Florida Gators vs. LIU Sharks: How to watch, channel, streaming

It’s finally time to play some football. After an offseason that seemingly lasted an eternity, the season is upon us. A year ago, the Florida Gators opened at home against a ranked Miami team. But Saturday night in The Swamp, they’re facing the Long Island University Sharks, a Football Championship Subdivision program that won only four games in 2024.

It should be a mismatch for No. 15 UF.

But while the opponent Saturday isn’t a marquee name in college football, it’s still Florida’s opener, which on its own is reason enough to be excited. And, there are plenty of interesting things to track at Ben Hill Griffin on Saturday.

Here are some of the things we’ll be watching?

—For starters, all eyes will be on sophomore UF quarterback DJ Lagway, who was limited first with a lower body/shoulder injury in the spring and later with a calf injury to start preseason camp? How will he look in his first game of Season 2 as a Gator? He was 6-1 as a true freshman starter in 2024. Lagway is set to start Saturday’s game, but likely won’t play four quarters.

—The Florida receivers, who lost a couple good players from last season, might be deeper and more talented in 2025. It’s unclear who will and won’t play Saturday because a few of the players at this position have been limited in practice. But one guy to watch is talented UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant, a true deep threat.

—The running game, led by sophomore star Jadan Baugh and senior Ja’Kobi Jackson. The Gators might have one of the top backfields in the SEC—and possibly all of college football.

—The defense, which finished strong a year ago, but has to replace a few key players in the front seven, is poised to make big strides in 2025. The linebackers in particular have big-time potential.

Saturday night at The Swamp, it’s go time. Finally!

How to watch the Florida Gators vs the LIU Sharks

Date: Sat. Aug 30
Time: 7 p.m, ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548), Gainesville, Florida
TV: SEC Network+
Stream: Cox, DirecTV
Radio: SiriusXM Channel: 119 / 191

On The Call — SEC Network+

Play-by-Play: Jay Alter
Analyst: Rocky Boiman
Reporter: Stephanie Otey

On The Call — Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD

Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley
Analyst: Shane Matthews
Reporter: Tate Casey

Betting Lines

BetMGM, On3’s official partner, has no line for this game.

Florida-LIU Game Notes

—This is the first-ever game between UF and LIU. The Sharks were a replacement for Florida A&M, which originally was UF’s opponent for this game.

—The Gators, at No. 15, are in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time since 2021 (No. 13). UF went 6-7 that season and head coach Dan Mullen was fired.

—After closing the 2024 season with four-straight wins, the Gators have the longest active win streak in the SEC and are tied for third nationally.

—LIU quarterback Ethan Greenwood, a redshirt junior, is a 2025 FCS Preseason Second-Team All-American, per Stats Perform. He was a third-team All-American following a 2024 season in which he rushed for 913 yards [76.1 yards a game) and passed for 921 more in only 269 snaps.

—Of LIU’s 12 games last season only one was played before a crowd of more than 10,000 people.

—Florida is the only team in college football with four opponents in the Preseason AP Top 10. All told, the Gators have seven preseason Top 25 teams on the schedule. Only two of those games are at home.

—Florida is 88-30 in season openers in its history. That includes a 71-8 record at home.

—This is the first time in four seasons the Gators are not facing a ranked team in their opener.

—Lagway’s six wins as a starter last season were the most by a Florida Gators true freshman QB since Chris Leak in 2003. As a senior, Leak led UF to a national title.