15-12 with a pair of bowl wins in his three seasons, was on the same Illinois staff in 2012 as Gators receivers coach Billy Gonzales. Golesh was tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator, while Gonzales was co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach.
• UF sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway eclipsed 2,000 yards passing in his career in the opener. Lagway has passed for 2,035 yards in 13 career games (eight starts).
• USF quarterback Byrum Brown has thrown 206 consecutive passes without an interception, 29 shy of the school record set in 2001 by Marquel Blackwell, now running backs coach at South Carolina. Blackwell spent a season as a quality control analyst with the Gators in 2015 on a staff that also included USF safeties coach James Rowe, who was a defensive graduate assistant at UF in 2015.
• Gators junior linebacker Jaden Robinson, who has made five consecutive starts dating to last season, had four tackles, two for loss, and his first career forced fumble against LIU. Robinson has shown steady improvement since the end of last season.
• Bulls linebacker Jhalyn Shuler had 14 tackles in the victory over Boise State, earning Nagurski National Defensive Player of Week honors. Shuler led the Bulls with 97 tackles in 2023 and has returned to form, averaging 10.4 tackles per game over his last five outings.

 

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A BOLD, NEW ERA

The USF football program is in its 29th season, and for 28 of those seasons, the Bulls have called Raymond James Stadium home. USF played its inaugural season (1997) in old Tampa Stadium — aka The Big Sombrero. However, starting in 2030, the Bulls will call a 35,000-seat on-campus stadium home. The school broke ground on the project in November 2024, ushering in what the university hails a new, bold era. Once the Bulls move into their on-campus stadium, Miami will be the Sunshine State’s only FBS program without an on-campus stadium.

 

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THEY SAID IT

• “He’s been steady. I think he’s got perspective, and we’re very thankful. Obviously, hadn’t been all perfect around here, but I think he’s in there with you enough to kind of know what’s going on. And certainly, thankful for his discernment and his belief in what he’s seeing every day and not being affected by outside noise. I’m forever grateful for that.” — Gators head coach Billy Napier on the support of athletic director Scott Stricklin, whose contract has been extended to late 2030
• “I feel like it really brings us together because we’ve been preaching about it for so long, and just trying to capitalize on turnovers in practice, but when you finally get to the game, that’s when you can get to do it so with us doing it as a team, a unit, it felt great.” — Gators safety Bryce Thornton on his fumble recovery and score at the start of the win over LIU
• “That’s the greatest thing about defensive football — you can cover up some deficiencies by running to the ball, attacking when balls are thrown and handed off. You get 11 hats to the football, you can cover a lot of deficiencies up.” — USF coach Alex Galesh, whose team forced three turnovers and stopped Boise State four times on fourth down, on the importance of game-changing plays on defense

 

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THEY WROTE IT

• “A close game will go a long way for the Bulls to show that their Week 1 win over Boise State wasn’t a fluke. Florida, meanwhile, needs to not look past South Florida to a Week 3 showdown with LSU.” — Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports
• “The Gators were hoping USF would be just another tuneup before their murderer’s row of upcoming games against No. 3 LSU, No. 5 Miami, No. 7 Texas and No. 19 Texas A&M, but the Bulls will not go quietly. The Bulls’ 34-7 stunner last Thursday night against No. 25 Boise State certainly got UF’s attention. The Gators should win, but it won’t be easy.” — Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel

• “The oddsmakers are projecting neither nip nor tuck nor tension Saturday in Gainesville. As recently as Friday morning, the ESPN Bet Sportsbook projected 13th-ranked Florida as a 17 ½-point favorite against USF Take that with all the significance or salt as you will. Just bear in mind, the betting spread favored Boise State by as many as 6 ½ points before its clash last week with the Bulls.” — Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times

 

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WHY GATORS WILL WIN
Florida’s schedule only gets tougher so a win over the Bulls is mandatory if the Gators want to head to LSU next week feeling good about their chances. UF should be able to wear down the Bulls with their experienced offensive line and the tailback tandem of Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson. That will only help quarterback DJ Lagway in the passing game The Gators are a more complete team the last time USF visited The Swamp in 2022 and nearly pulled off the upset.
 
WHY USF WILL WIN
The Bulls are confident after their runaway win over then-No. 25 Boise State in their season opener. Quarterback Byrum Brown is a difference-maker and will test Florida’s defense. However, the Bulls must force multiple turnovers and get a lead to put pressure on the Gators if they expect to pull off another surprise. If USF can control the pace and negate the sold-out crowd, its chances of an upset increase exponentially.