This could be a problem.
Paul Finebaum Reveals Why He's 'Pretty Concerned' with One Major SEC Program originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football season presents schools with a chance to build on their performance from the previous year and aim for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Last season, six teams reached the postseason tournament for the first time in their program's history.
The Florida Gators are aiming to ride the momentum they created at the end of last season. The Gators finished with an 8-5 record but finished the season on a four-game winning streak. The team was led by true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, who stepped in for Graham Mertz when Mertz suffered a season-ending injury early in the season.
Lagway finished the season with 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, this offseason, he has dealt with injuries, which led ESPN's Paul Finebaum to express his concerns about Lagway's health on "The Paul Finebaum Show."
"I think we need to find out exactly what is going on with Lagway," Finebaum said. "To put it mildly, I'm pretty concerned. I don't know how anybody couldn't be concerned. He is not just a great player; he's that franchise. Without Lagway, there's no way they are going to pull this thing off this year."
Lagway has reportedly been dealing with a shoulder injury to start the offseason. Additionally, he is now facing multiple issues, including a lower-body injury that has resulted in him wearing a walking boot.
The Gators start this season with high expectations, ranked No. 14 in the nation according to ESPN’s SP+ rankings. These rankings consider three key factors: returning production, recent recruiting and recent history.
Florida has retained a significant amount of returning production from last season, keeping 66% of its roster, which ranks 18th in the country. Additionally, they have secured the 10th-ranked recruiting class in the offseason.
Their playoff aspirations could be impacted by a challenging schedule, as noted by Finebaum. Athlon Sports' Kyle Wood ranks Florida’s schedule as the third-toughest in the SEC. The Gators face a critical four-game stretch early in the season, which includes away games against the LSU Tigers and Miami Hurricanes, a home game against the Texas Longhorns and another away game at the Texas A&M Aggies.
Finebaum has previously stated his belief that with Lagway, the Gators have a chance to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in their history. Without Lagway, he thinks Florida has no chance.
The Gators will start their season against the Long Island Sharks at 7 p.m. ET Aug. 30.
Related: Paul Finebaum Says Struggling SEC Team Could Surprise If Star QB Stays Healthy
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
