It seems like things are not looking good for Florida coach Billy Napier right now.
The situation might be worse than just the Gators’ six-game losing streak and a 41-17 defeat by Cam Ward and No. 19 Miami. The real issue appears to be the lack of noticeable improvement in Napier’s third season.
The criticism from outside is intense. “You’re going to get criticism when you perform the way we did Saturday in certain parts of our team,” Napier said on Monday.
It was just one poor home game, but the Gators believe they have the talent, time, and determination to turn things around. They hope for a boost against Samford (0-1) this Saturday night.
However, this game could also reflect how the Florida fan base has shifted from being excited to indifferent during Napier’s time.
“I think a loss early can be a blessing if you don’t waste it,” Napier said. “We need to focus on improving our football performance. We need to be more consistent and execute better.”
“If we can concentrate on these issues and not worry about what someone is saying on social media, we have a chance to improve. Sometimes criticism is deserved. I have no excuses. We need to fix things.”
Florida struggled on both offense and defense against Miami, which had a similar situation under its third-year head coach. This was troubling because it looked like the same issues as in Napier’s previous seasons.
Undisciplined penalties? Check. Overpowered on the lines of scrimmage? Check. Inconsistent quarterback play? Check. Napier’s conservative play-calling—like calling runs on third-and-5—has led to concerns that the Gators might be worse now than they were at the start of the season.
Napier’s record at Florida is now 11-15, with a 2-10 record against ranked teams and 1-8 against rivals like Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, and Tennessee.
He has also suffered back-to-back double-digit losses to Kentucky and has a 3-11 record in his last 14 games against Power Four teams. With seven more ranked teams left on the schedule, things could get worse.
Florida is not expected to fire Napier soon; previous Florida coaches who were dismissed lasted until at least late October. Letting Napier go could be tricky, too.
Florida would owe more than $25 million to fire him during or after this season, with half of that amount needed almost immediately.
However, the school might use Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit against Napier—related to a failed $14 million name, image, and likeness deal—or the related NCAA investigation to lower Napier’s buyout.
And is anyone at Florida truly ready to fire Napier? Current Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin, who hired Napier, has advocated for patience during the rebuilding process.
Additionally, Florida is searching for a new school president after Ben Sasse resigned to be with his wife, who has epilepsy.
Former president Kent Fuchs, who hired Stricklin and approved Napier’s hiring, is now serving as Florida’s interim president.
Napier will have opportunities to prove himself in the coming weeks. The Gators need to win against No. 20 Texas A&M next week, and then against Mississippi State and UCF to gain some relief.
“It’s only Week 1,” running back Montrell Johnson said. “I’d say we still have time. The message to the team has been just to respond. … It’s not the end of the world. Go out there and fix our mistakes. Look back on this as motivation and use it throughout the whole entire season.”
