The No. 5 Texas Longhorns will face off against a gritty Florida Gators team at Darrell K. Royal Stadium this Saturday. Despite a 4-4 record, Florida has shown resilience against top-ranked opponents, nearly upsetting then-No. 8 Tennessee and holding No. 3 Georgia close until the fourth quarter. Now, head coach Billy Napier hopes to carry this momentum into a challenging three-week stretch against ranked teams, starting with Texas.
Under pressure in his third season, Napier has pushed the Gators to display tough defensive play, a quality admired by Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. “They’re physical at the line and can disguise coverages well,” Sarkisian said. The Gators’ defense, which has surrendered just 12 sacks this season, contrasts Texas’ 17, exposing some Longhorns’ struggles with protection for QB Quinn Ewers.
Sarkisian noted Napier’s similar philosophy on the importance of the run game, which has strengthened Florida’s offensive line. With QB DJ Lagway potentially returning, Florida could add a dual-threat challenge to Texas.
