Paul Finebaum. © Shanna Lockwood-Imagn Images

Paul Finebaum Names Surprising SEC Team On the 'Cusp of the Playoffs'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 2:00 PM ET

The 2024 college football season turned out to be crucial for several major coaches, as their teams' performances helped save their jobs.

One such case is Florida Gators coach Billy Napier. The Gators entered the season having experienced three consecutive losing seasons, with two of those occurring under Napier's leadership.

After nine games, Florida had a record of 4-5 and seemed to be on track for yet another losing season. However, in a surprising turnaround, the Gators won four straight games, largely thanks to true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

In a segment of "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst was asked whether the Gators have a chance of making the College Football Playoff. ESPN's Football Power Index gives them just a 14.5% likelihood of making the playoffs. Nonetheless, Finebaum believes that with Lagway at the helm, they have a shot.

"I think Lagway is outstanding," Finebaum said. "If he's healthy, which they say he is, Florida could be on the cusp of the playoffs. It's just a matter of the same thing they had to do last year, can they navigate that schedule?"

Lagway showed a lot of potential in his first year as the starting quarterback. Now, the former five-star recruit is stepping into a full-time starting role this season. He ended the previous year with impressive stats, throwing for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

The Gators enter this season with high expectations, ranked No. 14 in the nation according to ESPN's SP+ rankings. These rankings are based on three key factors: returning production, recent recruiting and recent history.

Florida has a significant amount of returning production from last season, retaining 66% of its roster, which ranks them No. 18 in the country. Additionally, they have secured the No. 10-ranked recruiting class during the offseason.

However, their playoff aspirations could be hindered by a challenging schedule, as noted by Finebaum. Athlon Sports’ Kyle Wood ranks Florida's schedule as the third toughest in the SEC. The Gators face a critical four-game stretch early in the season, which includes away games against LSU and Miami, and home games against Texas, followed by an away game at Texas A&M.

The Gators will kick off the season against the Long Island Sharks on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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