Three Matchups to Watch: Florida at LSU

By Hunt Palmer

Florida and LSU renew their rivalry this weekend in Tiger Stadium.

The wounded Gators come to town having lost a gut punch of a game to South Florida last week. That’s whipped the Billy Napier detractors back into a frenzy after a five-game win streak at the end of 2024 calmed everyone down.

One of those wins was against LSU, and another win over the Tigers could get things back on the rails in Gainesville. LSU, meanwhile, is looking to remain unbeaten.

These rosters boast a sizable amount of professional prospects, and matchups favor both sides in different spots. Here’s a look at three of them

Caleb Banks, Tyreak Sapp and the Florida DL vs. LSU’s OL

Florida absolutely whipped LSU at the point of attack last year in Gainesville. The Gators finished the demolition with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss in the game. Two of the terrors from that front are back this season.

Tyreak Sapp notched four tackles for loss including a sack that day. Sapp is the nephew of Warren Sapp and plays with that great energy his Hall of Fame uncle did. He’s not as rangy as NFL teams would like at only 6-foot-3, but he’s productive. His seven sacks led the team last year. Thus far in 2025, he’s been quiet. Pro Football focus has only graded him a 61.0 over two games. He’s got three pressures (two hurries and a sack) in 29 pass rush reps.

Caleb Banks is a mountain of a man. He’s 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds. He’s strong at the point of attack and can really move for his size. He hurried Garrett Nussmeier three times last year including a strip sack. Banks made life miserable for Paul Mubenga in The Swamp. He has not played this year due to a foot injury in camp. He is expected to make his season debut Saturday.

We don’t know Braelin Moore’s status for the game, and we probably won’t until game day. Even if the junior center plays, he’ll be less than 100 percent. If he doesn’t and DJ Chester does, it’s Chester and Mubenga on the interior where they graded 49.5 and 46.1 respectively against Florida last year. That’s not to suggest they can’t have improved. It’s just to point out what can happen to the LSU offense if the front buckles.

South Florida had some success on the ground last week. The Bulls ran for 128 yards on 29 carries without a huge play. Their long was 22 yards. LSU will try to get that running game going once again on Saturday, but it’s also imperative that Nussmeier isn’t dropped six times.

Florida QB DJ Lagway vs. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

I know, these two won’t be on the field at the same time. They won’t technically be matching up against each other. But these two teams need their quarterbacks to elevate their level of play from last week.

Nussmeier threw a bad early interception and was inaccurate down the field in the passing game. Lagway was wildly off-target with some big play throws, as well.

DJ Lagway is the reason the #Gators got embarrassed on their home field by USF.

Billy Napier should be fired. Horrible situationally & w time management, but he drew up winners for Lagway & he didn’t hit em. Not a bad play caller.@BrentASJax @ActionSportsJax pic.twitter.com/rxPJsQ4Qs2

— Jason Hamby (@Jason_Hamby14) September 9, 2025

Lagway missed a ton of practice time in camp due to a nagging shoulder injury. There’s speculation that he’s not completely healthy, but either way, he’s not playing well. Lagway was exceptional throwing the deep ball last year, and he hasn’t had success there this year.

Both of these quarterbacks have the talent to be high NFL Draft picks when their time comes. The one who raises his play to that level on Saturday will probably lift his team to a win.

Florida C Jake Slaughter and RB Jadan Baugh vs. LSU’s front seven

Lagway gets the headlines, and Eugene (Trey) Wilson III was the most heralded recruit, but running back Jadan Baugh is Florida’s best skill player. He’s 231 pounds and an absolute load to bring down. He showed some real speed on his 55-yard touchdown sprint to ice the game against the tigers last year.

Against South Florida, Baugh touched the ball six times for 51 yards. After that, he got just 12 carries for 42 yards on Florida’s 50 plays. That’s just not enough. Expect Napier to get the ball to Baugh early and often behind a veteran offensive line led by center Jake Slaughter who was a first team All-American last year.

LSU’s run defense has been exceptional. Clemson just quit trying to run the ball in the opener, rushing for four yards in the second half. Louisiana Tech had no success, either. If the LSU front, deep and talented as it is, can limit Florida’s ground attack, that really ratchets the pressure up on Lagway who enjoyed his best games at home last year against Kentucky, LSU and Ole Miss. Tiger Stadium and this LSU defense will be a different animal.