After a sluggish 23-7 victory over Louisiana Tech last weekend, Brian Kelly’s No. 3 LSU returns to Death Valley on Saturday night for a high-powered conference opener against Billy Napier’s Florida Gators. This matchup is steeped in rivalry and intrigue, with both teams needing to prove something early in SEC play.
For LSU, the pressure is on to look like a true contender. Meanwhile, Florida arrives in Baton Rouge reeling from a shocking 18-16 home loss to USF. The unranked Gators are desperate to bounce back and erase the memory of a defeat that fans call one of the program’s most embarrassing in recent years. With so much on the line for both sides, this game is about more than just a conference win.
What Is Paul Finebaum’s Warning to Brian Kelly?
During an appearance on “Always College Football with Greg McElroy,” senior analyst Paul Finebaum was asked if LSU’s momentum could evaporate with a stumble against Florida. As always, he didn’t mince words.
“You win one of the toughest games of the year, and then you throw it away,” Finebaum said, highlighting the razor-thin margin of goodwill Kelly has built. “But the great part about the 12-team playoff is you always have time. That said, this is not the game I would try to lose, especially with road games later on at Ole Miss and at Alabama.”
Finebaum acknowledged Kelly’s confidence, describing him as a coach who “does have swagger,” but he underscored that LSU cannot afford a misstep against an unranked rival before its schedule ramps up in difficulty.
How Does Kelly View Florida’s DJ Lagway?
Despite the outside noise, Kelly has kept his team’s focus on the field. When asked about Florida’s offensive strengths earlier this week, he zeroed in on sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway.
“It starts with their quarterback. DJ’s arm talent is off the charts, he can throw the football. When you look at quarterbacks in this league, he has elite talent,” Kelly said.
Lagway, a talented sophomore, enters Death Valley with 342 passing yards and four touchdowns across two games. Three of those scores came in Florida’s season-opening blowout win over LIU. His lone touchdown against USF was the Gators’ only bright spot in last week’s defeat, showing a preference for short-range scoring throws with multiple touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line.
Back in Tiger Stadium and went 1-0 for the home opener pic.twitter.com/PEV5NvrQb1
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 10, 2025
However, Kelly also acknowledged that Lagway’s supporting cast, headlined by receiver Eugene Wilson III and running back Jadan Baugh, poses additional challenges for LSU’s defense. “But he’s got guys around him,” Kelly added, reminding his team that Florida’s offense is not a one-man show.
Saturday’s clash is more than just one game. For LSU, it is a chance to prove its uneven performance against Louisiana Tech was a tune-up, not a sign of deeper issues. For Florida, it is about salvaging credibility after the sting of the USF upset.
With LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who has 469 passing yards and two touchdowns this season, determined to protect Death Valley, and Lagway eager to prove his potential, the stage is set for another classic chapter in this heated rivalry. As Finebaum cautioned, LSU has little room for error, and with Ole Miss and Alabama looming, Kelly cannot afford to let this one slip away.
