Billy Napier on the Hot Seat

What is the current trajectory for the Florida Gators under Billy Napier? I don't know how to answer that question, but I'm confident the arrow is not point up... yet. A home loss to a 2-win Arkansas team is reason enough to put Billy Napier on the hot seat. But that's not the entire story around the Gators football program. Looking at the remainder of the schedule for the Gators and they will be big underdogs in each game; @ LSU, @ Missouri, and hosting Florida State. The Gators need to win one of those games if they want a bowl game this year and avoid losing 5 straight to close out the season. That would be reason enough to have Billy Napier on the hot seat.

Florida is looking up at 3 programs in the SEC East that are ahead of them. No shame in being behind Georgia- everybody is. But Tennessee and Kentucky are better programs over the last few years. I know the Gators beat the Vols this season, but the feel around the Tennessee football program is much more optimistic. With Texas and Oklahoma coming into the conference next season, the conference is only getting deeper. I've written about the Gators schedule next season, and it's maybe the most difficult schedule in college football in recent memory. The Gators will host Miami, Samford, UCF, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texans A&M next season. And have their road/neutral site games against Georgia, Florida State, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Texas.

The silver lining around the Gators football program is the recruiting class for next season. 247.sports.com has the Gators rated as the #3 class in the country, headlined by 5-star quarterback DJ Lagway out of Willis Texas. They're also still in the running for 5-star offensive lineman Jordan Seaton out of IMG Academy. So there is some talent coming into the program. But Bill Napier needs to start winning games as an underdog so he can see that talent blossom into a talented roster. These next 3 games are big for Billy Napier to buy time with the fan base before a very difficult 2024.

Consider this a public service announcement for all of the seniors in high-school. Our friends over at niche.com have published a list of the top 50 party schools in the US. Among the 50 biggest party schools are four schools in the state of Florida. Including one school cracking the top-3. Alumni of these schools will most likely wear this as a badge of honor. Obviously I would not choose a school based solely on the party atmosphere. But if you're looking for that party atmosphere, or maybe not, then this list can help sway your decision in one way or the other. I'm not entirely sure how niche.com came up with the list, but if you click the link you can see most schools have well over 3,000 reviews left by current and former students.

There are a few schools that didn't make the list that seemed odd to me. UCF in Orlando, Arizona State in Tempe, and East Carolina in Greenville just to name a few. The first two seem to be because they are in larger metro areas and maybe the actual college party scene isn't as great as the overall party scene. However I have been to Greenville and know the Pirates know how to Party. I've taken the niche.com list and added a new component; PICTURES. Some of these school's party scenes are directly tied to the great athletics the schools offer. Others let the partying stand on their own. So with out further adieu, I present the top 50 party schools in the country.

LSU makes the list based off night games in Death Valley alone. That crowd is insane.

Not gonna lie, this one surprised me. Never really heard of Texas Southern as a party school, but here they are at number 49.

The Red Raiders will be upset they're this low. There's nothing else to do in Lubbock other than party.

Yeah... that looks like they know how to party.

Makes sense with the Philly party scene. They've also had students in Antarctica on Antarctica. However you say it- they've done it.

Not going to lie... this one surprised me too. Amherst?

Charleston is a great town. It definitely has parts of it that feel like you're in a small college town. But it also has parts that have the southern charm of a small town. Great food, great music, and great drinks.

Another school located in the heart of Philadelphia. It's surprising to see an Ivy League school and partying associated with each other. But good on you Penn students.

Bear Down Wildcats! Great weather, good sports, and plenty of fun to be had for students in Tucson.

The fact is there isn't a ton to do in Pullman Washington. You've got to find something to do and partying seems to be it for Cougars students.

Great weather, great college town, and a historically great athletic department (although it might be down right now).

Lehigh is an excellent academic school with a great party scene as well.

Cincinnati is a big metro area, so I knew there would be plenty of bars and restaurants. But the students at UC know how to party with the best of them.

I get it. It's below 40 degrees for most of the year so you got to figure out a way to stay warm. What better way then pack a frat house and let the liquid flow.

This was the scene after Kansas won the basketball national championship in 2022. Any student base that can create a scene like this has to know a thing or two about partying at an elite level.

JMU has been on the party scene for years. The campus is less than 100 miles from Washington DC, but still remote enough to have the college town feel.

Located in the heart of Dallas, SMU offers the big city lifestyle to their students. It's a good academic school too.

It's Oklahoma. They care about football entirely too much, and I mean that as a complement. Look at the student section for home games.

From where I sit, Michigan is the best combination of elite academic school, great sports, and located in a metro while holding onto the college town feel in the country. I'm kind of surprised they aren't higher on this list.

I mean it's located in Nashville. It's one of the best cities in the world in terms of live music and bars. Another spectacular academic school, they've got one of the best party scenes in the world just minutes from campus.

All I knew about UD was the football helmets are very similar to Michigan's, and Joe Flacco went there. But know I know they can party with the best of them too.

CAU was founded in just 1988, but like athletics there are inherent advantages based on your location. Being in Atlanta they have a huge advantage just because of their location.

There's a theme that schools in Ohio know what they're doing when it comes to partying. The Flyers need to cut back on burning couches in the street if they plan on having a place to crash later.

This one was easy to see coming. They're in one of the best vacation cities in the world. They've got a very good athletic department along with the biggest concerts and professional sporting events in the world. OH yeah- I almost forgot South Beach. It ain't a college town, but they know how to party in Miami.

SEC baby. It just means more.

Sure it gets a little cold in the winter. But the weather from April through October is beautiful. Boulder is one of the more underrated college towns in the West.

Any student section that shows up in these numbers to support a well below average athletic department knows what they're doing. Also being in New Jersey, they need to lift their spirits somehow.

The Hoos students are not just Brainiac's. They know what they're doing with a red solo cup in their hands.

O-H! Great tradition and Columbus has some of the best pizza.

The ol' "Hook 'em Horns" UT has quite a tradition.

The Ferris Buehler reference in the video is nice. MSU seems to always be the little brother to Big Blue. Nice to see them up on this list.

Another Florida school. You're gonna see that a lot.

They had a good run this year. Amazing place to be.

Since we're talking basketball... You can actually get a really good burrito in that town, too.

Food truck Mondays? Genius. It's no wonder Craig holds them in such high regard.

The original Miami. In Ohio. Awesome place to party.

Another Ohio party school, just up the road from Miami. Great bars within walking distance of the dorms.

Ole Miss.

It gets weird in the Big 10. Penn State knows how to throw down.

WVU just missed the Top 10. Next year - right?

Orange! Not much else to do in Illinois but party.

USC is always in the Top 10. Pretty solid football team this year, too.

Orange Nation takes the 8 spot. The 'cuse gets it done.

That video made me ready for next season. How many nattys they gonna win?

Another entry from the Big 10. When it gets that cold what else you gonna do?

Starting off the Top 5 with Howard U. Solid entry.

Big Al making memes. Lot of tradition, and lots of partying.

Our top Florida entry at number 3. The bar scene around the campus is in-sane. Love the old feel of the place.

It's a party school IN a party town. Of course that's gonna happen.

UCSB takes the top spot. Tupac said it best - California knows how to party.

Find the full list here:  Niche

Related Content: 

https://espnswfl.com/listicle/best-names-in-college-football/

https://espnswfl.com/listicle/the-20-hottest-nfl-players-ranked/