What Lane Kiffin said about Florida QB DJ Lagway's success vs Ole Miss, struggles this year
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OXFORD — Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin said he isn’t fixated on what Florida has done poorly this season.
He’s too focused on a roster flush talent, starting with quarterback DJ Lagway. No. 7 Ole Miss (9-1, 5-1 SEC) will host Florida (3-5, 2-5) on Nov. 15 (6 p.m., ESPN).
“(Lagway is) extremely talented,” Kiffin said Nov. 10. “At times plays at an elite level. It’s a problem. Basically, most of their position groups are extremely talented. At times you watch them and say, ‘Man, these guys are as good as anybody in the country.’ “
Florida fired coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19. Kiffin has since been linked to the job opening, along with LSU‘s opening and even the New York Giants.
Kiffin said Lagway, a former five-star recruit, is a microcosm of the Gators’ team. Talented, but it hasn’t come together in 2025.
The Gators are coming off a 38-7 loss against Kentucky on Nov. 8. Lagway threw three interceptions and was benched by interim coach Billy Gonzales. It was a markedly worse performance than his 2024 game against Ole Miss when he passed for 180 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against an elite Rebels defense in Florida’s 24-17 win.
“(Lagway) played great against us one year ago,” Kiffin said. “Anytime you’ve got somebody that’s got an elite arm and is really hard to tackle — he can run over you — that’s an issue.”
Kiffin said he feels the one-sided defeat against Kentucky was an outlier game for the Gators, and he expects a challenge at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Florida beat No. 10 Texas 29-21 on Oct. 4 and was ahead late in the game against No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 1 before losing 24-20.
“This is the same team two weeks ago that was ahead of Georgia in the fourth quarter,” Kiffin said. “Same team that really outplayed Texas and beats Texas earlier in the year.”
Will DJ Lagway start at quarterback for Florida vs. Ole Miss?
On Nov. 10, Gonzales said the team will assess the position. He mentioned Lagway has earned the first-team reps with the starters in practice.
Freshman quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. played once Lagway was benched. He was 9-for-17 passing for 60 yards against the Wildcats.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss vs Florida, what Lane Kiffin said about Gators QB DJ Lagway
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