Florida Gators (4-4, 2-3 in the Southeastern Conference) are set to face off against the No. 5 ranked Texas Longhorns (7-1, 3-1, No. 5 in the CFP) this Saturday at 12 p.m. EST on ABC.
The betting odds from BetMGM place Texas as a favorite by 21½ points. Historically, Texas holds a 2-0 advantage in their series meetings.
The stakes are high for the Longhorns as they were idle last week, and the recent SEC results have positioned them back into a tie for the conference lead. With the inaugural College Football Playoff rankings announced, every game is crucial for Texas as they vie for a postseason berth. Conversely, Florida enters this matchup after a tough defeat to their rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs, raising concerns about their quarterback situation. DJ Lagway, who hails from Texas, may not be able to participate due to a hamstring injury.
In terms of pivotal matchups, Texas’ offensive line, which was previously a strong suit, has seen multiple hits on their quarterbacks recently. Florida’s edge rushers Tyreak Sapp and George Gumbs Jr. have demonstrated their prowess, accumulating 6½ sacks and 10 tackles for loss. They will present a formidable challenge to Texas’ tackles, Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cam Williams.
For Florida, speculation surrounds the potential return of quarterback Lagway; however, Coach Billy Napier expressed uncertainty earlier this week. If Lagway is unable to play, Yale transfer Aidan Warner will take the reins against Texas’ aggressive defense. Warner had a mixed performance against Georgia, completing only 7 of 22 passes for 66 yards, despite leading two scoring drives.
On the Texas side, wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. emerged as a key target for quarterback Quinn Ewers in the previous outing against Vanderbilt. With six receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns, Moore has solidified his status as a primary offensive weapon. Should Isaiah Bond recover from his ankle injury and play, Moore is expected to continue his impactful role in a well-rounded receiving group.
As for other noteworthy elements, this game marks the first time Texas will compete against Florida since 1940, coinciding with their inaugural season in the SEC. The Longhorns have faced struggles, allowing 11 sacks and accumulating 18 penalties over the previous two games. Interestingly, all four of Florida’s losses have been against teams that were ranked in the Top 10 at various points this season. While Texas has dominated opponents 70-17 in first quarters this season, they have been outscored 17-14 in first quarters across their last three contests. Additionally, Longhorns’ defensive lineman Vernon Broughton will miss the first half of the game due to a targeting penalty from a recent match against Vanderbilt.