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.
Looking Up
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.
Silver Lining
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.