Taking advantage of a glaring talent disparity, the Florida Gators defeated Mississippi State 45–28 on Saturday. In almost a year, Florida had not defeated an FBS team, and this was their highest-scoring matchup against such opposition under head coach Billy Napier.
The offense of Florida, which was spearheaded by rookie DJ Lagway and redshirt senior Graham Mertz, worked well, but the defense still needs work. Mertz completed 19 of 21 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns, adding a rushing score to his impressive performance. Lagway led two touchdown drives that totaled more than 90 yards apiece, completing seven throw attempts for 76 yards with perfection.
Even with a commanding 28-7 lead late in the second quarter and a prearranged quarterback rotation, the defense proved vulnerable against one of the worst running units in the country. Florida’s defensive weaknesses were exposed against Mississippi State, who amassed 239 running yards. With a bye week approaching, the Gators will need to address these issues.
Mertz led the attack well and extended drives with his legs, making him the clear MVP of the game. But there’s a big question about how the Gators will handle their two-quarterback formation against more formidable opponents.
Despite playing against a struggling Mississippi State offensive, Florida’s defensive shortcomings, such as missed assignments and weak tackling, were evident. Although the absence of important defensive players wasn’t helpful, the coaching staff still needs to come up with solutions, particularly with two highly compensated coordinators out of the game. If the Gators are to compete against more formidable teams in the final stages, they have a great deal of defensive work ahead of them.
