A week ago, the matchup between Florida and LSU looked incredibly intriguing. The Gators were easily playing as the best team in the SEC East while the Tigers were riding the Heisman campaign of Leonard Fournette. However, following the suspension of Will Greir, the Gators are simply hoping they have the depth to make up for the loss and upset the Tigers on their home field.
Florida announced on Monday that Grier was officially suspended for the remainder of the season following a positive test of PEDs. The NCAA ruled him out for the season which was shocking for the No.8 Gators who are a surprising 6-0 on the season. In his place, Treon Harris will be getting the starting nod against LSU. Harris has the confidence of head coach Jim McElwain who was not thrilled over the Grier ruling. Harris started the season opener and came off the bench against East Carolina. He has 269 passing yards to his name and two touchdowns. He now gets his first test facing the Tigers in Death Valley.
The Tigers will be putting Brandon Harris under center against a Gators team they have defeated in their last two meetings. Harris is coming off his best performance of his quarterback career. He set career highs with 18 completions for 228 yards and two touchdowns. That was a nice balance to the normally run-heavy offense. Of course no one would blame the Tigers from running the ball a lot as Fournette continues to be the best player in college football. The running back had 158 yards in the team's last game against South Carolina which was actually a season low for him. For at least two quarters, the Tigers have more passing yards than rushing yards until Fournette broke off an 87-yard touchdown run.
That run game will put the Gators defense to the test. Florida proved they can handle the test of a top-notch offense. They shut down the Ole Miss Rebels in their matchup which had them facing a top passing game and receiving unit. Harris will not throw the ball a lot against the Gators improved secondary, so the task becomes shutting down Fournette, something no one has been able to do.