GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of preseason expectations, the Florida Gators, led by a commanding performance from quarterback DJ Lagway, upset the Texas Longhorns 29-21 on Saturday afternoon before a raucous crowd of 90,714 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The victory, Florida’s first against a ranked opponent this season, improved its record to 1-3, while handing Texas its second loss of the season, dropping the Longhorns to 3-1. The result defied most pregame projections, as Texas was a 5.5-point favorite and held a 79 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, though the combined score of 50 did surpass the over/under line of 42.5.

Lagway, a Willis, Texas, native returning to his home state to face a powerhouse program, was nearly flawless. The 6-foot-3, 239-pound quarterback completed 21 of 28 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns, efficiently directing the Florida offense and avoiding critical mistakes.

The Gators established control early, marching 84 yards on the game’s opening drive, capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Jadan Baugh. A 34-yard field goal from Trey Smack later in the first quarter gave Florida a 10-0 lead, a margin they would not relinquish.

Texas, struggling to find its rhythm, got on the board in the second quarter. Quarterback Arch Manning connected with running back Quintrevion Wisner on a 6-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 10-7. Florida responded immediately, with Lagway engineering a 77-yard drive that he finished with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Wilson.

The momentum swung further in Florida’s favor just before halftime. A blocked punt by Taylor Spierto resulted in a safety, giving the Gators two points and the ball back, sending them into the locker room with a 19-7 advantage.

Florida extended its lead in the third quarter with another Smack field goal, this time from 38 yards, making it 22-7. Texas answered with its most explosive play of the afternoon, a 38-yard touchdown strike from Manning to Ryan Wingo, pulling the Longhorns back within a score at 22-14.

Any hope for a Texas comeback was quickly extinguished. On the ensuing drive, Lagway found Wilson deep for a 55-yard touchdown pass, Wilson’s second of the game, to re-establish a two-score lead at 29-14. Wilson finished with six receptions for 111 yards, while Baugh provided a steady ground game, rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.

The Longhorns mounted a final scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, with Wisner plunging in from 1 yard out to make it 29-21 with 3:20 remaining. Texas’s defense forced a punt, giving Manning one last chance to tie the game. The drive reached the Florida 45-yard line, but the Gators’ defense, which harassed Manning all evening, sealed the victory with a series of sacks and pressures, culminating in a final incomplete pass as time expired.

Manning finished 16 of 29 for 263 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 37 rushing yards. He was sacked multiple times, with Florida’s Brien Taylor Jr. and Devin Moore leading the charge. Moore also had a key interception.

Anthony Hill Jr. anchored the Texas defense with 14 tackles, but it was not enough to contain Lagway and the resurgent Gators. Florida’s defense was a collective force, with Myles Graham, Bryce Thornton and Tyreak Sapp all making significant impacts behind the line of scrimmage.

The Longhorns look to rebound next Saturday when they host Oklahoma. Florida, riding new-found momentum, travels to face Texas A&M.