The Florida Gators’ progress in the second half of the 2024 season has raised optimism for the program’s future. While their improvement has been encouraging, one college football analyst has even higher expectations for the Gators.
CBS Sports college football analyst Emory Hunt believes the Florida Gators should be considered the favorites to win the 2026 College Football National Championship.
Hunt highlights soon-to-be sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway as a key factor, pointing to his strong performances against top-ranked teams like Ole Miss and LSU as evidence that the young quarterback can lead the Gators past the nation’s elite teams next season.
In Florida’s 24-17 victory over No.9 Ole Miss, Lagway passed for 180 yards and two touchdowns. During the win over No.22 LSU, Lagway threw for 226 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions.
Overall, Lagway totaled 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in eight starts as a true freshman.
After a rocky start to the season with a 4-5 record through nine games, the Gators showed a clear change in both effort and attitude. With Lagway leading the charge, they ended the season with a four-game winning streak, capped by a 33-8 win over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Despite a successful history in the 2000s, the Gators have not reached the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014.
Florida’s last national championship came in 2009, when they defeated Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS National Championship Game. Two years earlier, they claimed their first championship of the decade, beating Ohio State 41-14 in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game.
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