LSU vs Florida Week 12 Preview

Erik Trosclair • November 14, 2024

Let's get into it.

Date & Time: Saturday, November 16th, 2024, 2:30 PM


Location: Ben Hill Stadium, Gainesville, FL


Spread: LSU -4


O/U: 55


TV: ABC


Saturday afternoon, LSU and Florida will meet for the 71st time on the football field. LSU leads the series 34-33-3. The Tigers had to vacate the 2013-2015 games. The 1st matchup between these 2 schools was in 1937, and the Tigers came away with a 19-0 victory.


Florida, 4-5, 2-4, is coming into its 7th SEC game of the season. The Gator offense is 12th in the SEC in total yards per game (383.3), 10th in the SEC in passing yards per game (232.2), and 10th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (151.1). The Gators have played 3 quarterbacks this season: Graham Mertz, Aidan Warner, and DJ Lagway. Mertz is out for the season, Warner is a redshirt freshman transfer from Yale, and Lagway injured his hamstring, but he may be back for this game. Florida will use multiple running backs. Jadan Baugh (411 rushing yards & 6 TDs), Ja'Kobi Jackson (343 rushing yards & 5 TDs), and Montrell Johnson Jr. (373 rushing yards & 4 TDs). Johnson Jr. is a bit dinged up. The top 2 pass catchers for the Gators are Elijah Badger (560 receiving yards & 2 TDs) and Chimere Dike (523 receiving yards & 2 TDs). The Gator defense is 15th in the SEC in total yards per game given up (401.4), 13th in the SEC in passing yards per game given up (216.6), and 15th in the SEC in rushing yards per game given up (150.8). The defensive line is led by Tyreak Sapp (3.5 sacks & 27 tackles), George Gumbs Jr. (3 sacks & 24 tackles), and T.J. Searcy (2 sacks & 24 tackles). The linebacker room is led by Shemar James (37 tackles), Grayson Howard (37 tackles), and Jaden Robinson (36 tackles). The defensive backfield is led by Trikweze Bridges (45 tackles), Jordan Castell (40 tackles & 5 PBUs), and Jason Marshall Jr. (4 PBUs).


LSU (#22), 6-3, 3-2, is entering its 6th SEC contest of the season. LSU's offense is 5th in the SEC in total yards per game (436.3), 2nd in the SEC in passing yards per game (322.3), and 16th (LAST) in the SEC in rushing yards per game (114). Garrett Nussmeier is the leader of this Tiger offense. Nuss is in the top 12 in the nation in passing yards (2866), completions (235), and passing TDs (21), but he is tied for the 2nd most interceptions thrown in the nation (11). The Tigers will use 2 running backs, Josh Williams (250 rushing yards, 141 receiving yards, & 3 TDs) and Caden Durham (460 rushing yards, 202 receiving yards, 6 rushing TDs, & 2 receiving TDs). The top pass catchers for the Tigers are Kyren Lacy (46 receptions, 697 receiving yards, & 7 TDs), Aaron Anderson (39 receptions, 641 receiving yards, & 4 TDs), and Mason Taylor (43 receptions, 419 receiving yards, & 2 TDs). Lacy, Anderson, and Taylor are all in the top 12 in the SEC in receptions. Lacy and Anderson are in the top 8 in the SEC in receiving yards. Lacy is tied for the most receiving TDs in the SEC. The Tiger defense is 13th in the SEC in total yards per game given up (367.8), 10th in the SEC in passing yards per game given up (216.6), and 14th in the SEC in rushing yards per game given up (150.8). The defensive line is led by edge rushers Bradyn Swinson (8 sacks) and Sai'vion Jones (4.5 sacks). Swinson has the 4th most sacks in the SEC. The leaders in the linebacker room are Whit Weeks (89 tackles) and Greg Penn III (66 tackles). Weeks and GP3 are in the top 10 in the SEC in tackles. The defensive backfield is led by Ashton Stamps and Zy Alexander. Stamps has the 4th most PBUs in the SEC, and Alexander has 2 INTs this season.


KEYS TO THE GAME

- Can the Tigers keep their playmakers involved?

- Can you stick with a game plan in this one?

- If DJ Lagway is back, can you contain him? If he sits, this is a perfect matchup for the Tigers.

- This Gator defense is one before last in rushing yards per game given up. You have to get something going on the ground.


Fun Fact: Florida coaches Russ Callaway and Jabbar Juluke have both been on LSU's football staff in the past.


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Three football players in helmets on a field, one in red jersey gesturing toward another.

🌊Class of 2026 Player Spotlight🌊: Trace Johnson

By Patrick Harkness • July 11, 2026
QB 
Trace Johnson 
Trace Johnson is a pro-style pocket passer quarterback from the Class of 2026. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 190 pounds, he possesses a solid build for the position with room to add more mass at the college level. 
Originally from Gainesville, Florida, Johnson played his sophomore and junior seasons at Buchholz High School before transferring to Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, ahead of his senior year in 2025. 
The move allowed him to compete in one of California’s top high school programs, where he helped lead the team to an Open Division State Championship. Johnson comes from strong football lineage as the son of Doug Johnson, a former University of Florida quarterback (1996-1999) who went on to a seven-year NFL career with teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, amassing over 2,600 passing yards professionally. 
In addition to football, Johnson is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in baseball, showcasing his overall athleticism. Johnson committed to Tulane University on June 20, 2025, following an official visit, and signed his National Letter of Intent on December 3, 2025. He enrolled early at Tulane on January 12, 2026, positioning him to compete for playing time as a true freshman. 
Prior to his commitment, he held offers from programs including West Virginia, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, and Virginia, among others. 
Scouting Report: 
Arm Talent and Velocity: Johnson boasts a “cannon for an arm,” enabling him to make tight-window throws and deliver deep balls with precision and ease. His ability to thread the needle in coverage stands out as a pro-level trait. 
Touch and Deep Ball Accuracy: Exhibits excellent touch on longer throws, allowing receivers to track and adjust effectively. He gets the ball out on time, minimizing sacks and maximizing yards after catch. 
Progression Reading and Decision-Making: Patiently works through his reads without delaying his release, showing maturity beyond his years. His decision-making improved markedly over time, with interceptions dropping from 13 in 2023 to 5 in 2025. 
Clutch Performance and Improvement: Thrives in big games and playoffs, elevating his play when it matters most. He consistently got better as seasons progressed, adapting to new systems post-transfer. 
Poise and Leadership: Maintains composure under pressure, drawing from his pedigree to lead teams to championships and deep playoff runs. His work ethic and football IQ make him a natural field general. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
Football player in red uniform running with the ball on a field during a game

🌊Transfer Portal Spotlight🌊: Zeon Chriss

By Patrick Harkness • July 11, 2026
QB Zeon Chriss- Houston 
Hall has explicitly said the offense will be “built around our quarterback” with tempo, a passing attack, pro-style elements (including heavy tight end usage), and more speed than recent Tulane teams. Crucially, he wants “at least one quarterback who can move around a little bit, a dual-threat guy.”  
Hall has called Chriss “an extreme dual-threat guy with a strong arm” and loves the contrast with the other main contender Semonza/Bruno/Johnson. He specifically praised Chriss’s explosiveness from his UL days: “When he was at Louisiana several years ago, I was in that league and he was just dynamic… Just dominated that league with his legs and was probably the scariest player in that league.” 
Chriss’s career stats: 2,263 passing yards (64% completion, 17 TDs) plus nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs across 13 starts. His mobility adds a true QB-run threat that aligns with Hall’s run-first success model (which he helped install as Tulane’s former OC under Willie Fritz). #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
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