DJ Lagway’s first-half showing against Auburn gave Baylor a familiar taste of the same roller coaster Florida lived with for two seasons.
The former five-star quarterback has had his bright moments since transferring to Baylor, but the opening half in this one looked an awful lot like the version of Lagway that left Gators fans exhausted. He finished the half with two turnovers, Baylor didn’t score until the final 1:30 before halftime, and the Bears went to the break trailing 10-7.
The mistakes came early and came in the kind of spots that make you pull your hair out. Lagway’s interception to Auburn linebacker Jared Smith was the kind of throw that stops a drive and leaves everybody wondering what he saw.
DJ Lagway throws an interception for Baylor! 😬 pic.twitter.com/7sMLqIRIBP
- “JordanOnSports” (@JordanOnSports1) September 5, 2026
Then came another sequence that fit the same script. Trying to make something happen, Lagway attempted to hurdle a defender, and Auburn punched the ball loose for a fumble.
DJ Lagway tried to hurdle the defender but Auburn punched it out to force the fumble 😳 pic.twitter.com/uT7hzal0LC
- ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 5, 2026
That one was especially hard to defend because Baylor was already in field goal range and facing 3rd and short. The defense had the play bottled up, and the smart move was simple: take what was there, keep the possession alive, and let the offense sort out the next decision. Instead, Lagway forced the issue and took that choice away from his team.
That’s the part of Lagway that has always made him such a maddening player. He can throw it with anybody when he’s locked in, and he showed that again with 199 passing yards in the first half. His back shoulder touchdown pass to Louis Brown IV was the kind of throw that reminds you why people believed in him in the first place.
But the good and the bad keep showing up together. That’s the deal with Lagway, and it’s exactly why Florida eventually had to move on. He left Gainesville for Baylor, and both sides had already spent two seasons living through the swings he brings every time he steps on the field.
Could Billy Napier have done more for him? Absolutely.
Could Lagway have done more for himself? Absolutely.
Was Jon Sumrall right to wash his hands of the whole situation? YES!
Now Baylor gets the full Lagway experience. Florida already knows what that looks like.
In Other News...
Florida Just Crossed A Branding Line That Will Divide Gators Fans
The University of Florida is adding a new corporate partner to its football stage, and this one comes with a branding twist that is sure to get attention around Gainesville. Starting with the 2026 football season, Ripple will have a multi-year partnership with the Gators, and the XRP cryptocurrency logo will be displayed on the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The deal, valued at $5 million annually, also includes support for financial and technology education for Florida student-athletes and the broader campus community. For a program with one of the sports most visible home fields, it is the kind of move that goes beyond a simple sponsorship and pushes into the larger debate over how far college athletics should go in turning playing surfaces into corporate space. [Read more 🡒]
Florida's New Era Opens With One Big Test For The Swamp
Jon Sumralls first game as Floridas head coach arrives with the usual early-season questions, but also with the kind of opening-night backdrop that can tell him plenty about what he has inherited. The Gators will debut transfer quarterback Aaron Philo against Florida Atlantic, and Sumrall has already made clear he is looking for the Swamp to do its part by showing up loud and engaged as the program begins a new era.
There is no easing into it from the opponents side, either. Sumrall has acknowledged Florida Atlantics offense and coaching staff bring real challenge, which makes the home atmosphere feel even more important for a Florida team trying to settle in quickly under a new leader. For a fan base eager to see what this version of the Gators looks like, Saturday offers an early chance to set the tone. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Championship Core Just Gave Gators Fans A Powerful Reminder
During a busy recruiting weekend, Florida basketball got a welcome boost from two familiar faces in Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard, who were back around the program after spending last season in the NBA. Both former Gators jumped into team practices and other activities, giving the current roster a chance to see a pair of championship-era guards in the same gym again.
Alijah Martin was there too, working through his rehab from offseason surgery while the program mixed present and past together for a few days. Clayton, Richard and Martin are all slated to report to their NBA teams training camps at the end of the month, but their visit served as a reminder of how much of Floridas recent success still lives close to home. [Read more 🡒]