Alright, the 2025 season ended with Ohio winning Natty. Picture this: you’re flipping through the usual college football predictions, expecting to see Alabama, Georgia, or Texas dominating the 2026 national title convo. Then BOOM—an unexpected name crashes the party as a Dark House for winning the National Championship.

CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt just threw a curveball bigger than a DJ Lagway deep bomb, calling Florida Gators the SEC dark horse for the 2026 crown. Crazy, right? But there’s a method to this madness. Let’s dive in and see why the Gators might be low-key plotting their next big chomp-chomp in the swamp. When Hunt dropped Florida’s name, he wasn’t just spinning a hot take for clicks. The analyst got receipts, starting with DJ Lagway, the Gators’ rising sophomore QB. “Florida has the quarterback in D.J. Lagway,” Lagway’s 2024 debut wasn’t perfect, but it was a flex.

With over 1,150 yards, seven touchdowns, and five picks in six starts, the kid showed he’s built for the big stage. And that’s with a jacked-up hammy for half the season. Fully healthy? Man’s about to cook defenses like Thanksgiving turkey.

The Gators went 5-1 in his starts, with the lone L coming against Georgia—a game where Lagway left injured. If that’s his floor, imagine what his ceiling looks like with a full offseason and no hamstring drama. Also, Hunt continued, “They’ve got a lot of talent coming in. And they have the confidence now of, ‘Hey, we got a guy.’ That’s what you need in college football is a dude at quarterback.” Florida Gators pulled many talents in the portal and recruiting. The Gators finished #9 in the recruiting class. They got Michael Sturdivant from UCLA, Kofi Asare from UMASS, and Michael Caraway Jr. from Southern Miss.

Hunt didn’t just stop at Lagway, though. He sees something special in head coach Billy Napier, comparing his rise to Ohio State’s Ryan Day. “I think Napier is on the verge of pulling off what Ryan Day did… going from good to championship great,” Hunt said. That’s high praise, especially when you look at Napier’s bumpy start in Gainesville.

With an 8-5 record in 2024, Napier’s not exactly smashing records yet. But here’s the thing—Florida’s been rebuilding, and the pieces are coming together. Napier’s pulled in sensational recruiting classes secured three 5-stars for 2025, and has Lagway leading the charge. Add some defensive upgrades, and the Gators aren’t just playing catch-up—they’re gearing up to take over.

Florida hasn’t sniffed a natty since Tebowmania, but Hunt sees a team ready to shake up the SEC. And it’s not just about Lagway. The Gators’ roster literally stacked to its core with young talent on both sides of the ball. Hunt’s prediction might sound wild, but let’s be real—college football loves a good underdog story. And Florida? They’ve got the script, the cast, and the playbook to make it happen.

Florida Gators’ 2025 outlook: Billy Napier ready to cook?

Let’s talk about it, shall we? The Florida Gators are out here gearing up for a 2025 season that could have ‘em eating well. The entire show starts and ends with QB1, DJ Lagway. With a full healthy body, Lagway is ready to flex his arm and wheels. Man’s got the tools to be a legit problem for defenses this year.

The offense is looking madly dangerous. In the backfield, you got Jaden B., a big dude who runs angry but has those quick cuts to make defenders look goofy. And Kaden Daniels? He’s been cooking since that bowl game. At wideout, they brought in J. Michael Sturdivant, a deep-ball specialist who’s about to make highlight reels with Lagway’s cannon arm. And don’t sleep on 5-star upcoming freshman Dallas Wilson, the freshman built, like an NFL receiver already.

Toss Eugene Wilson in the slot and this squad’s got weapons everywhere. Tight end Amir Jackson is also coming into his own, and the O-line? They’re deep, experienced, and ready to protect the house. Jake Slaughter? Arguably the best centers in the country, easy.

On the other side of the ball, Caleb Banks returns and that’s a massive W for the Gators. The big man in the middle holds it down, while Tyreak Sapp is out here stuffing the run like it’s a buffet line. Young Gators like Jamari Lyons and D’Antre Robinson are stepping up too. The front seven looks nasty, and that’s exactly what Florida needs to bang in the SEC.

With Lagway at QB, Napier at the helm, and a roster loaded with talent, Florida’s got the juice to make a run. Sure, the SEC is a gauntlet, and Texas and Georgia ain’t going anywhere. But don’t sleep on the Gators. If Lagway takes the next step and Napier plays his cards right, Gainesville might just be the center of the college football universe come 2026.

There’s nothing wrong with being optimistic, right?