UF stumbles at A&M, doomed by dubious play calls, defensive no-show (Ep. 302)

The Gators could not sustain their fast start during a 34-17 loss at Texas A&M, but did have their chances against the No. 5 Aggies before faltering. The loss followed a familiar script, featuring predictable play calling and questionable decision-making, to drop Billy Napier’s team to 0-14 against ranked teams away from Gainesville. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark struggle to find many positives from UF’s latest performance as the end draws nearer for Napier. Gators run out of steam (0:58) Turning point (3:54) Thumbs-up (8:31) Thumbs-down (12:36) Second-guess (17:39) Game ball (24:56) Billy’s banter (28:44) Locker-room view (30:55) Final thought: Firing season (7:59) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (45 :28)

Coming off a home win against Texas, Florida looks to build on its best performance of the season with a visit to No. 5 Texas A&M. The Aggies are playing as well as any team in the SEC, highlighted by a last-second win at Notre Dame. A&M also has one of the nation’s best home-field advantages. Kyle Field will be nearly 110,000 strong as the Gators seek their first road win against a ranked team under Napier. Meanwhile, quarterback DJ Lagway looks to make a memorable return to the Lone Star State against a school located just 75 minutes from where he grew up. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark preview what shapes up to be Napier’s biggest game as a head coach. Heading into Texas A&M (0:00) Reason for optimism: Can Gators take this game? (3:24) Reason for pessimism: History best indicator of the future (5:46) Matchup offense (8:10) Matchup defense (12:07) Attention paid (15:53) On the spot: DJ Lagway (19:01) Final thought (22:48) Game picks (28:34) Jeremy Foley’s Corner  (35:23)

Florida’s 29-21 win against Texas ended a three-game skid and gave the Gators something to build on. Billy Napier remains firmly on the hot seat, but the must-win gave the Gators a jolt of momentum heading to No. 5 Texas A&M and their coach a chance to save himself. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar discuss an electric day in the Swamp and the Gators’ most complete performance of 2025. Gators end 3-game skid (0:00) Turning point (2:02) Thumbs-up (5:28) Thumbs-down (8:59) Second-guess (12:16) Game ball (18:22) Billy’s banter (21:13) DJ Lagway (26:14) Player takes (27:49) Final thoughts (30:45) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (35:42)

It’s only October, but time is running out on Florida coach Billy Napier and the 1-3 Gators. Things don’t get any easier, either. After consecutive losses to Top 5 teams, UF hosts No. 9 Texas, a 2024 CFB semifinalist and preseason No. 1. But the Longhorns have their own issues, beginning with quarterback Arch Manning. The preseason Heisman favorite has failed to live up to expectations so far, similar to DJ Lagway for the Gators. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar discuss an intriguing matchup featuring two young QBs searching for answers and a coach hanging on by a thread. Texas coming into Swamp: Iconic (0:00) Reason for optimism (4:24) Reason for pessimism (10:15) Matchup offense (14:09) Matchup defense (17:17) Attention paid (20:08) On the spot (27:15) Unsubstantiated rumor (31:46) Final thought (37:20) Pick games (41:23) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (50:00)

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway attacked the bye week following a forgettable September. He now aims to lead an October turnaround and save Billy Napier’s job. Lagway and Co. face a tall order: The Gators are last in scoring among Power Four teams against FBS foes. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark wonder whether Florida’s offensive woes can be fixed before Lagway’s sophomore season is lost. Getting to the root of DJ’s problems (0:00) “An itch to scratch on offense” (11:14) Play calling (12:16) Adapting your personnel (19:35) Texas expectations (25:59)

The Gators suffered an offensive collapse for the ages in South Florida to fall to 1-3 for the first time since 1986 and effectively sealed the fate of Billy Napier. The Gators will now need a bye week turnaround unlike any other to save their head coach and salvage what has become a lost season that began with such high hopes. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar try to make sense of DJ Lagway’s Sisyphean struggles, Scott Stricklin’s looming decision on Napier and how bad things could get for a program in free fall. Can it get any worse? (0:00) Billy Napier vs. Gator Nation (2:12) Turning point (5:24) Thumbs-up (10:34) Contracts (12:34) Thumbs-down (13:48) Second-guess: Field goal? (17:34) Game ball (23:32) Biggest concern (26:56) Reason for optimism: The countdown is on (30:12) Rumored opponents (33:16) On the spot: Lane train (35:50) Billy’s banter: Excuse-making at its finest (40:24) Locker room view (47:20) Final thought: Zook 2.0 (48:25) Jeremy Foley’s Corner: Basketball (52:26)  

Florida heads to No. 4 Miami for the first time since 2013, with coach Billy Napier’s future and the Gators’ season on the line. Seeking its first win at Miami since 1985, UF aims to avoid the program’s first 1-3 start since 1986. If the Gators, a 7.5-point underdog, cannot upset the Hurricanes, Napier soon could be history himself. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar assess Gators’ chances against the unbeaten Hurricanes, the latest Top 5 opponent on Florida’s unrelenting schedule. Headed to Miami (0:00) Reason for optimism (3:12) Reason for pessimism (6:19) Matchup on offense (9:14) Matchup in defense (11:50) On the spot: DJ Lagway (16:52) Fine thought (21:03) Coaches fired already (24:11) Game picks (28:32) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (33:56)

Florida fell to 1-2 with a loss at LSU, yet coach Billy Napier insists the Gators ‘easily could be 3-0.’ In reality, UF is fast approaching 1-3 with a visit to No. 3 Miami up next. DJ Lagway is coming off a 5-interception night for an offense averaging 13 points against FBS competition. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark recap Florida’s recent road loss and Napier's rocky road ahead. Turning point (0:00) Thumbs-up (6:18) Thumbs-down (8:56) Second-guess (12:46) Game ball (18:40) Biggest concern (20:43) On the spot (25:22) Billy’s banter (27:33) Final thought (31:52)

Florida visits LSU looking to rebound from a devastating loss to USF and pick up the Gators’ first win at Tiger Stadium since 2016 — and just its third since 2003. Despite their lofty ranking, the No. 3 Tigers have plenty of room to improve. Meanwhile, UF needs quarterback DJ Lagway and the defense to rediscover their November 2024 form when the Gators upset LSU in the Swamp. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark preview Saturday night’s game as the Gators begin a four-game gauntlet against ranked opponents. Billy Napier with edge (2:47) Reason for optimism (10:31) Reason for pessimism (14:15) Matchup in offense (17:34) Matchup defense (21:30) Attention paid (12:59) On the spot (26:51) Unsubstantiated rumor (29:23) Final thought: Brutal stretch (32:55) Picks (35:11) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (40:27)

Florida’s flop against USF in the Swamp has coach Billy Napier and the Gators with their backs against the wall and searching for answers. Expected to be the final tune-up prior to SEC play, the Bulls’ stunning 18-16 win could be the beginning of a Florida freefall unless the Gators can turn it around before heading to No. 3 LSU, followed by a visit to No. 5 Miami. Napier took ownership and said all the right things, but his team’s sloppy, lackluster, disappointing performance Saturday looked all too familiar. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar sound all too familiar having been down this path one too many times during the Napier Era. The nightmare that unfolded in The Swamp (:00) Final nail in Billy Napier’s coffin (3:22) Turning point of game (7:15) Thumps-up (9:40) Hottest seat in college football (12:48) Thumbs-down (14:43) AD Scott Stricklin miscalculation (19:02) Second-guess: DJ Lagway doesn’t look right (23:05) Second-guess: Jadan Baugh is so good (26:41) Game ball (28:38) Biggest concern: The schedule (31:19) Reason for optimism (35:35) On the spot: Lagway (39:18) Billy’s banter (43:15) Coach Ron Zook summons Edgar (44:57) Heartbroken, sad & mad (47:50) Final thought: It’s over (52:24) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (57:34)