Takeaways from Florida football’s season-opening win over Long Island University
The Sun’s Kevin Brockway and Andrew Abadie wrap up Florida football’s dominant 55-0 win over LIU
Florida football picked up its first season opening win since 2022 with a laugher, beating overmatched FCS opponent Long Island 55-0 before a sellout crowd of 89,451 at The Swamp on Aug. 30.
The Florida Gators (1-0) picked up their fifth straight win dating back to the end of the 2024 season and will take some confidence into its second game of the season at The Swamp on Sept. 6 against USF (4:15 p.m., SEC Network).
With the win, Florida improved to 20-19 in three-plus seasons under head coach Billy Napier. Florida raced to a 38-0 halftime lead, posting its most points ever scored in the first half under Napier, before turning the game over to its second and third-team players for the entire second half.
Florida improved to 25-1 against FCS opponents since 1981, with the lone loss coming to Georgia Southern in 2013.
Here’s how the Florida graded out in its season opener:
Florida football offense: B
Florida starting quarterback DJ Lagway was rusty early before settling into a rhythm in the second quarter. He finished the night completing 15 of 20 passes for 120 yards and 3 TDs, with his biggest completion a 41-yard strike downfield to freshman Vernell Brown III, who made a spectacular one-handed catch on the play. Sophomore running back Jadan Baugh ran with power and purpose, rushing for 104 yards on nine carries and a TD. Freshman backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. threw his first two career TD passes to tight end Tony Livingston and receiver Taylor Spierto in the second half.
Florida football defense: A
Junior safety Bryce Thornton set the tone early by scooping up a fumble forced by linebacker Jaden Robinson and returning it 37 yards for a TD. Thornton added another fumble recovery at LIU’s 10-yard line that forced another score. Florida’s defense was dominant throughout the night, shutting down LIU dual threat quarterback Ethan Greenwood and limiting the Sharks to just 86 yards and two first downs. Robinson finished with two of UF’s seven tackles for loss.
Florida football special teams: C
Trey Smack booted a career-high 56 yard field goal but went just 2 of 5 on field goal attempts for the night, missing on attempts of 39, 40 and 57 yards. Brown showed some wiggle on a 21-yard punt return in the first half and appears ready to take the reins of punt return duty as a true freshman.
Florida football coaching: B
There remained some head-scratching play calls by Napier, including a wide receiver screen from Lagway to Eugene Wilson III on a third-and-10 that gained only two yards. But the defense was on point under second-year defensive coordinator Ron Roberts. Florida also had to burn a timeout when it had a player run in late on a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Overall, though, the Gators played a fairly clean game with no penalties or turnovers.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
