Game Day: Florida vs Texas A&M (Saturday, 3:30 pm)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jimmy Johnson, who gained three Tremendous Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys throughout the Nineteen Nineties by developing and managing among the best rosters in NFL historical past, was as soon as requested concerning the beginning standing of a participant who was coming back from damage. A media sort made the suggestion (assumption, really) that cited an age-old adage {that a} participant couldn’t lose his job due to damage. 
 
“The place does it say that?” Johnson shot again. “Whoever mentioned that was in all probability injured.” 
 
Which brings us to Saturday’s Southeastern Convention opener between Florida (1-1, 0-0) and Texas A&M (1-1, 0-0) at Spurrier/Florida Discipline and, extra particularly, the five-alarm storyline for the Gators. 
 
Graham Mertz or DJ Lagway? 
 
[Read senior writer Scott Carter’s comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” preview here]
 
Mertz, the sixth-year senior and 2023 incumbent beginning quarterback, was beneath heart for UF’s season opener two weeks in the past towards No. 19 Miami, an unpleasant 41-17 blowout loss when he accomplished simply 11 of 20 passes for 91 yards and an interception earlier than exiting the sport within the fourth with a concussion. Lagway, the heralded freshman and five-star recruit, went three of six for 31 yards, a choose and a landing drive in mop-up obligation towards the Hurricanes, then assumed the Week 2 beginning spot whereas Mertz was in concussion protocol. 
 
Towards FCS foe Samford, Lagway performed to his five-star 2023 Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the 12 months credentials. He went 18-for-25 for 456 yards (the ninth-highest single-game whole in UF historical past) and three touchdowns in a 45-7 rout of the Bulldogs. 
 
So Gators coach Billy Napier had a choice to make this week. Would he reinstate Mertz for the primary convention sport or journey with Lagway and the electrifying power he zapped into “The Swamp” in his beginning debut? Florida followers, through social media, broadcast airwaves and messages boards, made clear who they needed (The Child), however Napier needed to steadiness what Mertz’s regular hand and on-field administration of the offense has meant for this system the final two seasons towards the spectacular one-game statistics Lagway put up towards a vastly inferior opponent and resolve which QB provides the Gators the very best likelihood to win.
 
Napier already has mentioned each will play (with all indicators level to Mertz getting the beginning name), however which one runs on the market first could have so much to do with the collective early sport temper of the sold-out crowd at “The Swamp.” Then once more, if both (or each) can transfer the soccer, the joint needs to be leaping. 

Whoever is beneath heart, the defensive expertise and resistance put up by A&M, of their first season beneath Mike Elko, shall be far better than what the Gators confronted towards Samford, however in all probability not within the class of the Hurricanes. UM, with its ferocious entrance and all-around velocity, held UF to only 261 yards of whole offense. The identical day the Hurricanes have been steam-rolling the Gators, the Aggies have been overwhelmed 23-13 at house by then-No. 6 Notre Dame and have been gashed by the Preventing Irish for 198 dashing yards and 356 whole. 
 
A&M, like UF, rebounded towards an inferior foe final week, smashing McNeese State 52-10 and cranking out 529 yards of whole offense and 29 first downs. Sophomore quarterback Connor Weigman, after going simply 12 of 30 with two interceptions and no TDs towards Notre Dame, was 11 of 14 for 120 and two scores and not using a turnover. The Aggies did the majority of their offensive injury by dashing 38 occasions for 338 yards and 5 scores. 
 
On paper, the 2 groups would seem like fairly evenly matched (particularly when weighing ND’s loss final week to Northern Illinois) and given the Aggies have misplaced 10 straight true street video games. It could come to right down to which quarterback performs higher. 
 
And which UF quarterback performs. 
 
Protection begins at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, with the crew of Joe Tessitore on play-by-play, former UF quarterback Jesse Palmer offering evaluation and Katie George on the sidelines. The Gators Sports activities Community from Learfield broadcast will air with pregame protection starting at 12:30 p.m. and ultimately give technique to Sean Kelly, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey from the sector on the decision. For GSN stations, click on right here. A nationwide ESPN broadcast with Marc Kestecher and Kelly Stouffer is on the dial, as properly. 
 
The sport shall be re-aired Tuesday at midday and once more Wednesday at 1 a.m. on the SEC Community.
 
Lastly, comply with senior author Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and evaluation all through the sport. FloridaGators.com could have full post-game protection from the sport late Saturday evening and follow-up content material Sunday, additionally.