Swampcast breaks down Florida football vs Miami matchup
The Sun’s Kevin Brockway and Noah Ram preview Florida football’s matchup at No. 6 Miami with Manny Navarro of The Athletic.
In 1986, Florida football began the season 1-3.
It didn’t happen for another 39 years – until Saturday night.
The Gators fell 26-7 to Miami on Saturday evening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The loss was Florida’s third in a row and solidified the worst start to a season under Billy Napier.
UF’s offense struggled from the opening kick. Florida finished the first quarter with five yards and the half with 32 yards. The bright spot was the third quarter, when the Gators scored their lone points on an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a Jaden Baugh 7-yard touchdown drive.
After a Carson Beck interception, the Gators could have made it a 13-10 game, but Billy Napier chose to go for a fourth-and-2 from the Hurricane 33. The pass to TJ Abrams was a yard short. UM then embarked on a 13-play, 80-yard drive lasting 7:12. A 22-yard drive after a turnover on downs was the final nail in the coffin.
For the second week in a row, the Gators’ defense kept the squad in the game. But Florida’s inefficient offense and DJ Lagway’s 59 passing yards prior to the final, garbage time drive was too much to overcome.
UF has a bye week before facing No. 7 Texas at home on October 4.
The Hurricanes score on a four play, 22 yard drive after a Florida turnover on downs. A one yard Mark Fletcher Jr. TD capped off the drive. Miami leads Florida with 26-7 with 1:57 left in the game.
Gators defense finally breaks as Miami scores a touchdown on a 13 play, 80 yard drive lasting 7:12. CharMar Brown scores his second touchdown of the game from a yard out. UF now needs 12 points in 4:08 to force overtime as the Hurricanes lead 19-7.
The Florida football defensive tackle and Baylor transfer goes down with a right knee injury with 4:11 left in the fourth quarter. He was helped off the field.
Billy Napier opts to go for it on fourth down rather than kick the field goal but DJ Lagway’s 4th-and-3 pass to TJ Abrams comes up a half yard short. The Gators fail to cash in any points on the Miami turnover.
Florida is lining up for a Trey Smack field goal attempt, trying to cash in on points on a Miami turnover when a pass from quarterback Carson Beck was intercepted at midfield by cornerback Cormani McClain.
Gators embark on an 11 play, 80 yard drive and tally their first touchdown of the game as Jaden Baugh scores from seven yards out. Billy Napier elected to go for it on 4th and 2 from the Miami 15. UF got it on a three yard DJ Lagway rush. Suddenly it is a one possession game as Florida trails 13-7 to Miami with 3:24 left in the third.
The good news? Quarterback DJ Lagway didn’t throw an interception in the first half. The bad news? Florida trails Miami 13-0 at halftime. Miami outgained Florida 198-32 in the first half and the score could have been worse if not for some misfires by Miami quarterback Carson Beck. Lagway is 6 of 12 for 28 yards in the first half, while Beck is 8 of 17 for 98 yards. Miami gets the kickoff to start the second half. Florida’s streak of 464 games without being shutout, dating back to 1988, appears in jeaporday at this point.
Florida football’s defense stiffens in the red zone, holding Miami to a 28-yard field goal by Carter Davis. Miami quarterback Carson Beck has been off for the most of the second quarter. Miami 13, Florida 0 with 1:29 left in the second quarter.
Miami extends its lead to 10-0 on Florida on a 53-yard Carter Davis field goal. But UF’s depleted defense showed a pulse when freshmen Jayden Woods sacked Miami quarterback Carson Beck, forcing the long field goal attempt. It’s the first career sack for Woods in his first career start. Miami 10, Florida 0 with 14:04 left in the second quarter.
The Hurricanes are driving for another and have dominated the first quarter, outgaining Florida 116-5.
Florida football defesnive back Aaron Gates leaves the game with an apparent arm injury. It’s another blow to an already injury-depleted UF defense
After Florida goes three-and-out to start the game, Miami puts together a seven-play, 56-play drive, capped by a two-yard CharMar Brown TD run to go up 7-0 on Florida with 9:25 in the first quarter. Miami’s advantage on both lines of scrimmage is showing early in this game.
Defensive end George Gumbs Jr. and offensive lineman Kamryn Waites among nine players out for Florida against Miami.
What time does Florida football vs Miami start?
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Hard Rock Stadium, cap. 64,767
What TV channel is Florida football vs Miami on today?
Florida football vs Miami prediction
Miami 28, Florida 17: The Hurricanes will continue their early-season surge by outplaying Florida on the line of scrimmage. Miami quarterback Carson Beck will throw three TD passes, while Florida quarterback DJ Lagway will continue to struggle, throwing two ill-timed interceptions that will factor into the outcome of the game.
Florida football 2025 schedule
all times ET
Aug 30 — LIU, Florida won 55-0
Sept. 6 — USF, Florida lost 18-16
Sept. 13 — at LSU, Florida lost 20-10
Sept, 20 — at No. 6 Miami, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Oct. 4 — Texas, TBD
Oct. 11 — at Texas A&M, TBD
Oct. 18 — Mississippi State, TBD
Nov. 1 — Georgia (Jacksonville), 3:30 p.m, ABC
Nov. 8 — at Kentucky, TBD
Nov. 15 — at Ole Miss, TBD
Nov. 22 — Tennessee, TBD
Nov. 29 — Florida State, TBD
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!”
