Florida Gators Stock Report: Lagway's Value Proven as Other Stocks Crash

Let's see which stocks are up and which are down after the Gators were obliterated by the Texas Longhorns

Key part of this team saw their stocks crash in the abysmal showing in Austin, Texas / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Florida Gators (4-5, 2-4 SEC) were demolished by the No. 5 Texas Longhorns (8-1, 4-1 SEC) 49-17. It wasn’t technically an ugly game from start to finish - the first half of the first quarterback was fine. But when it got ugly, it was just a downward spiral. 

On that note, it’s time for the weekly postgame stock report. Let’s see whose stocks crashed today and who miraculously saw their stock go up. Yes, there were two stocks that managed to go up. 

Stock Up

DJ Lagway

He didn’t even play and his stock went up. If we learned anything from Saturday’s loss, it was the value of having a capable quarterback under center. 

Would Florida have won this game if he played? No shot. But they wouldn’t have been risking a shutout loss. Maybe they could have been stronger out of the gate on third down too.

Three of Texas’ scores came off the three turnovers by Florida. So, this score is already closer if they could have simply hung on to the ball. 

Much of the embarrassment very well could have been saved. 

Jadan Baugh 

Hey, to his credit, he played a solid game despite the mess that ensued. Baugh rushed for 88 yards and picked up the Gators' first touchdown of the game. It was a garbage touchdown, but he got it. 

For what it’s worth, he’s showing what could be coming together in Florida’s running game. It has a chance to be absolutely lethal as he and other young backs mature further. 

Stock Down

Florida Gators Defense

The poor offensive performance and the turnovers didn’t do them any favors. But after the improvements seen over the last month, this was disastrous 180 flip onto their heads. 

Texas ran up the score despite Florida winning time of possession. They were just scoring that fast. Things looked OK in the first quarter, but then Quinn Ewers was given wide open field when Florida needed a stop. This set them up to go score, and it all unraveled from there.  

Apart from the first time Texas missed the field on the first drive of the game, they found the end zone every time they made it to the red zone. 

It’s unacceptable. 

Billy Napier

Look, I get that he didn’t have a quarterback, or a lot of other starters for that matter, but this is ridiculous. Where was the fight from the Georgia game? 

It’s not a coincidence that Scott Stricklin decided to stick with Napier for 2025 because of that game. 

Yet, this was the follow-up. 

No matter the reason, these are the types of losses that cost you the confidence of the Court of Public Opinion 

Florida Gators Special Teams 

Here’s a crazy stat that was uncovered by Florida Gators on SI’s Cam Paker. Smack has not kicked a field goal following a penalty. 

Did some research... Trey Smack has 7 misses over the last two seasons (26-33).

3 of those misses had a penalty on the play before. None of his makes were preceded by penalty on the play before.

This doesn't include the penalty that took points off the board against Tennessee. https://t.co/IOn2K7WUWn

— Cam Parker (@camparker25) November 9, 2024

That’s not a great stat, especially when the missed field goal today was only a 30-yarder. 

As for the rest of the special teams. Stay disciplined if this is the case. They didn’t have any disastrous flubs like the botched snap against Florida, but penalties that lead to missed kicks will hurt the stock.