MIAMI GARDENS — Florida kept it close and enjoyed a glimmer of hope before No. 4 Miami pulled away for a 26-7 win. DJ Lagway’s struggles continued for a sputtering offense while the Gators’ defense continued to give them a chance.
Here are five things learned as UF fell to 1-3 for the first time since 1986.
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Lagway won’t stand for this any longer
In the city where Joe Namath boldly predicted the Jets’ victory in Super Bowl III, Lagway made his own guarantee while also channeling the “promise” of Florida legend Tim Tebow during the 2008 national championship season.
“It’s been hard, but you can tell we’re going to get things changed,” Lagway said. “I can guarantee that. This is not acceptable at all. This isn’t OK.
“We’ve got to play better football, and it starts with me.”
Unlike Namath and Tebow, Lagway’s words could prove empty unless things radically change during the bye week.
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In the past three games, he is 78-of-105 for 560 yards, or 5.3 yards per attempt, with two touchdowns and six interceptions — five of them during a Sept. 13 loss at LSU. During the LSU loss, the USF flop Sept. 6 and at Miami, Lagway was unsettled in the pocket, unsure where to go with the ball and unable to make plays down the field — he had no completions longer than 12 yards against Miami.
According to ESPN Research, seven of his 12 completions were caught behind the line of scrimmage. Three times he missed the tight end wide open in the flats.
“There’s some rhythm missing there,” Napier said.
UF’s coach and Lagway’s camp point to a lost offseason because of injuries. A lack of practice has mushroomed into a crisis of confidence that will require time to fix. Yet, time is running out as he and the Gators recalibrate before turning their attention to an Oct. 4 visit from Texas.
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“Just got to keep on developing. Continue to get better each and every day,” the 20-year-old sophomore said. “That’s all we can do. That’s all I can control. It’s just 1% better each and every day.”
Napier isn’t going anywhere yet
The end of Napier’s tenure appears inevitable, just not imminent.
A bye week might seem the ideal time for UF to part ways and decision-makers turn their attention to finding the next coach.
The move also could spur an exodus, given a player can appear in four games and not count the season toward his eligibility. When a coach is fired in season, players have 30 days to redshirt or enter the transfer portal.
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After ousting Brent Pry after an 0-3 start, Virginia Tech played without a dozen starters during a 38-6 win against overmatched Wofford.
The Gators also would need an interim coach, who would have to juggle his current responsibilities. A strong candidate would be running backs coach Jabbar Juluke, whom the SEC suspended three games for appearing to strike an LSU player during pregame warm-ups.
Better for now to stick with Napier, whose team continues to play for him. The 46-year-old will handle a tough situation with professionalism and grace, while coaching as if he can save himself — even against all odds.
Napier will regret play calling
Napier was raised by a high school coach, given his first job as offensive coordinator in his late 20s at Clemson and was 33-5 his final three seasons at Louisiana while engineering the Ragin’ Cajuns attack.
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But similar to Clemson, where he served in the role just two seasons (2009-10) before Dabo Swinney fired him, Napier is not succeeding at calling plays at a major program.
Following consecutive losing seasons in 2022 and 2023 to start his Florida tenure, many believed Napier would hire someone outside the program to run the offense. After 2024 ended with four straight wins and Lagway emerged as a potential star, Napier tightened his grip on the play sheet, despite internal discussion he’d cede the role.
On Feb. 5 at National Signing Day, Napier told reporters, “It’s what got me here.”
More than anything, it’s what will lead to Napier’s looming ouster.
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Florida’s attack has three touchdowns in three losses, Lagway looks lost and in-game management is too often chaotic.
Add to the long list of organizational missteps a 10-players-on-the-field penalty for Florida during Carter Davis’ 53-yard field goal for Miami.
Gators seek to repeat bye-week magic
Florida entered their first bye a year ago sitting 2-2 after beating a miserable Mississippi State team while still allowing 480 yards.
Napier was firmly on the hot seat.
But coaches simplified the defense and made some lineup changes. The Gators responded to the adversity with highly competitive practices to gain some confidence.
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Coming out of the break UF dominated UCF and Kentucky, should have beaten Tennessee and led Georgia until Lagway was injured. Florida finished 8-5 and were deemed a program suddenly on the rise.
Napier and the Gators will have to pull another rabbit out of their helmets this week or suffer a third losing season in his four at Florida.
One-sided rivalries
The Miami loss dropped Napier to 3-12 against Florida’s five rivals: Georgia, Florida State, LSU, Miami and Tennessee.
Wins against Tennessee in 2023 and LSU last season in the Swamp were impressive, while a 2024 win against FSU’s worst team in years was a given. UF pushed Tennessee in 2022 in Knoxville and again in overtime last season, but fell both times because of miscues on the sideline.
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Otherwise, UF has come up well short against the opponents that matter most, a fact not lost on Napier.
“We’ve got an obligation to (win), not only for our fans and our alumni, but for the players in that locker room,” he said. “So, yeah, we care about (it) a lot, too.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
