Florida needed just one score against LSU to all but solidify head coach Billy Napier’s fourth win over a ranked opponent since he took over the program in 2022.
Late into the fourth quarter with a full moon hanging over UF’s student section, Florida fans awaited amid what seemed to be an anxious optimism in the air.
On 1st-and-10 at his own 45-yard line, true freshman running back Jadan Baugh delivered. Baugh bursted through a hole on the left side of the defense and took off down the left sideline for a 55-yard rushing touchdown that inched the Gators to being just one win away from bowl eligibility.
Despite having the ball for only 18:17, Florida (5-5, 3-4 SEC) rode a bend-don't break defensive performance to come away with a 27-16 victory against No. 22 LSU in front of over 90,000 fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday.
“We have to give the crowd a ton of credit,” Napier said. “That place was electric tonight and played a major factor in the game and obviously the kids fed off of it… Something about when that sun goes down, it’s pretty special in there.”
Junior kicker Trey Smack delivered the opening kickoff through LSU’s end zone.In a matter of seconds, you could hardly hear yourself think as Florida fans came to their feet in ear-ringing fashion.
LSU junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the Tigers’ offense began their opening drive at their own 25-yard line before rolling the dice on a 4th-and-1 near the middle of the field. Sophomore defensive back Dijon Johnson came up with a huge tackle for a loss of three yards on the ensuing sweep play, allowing UF’s offense to take the field for the first time.
Nonetheless, Florida couldn’t seem to get out of its own way on its opening possession. A holding, false start and illegal substitution penalty in a 1:22 span set up 4th-and-17 at UF’s 47-yard line.Senior punter Jeremy Crawshaw subsequently booted a punt down to LSU’s 16-yard line.
Napier has received positive contributions from various underclassmen during his tenure at Florida, and redshirt freshman defensive back Aaron Gates has been no exception. As the Tigers faced a 3rd-and-2 near midfield, Nussmeier dumped off a pass in the flat before Gates blew the play up for no gain.
Despite UF’s sluggish start offensively, they received a spark on its second possession from a true freshman signal caller that has continued to make dynamic plays through the air. On 3rd-and-7, Florida freshman quarterback DJ Lagway dropped back in the pocket and delivered a 34-yard strike that hit senior wide receiver Chimere Dike in stride up the right sideline.
As Ben Hill Griffin Stadium went into a frenzy, redshirt junior running back Ja’Kobi Jackson shook his way through the right side of LSU’s defense for a pickup of 20 yards. In a matter of two plays, Florida seemed to be in the driver's seat with a 1st-and-10 at the Tigers’ 23-yard line.
Lagway capped off UF’s five-play, 80-yard scoring drive with a back-shoulder pass complete to senior wideout Elijhah Badger near the left pylon.The Gators now had their first lead of the game at 7-0 with 7:16 left in the first quarter.
“I feel like coach Napier and the offensive staff did an amazing job of game planning my strengths and weaknesses this week,” Lagway said. I feel like this week’s taught me a lot, just truly learning how to play in the pocket.”
On the Tigers’ ensuing drive, Nussmeier utilized his short passing game to work the ball into Florida territory. LSU subsequently faced a 2nd-and-13 before UF junior redshirt junior edge Tyreak Sapp delivered a tackle for loss, eventually forcing LSU to settle for a 51-yard field goal attempt. The kick was tipped at the line of scrimmage and missed to the right.
“We had a specific game plan to get after the quarterback and that’s what we did,” UF linebacker Shemar James said.
Just over two minutes later, LSU got the ball right back and began the drive at its own 16-yard line. The Tigers faced a 3rd-and-9 in Florida territory, a down that they seemingly dominated from start to finish. Nussmeier completed a deep pass up the middle to sophomore wide receiver Aaron Anderson while absorbing a big hit from UF senior defensive lineman Cam Jackson. Anderson subsequently took the catch to the house for a 28-yard touchdown.
The touchdown capped off a 14-play, 84-yard scoring drive that lasted more than five minutes to tie the game at seven apiece with 7:39 remaining in the second quarter. Florida allowed three 3rd-and-long conversions on the drive. LSU’s ensuing kickoff following its first score went through the end zone, allowing Lagway and company to take back over at their own 25-yard line.
In his first game back since injuring his lower body against Tennessee on Oct. 12, UF senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. exploded up the middle on his first carry of the night for a gain of 10 yards down to LSU’s 38-yard line.
Three plays later, Lagway completed a pass to redshirt freshman wide receiver Aidan Mizell that fell short of the line to gain. This in turn prompted a 49-yard field goal attempt that went through the uprights off the foot of Smack, allowingthe Gators to regain the lead at 10-7 with 3:38 remaining in the second quarter.
On the Tigers’ final drive before halftime, Nussmeier was sacked by James, setting up a 3rd-and-18 at UF’s 33-yard line. LSU entered Saturday’s contest only allowing six sacks in their first nine games this season. However, the Gators’ continuously affected Nussmeier in the backfield, totaling seven sacks on the night.
“I thought we hung in there pretty good [defensively],” Napier said “We certainly affected the quarterback and he made a lot of unannounced plays, offschedule plays, where we did get him off his spot.”
Nussmeir’s pass fell incomplete on 3rd-and-18, setting up a field goal attempt by LSU junior kicker Damian Ramos that was good from 50 yards out. As the clock ran out in the half, the Tigers had knotted the score at 10-10.
The Gators received the ball to open the second half.Lagway immediately threw a dart to Badger for a gain of 19 yards and a first down, though Florida went three-and-out following the completion. UF subsequently punted it back to the Tigers’ 10-yard line.
After taking over seven minutes off the game clock, LSU had seemingly taken a 16-10 lead on a slant route thrown to CJ Daniels on the right side. However, the scoring play was nullified due to an illegal pick play called on the Tigers. The penalty led to a 4th-and-24 at Florida’s 28-yard line, where Ramos booted a 45-yard field goal attempt through the uprights. LSU had now taken its first and only lead of the game with 5:59 to go in the third quarter.
Lagway answered in a hurry on UF’s ensuing possession, completing back-to-back passes to Badger for a combined 41 yards. In two plays, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was sent right back into a frenzy.
The aforementioned penalty issues continued to hinder the Gators throughout the matchup. Florida was flagged seven times for 55 yards and was forced to settle for a 55-yard field goal following a holding penalty on junior offensive tackle Austin Barber. Smack’s subsequent attempt was good with 3:03 left in the third quarter, tying the score at 13 apiece and giving the UF kicker a new career-long.
As the contest entered the fourth quarter, the Gators leaned heavily on their defense and ground game to seal the victory. Less than one minute into the final quarter, Lagway threw a back-shoulder pass off of one leg to Badger for a 36-yard completion.
“We’ve got an amazing connection,” Lagway said of Badger. “[We have been] working since the offseason. Just being able to trust my guys goin into plays. I trust all my receivers.”
Just one play later, Jackson punched it in from one yard out as the Gators regained a 20-13 lead with 13:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Tigers’ hopes of victory were slipping away, but two fourth down conversions within five plays on the ensuing drive kept them alive.
LSU settled for a field goal after driving 84 yards down the field on 15 plays to cut Florida’s lead to 20-16. Baugh’s breakaway run on the following drive all but sealed the deal for the Gators, who are now just one win away from becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2022.
Florida will remain in Gainesville this week as they await a senior day matchup against No. 10 Ole Miss at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for noon.
Contact Max Tucker at mtucker@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Max_Tuckr1.
Max Tucker is a junior transfer student at UF. After obtaining his A.A. in Journalism from Santa Fe College in 2023, he chose further his education at Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. Max is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a specialization in sports and media. He enjoys golfing and going to the beach with his friends in his free time.
