Florida opens season with 55-0 win over LIU Brooklyn, Lagway shines

The No. 15 Florida Gators opened the 2025 season with a statement, routing Long Island University Brooklyn 55-0 on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville before 89,451 fans, and welcoming former standout Ahmad Black as this year’s honorary Mr. Two Bits. Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway started his first game of the year and the crowd saw a dominant Florida performance punctuated by a highlight-reel one-handed catch from freshman wide receiver Vernell Brown III.

Florida scored early and often in the season opener, building a comfortable margin by halftime and never letting LIU back into the game. Brown’s athletic 41-yard grab late in the second quarter, hauled in with one hand while launching toward the sideline, pushed the Gators into the red zone and quickly became a viral moment. Head coach Billy Napier praised the result while tempering expectations about the opponent. "In general, a lot of positive," Napier said. "It’s been a long time since we’ve shut out an opponent at The Swamp. It’s a happy locker room right now."

Napier and others were watching closely to see how Lagway, who missed much of spring and fall camp with ailments, would perform in the opener....