Cole Cubelic identifies key reason for DJ Lagway struggles, offensive issues

Florida‘s expectations were higher than ever entering into the 2025 season under head coach Billy Napier. However, the Gators are 1-2 through three weeks into the season.

The Gators offense has received the majority of the blame for the poor start to the season. Averaging 19 points in their last two matchups, quarterback DJ Lagway has more interceptions than he does touchdowns at this point in the season.

SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic joined Josh Pate’s College Football Show to discuss Florida’s early-season struggles. Pate pointed toward Lagway missing spring practice as a contributing factor specifically to his slow start, which Cubelic agreed with.

“There’s just an aspect of chemistry with that group that’s not there, being on the same page,” Cubelic explained. “Because if you just watch the plays, it’s easy to get excited about or feel pretty good about, but it’s the sequencing, it’s the mistakes. It’s shooting yourself in the foot, those things that are holding them back. I think you’re right about Lagway.

“I think spring practice is probably something that’s becoming a little bit more important across the board. … But I think spring ball, Josh, is when you get better individually. Now, the team can still get better. Position groups can grow, but that’s the time that you focus on yourself the most and if you miss it, that’s where some of those things are taken away.”

Lagway missed spring practices this offseason with a shoulder injury. However, many expected that to be a blip on the radar and for the former five-star recruit to perform as he did to end his true freshman season. Lagway notably led Florida to a 6-1 record as a starter and helped the Gators to an 8-5 record in 2024.

However, things haven’t gone as planned for the Gators so far this season. Florida has a pivotal matchup against No. 4 Miami on Saturday. After their bye, the Gators will take on two more top-10 teams in Texas at home and Texas A&M on the road. Despite their biggest matchups still to come this season, Cubelic believes the Gators have lost their momentum after Week 1.

“It’s not a disaster, but it’s disappointing,” Cubelic said. “I think that when disappointment hits, it’s because you felt there was a really good chance that you weren’t going to be disappointed. … You can see that light at the end of the tunnel. But that light feels a lot further away, and it’s bleak, it’s dim, it’s not near as bright as it once was.”

With Florida’s upcoming schedule getting more difficult as time passes, the Gators have multiple opportunities to prove themselves against ranked competition. Including Saturday’s road trip to Miami, Florida has seven matchups against ranked teams before the end of the regular season. It’ll be interesting to see how the Gators respond with the odds stacked against them.