How to watch: Florida Gators vs. Samford Bulldogs

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Despite reports to the contrary, the sun still rose in Gainesville and the Florida Gators 2024 season wasn’t canceled after a loss to Miami. The Gators will look to snap a six-game losing streak that dates back to 2023 with a win over the Samford Bulldogs on Saturday.

Here’s everything you need to know about Florida’s second game of the 2024 football season.

How to watch the Florida Gators vs Samford Bulldogs

Date: Saturday, Sep. 7
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548) — Gainesville, Florida
TV: Stream only
Stream: SEC Network + (SEC Network+ is complementary to SEC Network and accessible with your TV provider credentials. It can be accessed through the ESPN App on smartphones, tablets, connected streaming devices or via espn.com/watch).
Radio: SiriusXM Channel: 132 or 201

On the Call
Play-by-Play: Clay Matvick
Analyst: Steve Addazio

DJ Lagway set to make his first start

The Florida Gators will turn to true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway on Saturday. Lagway was the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to On3 Industry Rankings. He received his first career action in the season opener, throwing for 31 yards on 3-of-6 passing.

With Graham Mertz unable to clear concussion protocol, Lagway took the first team reps this week in practice.

“He’s got a good look in his eye,” Billy Napier said of Lagway. “I see him be specific (at practice) and really dial up with three or four people just talking about, ‘Hey, let’s go have a great day here.’ Guys that are his age and guys that are older than him, I think he’s got good relationships on the team. This guy’s been through some battles, and I think this is going to be good for him.”

Depth Chart

Game Notes

• Week 2 marks the fourth all-time meeting between Florida and Samford and the first since 2021 (UF 70, SU 52).
• With 122 combined points, the 2021 meeting was the highest-scoring game in the history of The Swamp.
• It was the second-highest scoring game in team history behind the 1913 season opener vs. Florida Southern (W, 144-0).
• Florida’s 717 yards vs. Samford in 2021 sits second all-time in team history (774 yards vs. West Texas State in 1982).
• Prior to the 2021 meeting, it had been 99 years since the Gators last played the Bulldogs on Oct. 28, 1922 (UF 57, SU 0).
• Going further back, Florida defeated Samford in consecutive seasons from 1921-22.
• In those two games, Florida topped Samford (then Howard College) by a combined margin of 91-0 (34-0, 57-0).
• In each of its last three FCS games since 2021, Florida has eclipsed 560 total yards while rushing for over 250 yards.
• Florida is 23-1 vs. FCS teams dating back to 1981, with the lone loss coming against Georgia Southern in 2013.
• The Gators have outscored their opponents in those 24 games by an average margin of 38.8 points.
• Florida has totaled 400-plus yards while passing for 200-plus yards in eight-straight games vs. FCS teams since 2014.
• The Gators have racked up 400-plus yards in 16 of its 18 games against FCS schools dating back to 1996.
• Florida could start its first true freshman quarterback in 115 games – since Treon Harris started the final game of
  the 2014 campaign on Jan. 3, 2015 in the Birmingham Bowl (Florida 28, East Carolina 20).
• Florida has seen six different true freshmen combine for 12 starts at QB, going 7-5 in those games (Wayne Pace in 1980,
  Donald Douglas in 1989, Jessie Palmer in 1997, Chris Leak in 2003, Jacoby Brissett x2 in 2011, Treon Harris x6 in 2014).