Florida Gators regroup, hand LSU Tigers third straight loss

DJ Lagway threw for a landing and arrange one other with a protracted completion in his return from a strained left hamstring as Florida upset No. 22 LSU 27-16 on Saturday to offer the Gators their first collection victory since 2018.

Jadan Baugh’s 55-yard scoring scamper with 3:48 remaining primarily sealed it and put the Gators (5-5, 3-4 SEC) on the verge of turning into bowl eligible. Florida had dropped eight in a row in opposition to ranked opponents and was 1-10 underneath coach Billy Napier in rivalry video games.

Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier instructed all week that followers ought to rush the sphere named after him if the Gators win. However it did not occur.

Florida’s protection, although, deserved to be celebrated. The unit sacked Garrett Nussmeier seven instances — yet one more than LSU (6-4, 3-3) had allowed in its first 9 video games mixed.

Lagway supplied the massive performs on offense for Florida. After sitting out many of the previous two losses with the damage, he related with Elijhah Badger for a 23-yard rating within the first quarter. Lagway by no means scrambled however was cell sufficient to create further time by shifting across the pocket.

He accomplished 13 of 26 passes for 226 yards. Badger caught six for 131 yards.

“Elite play,” Florida coach Billy Napier stated of Lagway. “God blessed that younger man.”

The sport began to show in Florida’s favor when T.J. Searcy sacked Nussmeier late within the third quarter. Nussmeier fumbled, and considered one of his linemen scooped it out of the air then fumbled once more. Caleb Banks recovered in what was considered one of a number of big performs for the defensive deal with.

The Gators went backward from there regardless of the strong area place and ended up punting. However Jeremy Crawshaw pinned the Tigers contained in the 10-yard line.

Florida then compelled a punt and began one other drive in LSU territory. This time, Lagway discovered Badger for a 36-yard acquire that arrange Ja’Kobi Jackson’s 1-yard scoring run.

LSU dominated time of possession within the first half and doubled up Florida in performs. However Nussmeier struggled to search out time within the second half. He accomplished 27 of 47 passes for 260 yards with a landing and the fumble, and the Gators’ protection annoyed him in bouncing again from a subpar effort the week earlier than in a blowout loss at Texas.

“Final week was unacceptable, and so they took possession of that,” Napier stated of his protection. “There was no moping round.”

Shedding three in a row — to Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida — makes it unattainable for LSU coach Brian Kelly to proceed his streak of 10-win seasons, which can finish at seven. Kelly gained double-digit video games in every of his final 5 seasons at Notre Dame and prolonged the streak with consecutive 10-win campaigns in Baton Rouge.

“This can be a easy train of do you wish to struggle or not?” Kelly stated after the loss. “Do you wish to struggle and take accountability as coaches and gamers that we’re not enjoying effectively and we’re struggling proper now? … There is a tough spot right here that now we have to struggle by, and now we have to do it collectively.”

As Napier left the sphere following handshakes and postgame interviews, he was cheered by the followers hovering on the workforce’s tunnel.

“You have to be a troublesome man, and you bought to be up for the problem,” Napier stated. “This group has confirmed they’re up for that. It is tougher than ever for my part. These guys may have pointed fingers and splintered a very long time in the past. That is what I am most happy with.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.