Paul Finebaum Casts Doubts Over SEC Program’s Championship Chances Amid Star QB’s Injury

SEC analyst Paul Finebaum cast doubts over the Florida Gators’ championship aspirations in the upcoming season. The point of concern arises due to starting quarterback DJ Lagway’s lower-body injury. The quarterback who helped the Gators finish the season on a high note with a four-game winning streak is wearing a walking boot.

In the latest edition of his Paul Finebaum show, the analyst pointed out Lagway being the main player for Florida next season but if he’s not there, the Gatos stand no chance of winning the highly competitive SEC.

“I think we need to find out exactly what is going on with Lagway,” Finebaum said. “To put it mildly, I’m pretty concerned. I don’t know how anybody couldn’t be concerned. He is not just a great player; he’s that franchise. Without Lagway, there’s no way they are going to pull this thing off this year.”

The Gators, who finished with an 8-5 record last season, have a competitive schedule ahead. They have games against the LSU Tigers, Miami Hurricanes, Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M. All four of these teams can be a threat, given they are also expected to compete well to make the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

What’s going on with Gators QB1 DJ Lagway?

DJ Lagway, who led the Gators after Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury in the early part of the season, is suffering from a calf strain early in the fall camp. He suffered the injury during a team run last week.

Head coach Billy Napier described Lagway’s condition as day-to-day, noting that he is making “quick progress.” However, his participation in training camp will be limited for now.

“He’s day to day,” Napier said. “The good thing is that we’re about a week removed [from the calf injury]. In general, he’s made a lot of quick progress. But it will be something that we’re monitoring and hopefully as we go, his ability to participate in practice will be a little bit more each opportunity that we get going forward.”

#Gators QB DJ Lagway will be 'day to day' when fall camp opens. Billy Napier said Lagway has made 'quick progress' during past week.

— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) July 29, 2025

Calf strain is not the sole injury concern for Lagway. He has also faced a shoulder issue and lingering lower‑body issues during the offseason. The calf strain will likely not impact his availability to start the season for Florida.

Over the weekend, Lagway returned to first‑team practice reps while still wearing a leg sleeve. This suggests that he’s progressing steadily and could see an increase in reps soon. Moreover, according to Florida insider Zach Abolverdi, Lagway has reportedly been taken out of the boot and is moving around well in practice.

It remains to be seen if another positive update comes by on Lagway in a few days.

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