GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No one at LSU and Florida can be happy about what happened last weekend.

The Tigers had no answer for dynamic quarterback Jalen Milroe in 42-13 loss in Alabama. Alligators barely stopped anyone in a 49-17 thrashing in Texas.

Both are looking to bounce back from the beatings in the Swamp on Saturday.

No. 21 LSU (6-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) dropped out of the College Football Playoff with consecutive losses to ranked teams, Texas A&M and then the crimson tide. Florida (4-5, 2-4), meanwhile, was beaten for the third time this season and is trying to avoid a three-game skid.

Both insist they have a lot to play for down the stretch. The Tigers must win to achieve a third straight 10-win season under coach Brian Kelly. The Gators must win two of their remaining three to become bowl eligible.

“I’m not in a position to worry about what people say about the overall health of the program,” said Kelly, whose Tigers won 10 of 13 games over the past year. “We have one of the best recruiting classes in the country. These things are only going to continue to get better and this is a championship program we will have here.

Napier got a vote of confidence from athletic director Scott Stricklin and some guarantee he’ll stay in place through 2025. But, like Kelly, he has work to do to win back a frustrated fan base.

“What happened last weekend is not acceptable,” Napier said. “It’s not good enough. We certainly know we are capable of playing better. … Talent is never enough. And the main goal here, going into the match, is to do everything that doesn’t require any talent at a very high level so that we can maximize our opportunities.

Florida Lagway will return

The Gators will have one of their most talented players back. Freshman Quarterback DJ Lagway is fully recovered from a left hamstring strain suffered against Georgia on November 2. He could provide a much-needed spark for an offense that passed for 439 yards and 27 points in six-plus quarters with Yale transfer Aidan Warner replacing him.

“It’s crazy how much effort he puts into it,” left tackle Austin Barber said of Lagway. “He’s doing a good job.”

Turnover problem for the Tigers

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier recorded six turnovers in the final six quarters, including three interceptions in the second half against Texas A&M and a fumble and two picks against Alabama.

Kelly insists he is in no danger of being benched.

Nussmeier ranks second in the SEC with 2,866 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. But his 11 interceptions also place him second in the league, behind Georgia’s Carson Beck.

“Nuss is a gunslinger. Our confidence in Nuss is through the roof,” insisted LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas. “We know what he is capable of. We know he’s a great quarterback.

LSU’s unbalanced offense

Kelly suggested that one reason Nussmeier has struggled recently is due to LSU’s inconsistent running game. Nussmeier started 42 of LSU’s 66 offensive plays against Alabama.

“We need more balance in the offense,” Kelly said.

More injuries for the Gators

The Gators are hoping last week was a fluke. They played without four defensive backs, including starting cornerbacks Jason Marshall and Devin Moore, and were torched by Quinn Ewers for 333 passing yards and five touchdowns. Marshall is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Moore, safety Asa Turner and cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson have already been ruled out against LSU.

Injuries prompted safety Trikweze Bridges to move to cornerback and forced sophomore Cormani McClain into a starting role.

“I can’t wait to play our game … and bring back that swagger,” Bridges said. “We didn’t live up to our expectations against Texas, so we’re looking to bring what we know we can do into the game.”

___

AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Register here. AP college football: And