LSU is coming off arguably its most disappointing loss of the season, falling 42-13 to Alabama at home on Saturday.

The Tigers must keep on moving, as they are set to head to Gainesville, Florida to meet a team that has also faced its fair share of adversity.

The Florida Gators are 4-5 thus far on the season with what could be the toughest schedule in college football. With two straight losses to top five-ranked teams in Georgia and Texas, the Gators have two more consecutive ranked matchups ahead in LSU and Ole Miss.

Two games ago against Georgia, Florida saw its starting quarterback go down with a hamstring injury in DJ Lagway. Lagway wasn’t always the starter, however, as the Gators’ initial starter, Graham Mertz, went down on Oct. 12 with a season-ending injury in a loss to Tennessee.

There is a chance Lagway, a former five-star in the Class of 2024, returns in time when LSU comes to town. He practiced and warmed up during pregame leading up to the Gators’ matchup with Texas, so it seems his recovery is ahead of schedule.

However, Florida could bring a challenge much more than what it will show at quarterback. With four wins on the season, the Gators have three more games to become bowl eligible. 

The Gators have their backs against the wall, and here’s what they bring to the table in their quest to push for a bowl game and give LSU its fourth loss.

Who will start at quarterback?

Reports are showing optimism for Lagway’s return to the field in time for Saturday. In the event that he does, here’s what he brings.

When Mertz went down with an injury against Tennessee, Lagway was able to lead Florida to overtime against an, at the time, eighth-ranked Volunteers.

The Gators fell short 23-17, but Lagway held the fort down with 98 passing yards and a touchdown on 9-of-17 passing. The next week against Kentucky, Lagway threw for 259 yards on 7-of-14 passing.

In both those performances, Lagway threw an interception. The true freshman quarterback at times makes true freshman mistakes. Nonetheless, Lagway’s upside is arguably greater than any young quarterback in the SEC.

With that aspect alone, Lagway could find a rhythm in any given game. Before suffering a hamstring injury against Georgia in the second quarter, Lagway threw for 47 yards and a touchdown on 2-of-6 passing.

Florida went into halftime with a 13-6 lead against the Bulldogs.

However, Lagway’s replacement wasn’t as successful. Aidan Warner finished with 66 passing yards and an interception on 7-of-22 passing against Georgia.

The next week against Texas, Warner threw for 132 yards and two interceptions on 12-of-25 passing. Warner, a transfer from Yale, is still adjusting to being in the SEC, and that can come with heavy growing pains.

With this being said, Florida’s offense may look significantly different depending on if Warner is forced to go or if Lagway makes his return.

Dual-running back system, injured starter

Both Lagway and Warner have not been successful running the ball, but running backs Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson have gotten the job done on the ground.

However, Florida has been without its go-to running back in Montrell Johnson Jr. for nearly a month. Johnson has not played since the Gators’ loss to Tennessee, where he ran for 85 yards on 12 carries. Since that game, Johnson has been questionable and/or a game time decision.

But Baugh solidified himself as a true answer at running back in the Gators’ win against Kentucky, where he ran for 106 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries.

While he received a heavy workload in Florida’s next two matchups, he wasn’t nearly as efficient, combining for 152 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries.

Instead, Ja’Kobi Jackson picked up the slack. Against Texas, Jackson ran for 116 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

Florida averages 151.1 rushing yards per game compared to LSU’s 114 yards on the ground per game. However, LSU has faced SEC teams with statistically more efficient production on the ground than Florida up to this point.

While that efficiency may or may not matter, LSU is coming off a gut-wrenching loss to Alabama, a loss that can alter a team’s mindset going forward. With the Gators also at home, little factors like these can be that much more impactful.

Struggling defense, more injuries

If there was any game for LSU’s run attack to come alive, it would be against Florida.

The Gators rank second-to-last in the SEC in rushing yards allowed per game with 167.3 and fourth-to-last in passing yards allowed per game with 234.1 yards per game.

Still, Florida’s front seven has been not only more effective, but also has more depth this season. Jack Pyburn leads the front seven with 43 tackles and an interception.

Shemar James and Grayson Howard each have 37 tackles, and Howard has also added a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. James also has an interception. Jaden Robinson has also totalled 36 tackles and 1.5 sacks. 

While Florida’s all-around defense has struggled this season, the front seven is mostly responsible for its success when there is success.

The secondary has also shown flashes, but it’s been injury ridden. Against Texas, the Gators were without both Devin Moore and Jason Marshall Jr., who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Trikweze Bridges leads the secondary with 45 tackles, an interception and two forced fumbles, and Jordan Castell adds 40 tackles, a sack and five pass deflections.

Even more injuries

Just when it couldn’t get worse for Florida when it comes to injuries, it got worse. 

After arguably its most hopeful wide receiver, Eugene Wilson III, was ruled out for the season with a hip injury. Its next hope at wide receiver, Elijhah Badger, did not suit up against Texas on Saturday.

If Badger remains out against LSU, Chimere Dike will be Florida’s go-to in the pass game. Against Texas, he caught five passes for 95 yards.

Aidan Mizell will also be a target to watch for Florida. While he was stifled against Texas, he caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown against Georgia.

In a season of struggles for Florida, injuries are a big reason for that. With that being said, Lagway’s return could be Florida’s biggest hope going into its matchup with LSU.