There are losses, after which there are the type of soul-crushing job-threatening losses that rob a fan base of all its hope.
Florida’s 20-10 loss at No. 3 LSU on Saturday night time falls squarely into the latter class.
It wasn’t merely that the Gators misplaced to a actually good staff on the highway. It was how they misplaced, and extra importantly, who value them the sport.
Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway – as soon as hailed because the golden-armed prodigy who would rescue coach Billy Napier’s teetering tenure in Gainesville – threw 5 interceptions. 5! That’s the second-most in Florida soccer historical past.
Lagway didn’t simply have a foul night time. He had an traditionally dangerous night time. The type of abysmal night time that reshapes narratives, shifts futures, and threatens to pull down not only one profession, however two.
As a result of now, within the aftermath of one other loss that looks like we’re again to writing weekly obituaries on the Napier period, we have now to say one thing we thought we’d by no means, ever be saying:
We all know Billy Napier’s job at UF is in jeopardy, however so, too, is DJ Lagway’s.
Lagway was imagined to be the savior. The one who arrived with a cannon arm, dual-threat potential, and a charisma that might reset a program stumbling by mediocrity. Florida followers didn’t simply need to imagine in him; they wanted to imagine in him.
However what they bought Saturday was a quarterback who regarded misplaced, rattled, and completely overmatched. His 5 interceptions weren’t simply errors; they had been monumental blunders. Every one showcased an absence of imaginative and prescient, a insecurity, and an absence of the polish anticipated from somebody who we thought may contend for the Heisman Trophy.
“I performed horrible soccer,” Lagway admitted.
The low level got here when LSU cornerback Deshawn Spears jumped a telegraphed throw and raced 58 yards down the sideline for a pick-six. Lagway may solely chase helplessly.
And right here’s the cruelest twist: LSU’s offense wasn’t even superb. The truth is, it was pedestrian at greatest. The Gators had extra yardage (366 to 316) than the Tigers, greater than double the primary downs (23 to 10) and held the ball greater than quarter-hour longer.
And nonetheless, Florida misplaced by double digits.
Why? As a result of Lagway’s turnovers had been deadly. Two of his interceptions led on to LSU factors, together with Spears’ landing return. His remaining choose, a determined heave wherein it regarded like he was making an attempt to throw the ball out of bounds, sealed Florida’s destiny with 4:51 to play.
Lagway ended the night time 25 of 46 for 287 yards, one landing, and people 5 damning interceptions. He was outplayed by LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who accomplished simply 15 passes however made far fewer errors. Final week, he was outplayed by USF’s Byrum Brown, who regarded much more dynamic.
For Napier, this loss wasn’t simply one other mark within the “L” column. It was one other hammer stroke to the nail in a coffin being constructed by his personal hand.
He’s now 20-21 at Florida. Of these 20 wins, six have come towards non-Energy 4 opponents. He’s 4-10 in true highway video games. He’s 0-forever towards ranked opponents away from Gainesville.
That’s not a résumé. That’s a rap sheet.
And the justifications are evaporating. Final week’s surprising loss to USF – a program Miami hammered 49-12 on Saturday – regarded like all-time low. However now? It looks like a prelude to one thing even worse with No. 5 Miami, No. 7 Texas and No. 16 Texas A&M on deck.
Turnovers, substitution infractions, drive-killing penalties – the Gators are as sloppy as ever. This season alone, they’ve had three touchdowns erased by penalties. Towards LSU, an 87-yard catch-and-run by operating again Jadan Baugh was worn out by a holding name. That’s not dangerous luck. That’s dangerous teaching.
And now there’s the Lagway dilemma. He hasn’t regarded sharp all season. His passes are sometimes excessive or behind receivers. His supposed dual-threat potential hasn’t materialized; he’s a reluctant runner who doesn’t stress defenses together with his legs.
You possibly can blame it on accidents, you may blame it on the stress of all of his NIL endorsements, you may blame it on Napier’s unimaginative play-calling. However in some unspecified time in the future, the quarterback has to make performs.
And now, as an alternative of being the quarterback who saves Napier’s job, he will be the quarterback who prices him his job.
It’s not simply that the Gators misplaced to the No. 3 staff within the nation on the highway Saturday night time. That’s to be anticipated. It’s that the quarterback who they put all their hope and religion in virtually single-handedly gifted the sport to LSU. That’s what’s so demoralizing to Gator Nation.
And, so, right here we’re: Billy Napier on one hotseat, DJ Lagway on one other, and the Florida program smoldering in between.
This was imagined to be the season the place Napier proved he was greater than a recruiter and culture-builder. This was imagined to be the season the place Lagway took the leap from promising freshman to bona fide star.
As an alternative, it looks like a season the place each of their careers in Gainesville could possibly be slipping away.
E mail me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on social media @BianchiWrites and hearken to my new radio present “Sport On” each weekday from 3 to six p.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/hear