Inconsistent production leads to poor grade for Florida football offense for 2025 season
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Florida football entered the 2025 season hopeful that an experienced offensive line and returning starting quarterback would result in a productive offense.
It didn't pan out that way for the Florida Gators. Even with returning All-American center Jake Slaughter and a three-year starter, Austin Barber, at left tackle, Florida couldn't get its pass or run game consistently on track. UF wound up finishing the year ranked 13th out of 16 teams in the SEC in total offense, averaging 341.3 yards per game.
UF had a handful of touchdowns wiped out during the season due to penalties, which played roles in early season losses to USF and LSU. Florida head coach Billy Napier held onto the playcalling until he was fired on Oct. 19. Then, Gators interim coach Billy Gonzales had quarterbacks coach Ryan O'Hara call plays for the remainder of the season.
Here's a breakdown of UF's offense during the 2025 season, and a final grade:
QB DJ Lagway didn't take the sophomore jump Florida football needed
Offseason shoulder, core and calf injuries kept the 6-foot-3, 247-pound Lagway from making the progress he needed after a solid freshman season. Lagway went from going 6-1 as a starter with 12 TDs to nine interceptions in 2024 to going 4-8 as a starter with 16 TDs to an SEC-high 14 interceptions as a starter in 2025. The low-lights for Lagway included a five-interception game on Sept. 13 at LSU and being held to just 61 yards passing on Sept. 20 at Miami.
The deep ball was Lagway's strength in 2024 but disappeared from his arsenal in 2025 and teams showed more high-safety looks against him. Lagway went from connecting on 12 pass plays of 40 yards or more in 2025 to seven pass plays of 40 yards or more in 2025.
Florida football offense struggled on third down
Florida ranked 15th in the SEC and 117th nationally in third down conversion rate at 34.2% (52-152).
Many factors played into UF's struggles on third down, including ineffective quarterback play by Lagway, inconsistent play on the offensive line and unimaginative playcalling by Napier. Florida also found itself in too many third-and-long situations by failing to gain yards on first and second down consistently.
Florida football offensive MVP
RB Jadan Baugh: Baugh ranked third in the SEC in rushing with 1,170 yards on 220 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry with 8 rushing TDs. The 6-1, 231-pound Baugh added 210 yards receiving and 2 TDs. After a stellar sophomore year, Florida will try to fend off Texas and Ohio State to retain Baugh for his junior season.
Florida football offensive grade: D
How ugly was it for the Gators? Florida scored 30 or more points just twice during the 2025 season, once in a 55-0 win over FCS opponent Long Island and in its season ending 40-21 win over Florida State on Nov. 29. In between, the Gators averaged just 16.4 points over 10 games, failing to score more than three TDs in any of the 10 contests.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: How Florida football offense graded out for 2025 season
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos