When is Billy Napier really going to see the light of day? Everything seemed to be off for the Florida Gators head coach last season. With an underwhelming 8-5 finish, Napier is lucky he still has his position, entering his fourth season. In regard to their 2025 schedule, Paul Finebaum delivered a scathing statement that should have Napier and Co. worried.
To say that Billy Napier is on the hot seat this year is just an understatement. Florida lost 5 games, and two of them were rather humbling ones. The Gators face some of those opponents one after the other in this year’s schedule. They will face off against LSU, Miami, Texas, and Texas A&M sequentially. Of them, only the game against the Longhorns is a home game. LSU is also the only one among these against which Napier has a victory. Paul Finebaum, however, is far from impressed.
The analyst literally had nothing to say about Florida’s way forward for these games. On the Andy & Ari Show on On3, Andy Staples listed this particular schedule. With respect to Napier’s fate after these games, he said, “You’re either dead coach walking or a national title contender.” Finebaum gave it a moment’s worth of thought. He said, disinterestedly, “By the way, not even a big statement to say: he should lose all four.” An uneasy beat (or maybe two or three) of silence passed between the hosts. Staples said, after regaining composure, “Wow, really?”
Paul Finebaum on Billy Napier, Florida’s 4-game stretch vs LSU, Miami, Texas, and Texas A&M:
“Not even big statement to say, but he should lose all four.” pic.twitter.com/kZmVdZ0kaF
— On3 (@On3sports) March 25, 2025
Finebaum has had little hope for Florida for quite some time now. He made that known way back in February, according to Sports Illustrated. Even for Florida’s opener against LIU, Finebaum said, “It’s one of the worst games I’ve ever seen […] Who really wants to see it? It’s completely unwatchable.” Napier has a lot to work on getting Finebaum to move from his firmly pessimistic idea of the Gators. Sure, they can be bad. But to predict 4 straight losses against competitive teams is another level of pessimism.
If Finebaum’s gut-twisting verdict wasn’t enough for Napier, he has more trouble coming. DJ Lagway, his one hope amidst this mountain of threats, seems to be dampening the head coach’s spirits ahead of the season.
Trouble ahead for Billy Napier as DJ Lagway struggles
Lagway stepped up for Graham Mertz after the latter was ruled out due to injury from the season. The backup QB held down the fort and proved to be valiant. He led the Gators through a 6-1 streak, one of those wins being against LSU. However, Lagway himself suffered injuries that ended his season that year, too. Turns out, his full potential is being hindered by them at spring practice.
On the 247Sports podcast, Zach Goodall gave a troubling update on the QB. “We’re through four practices that the media has gotten to see of the five that have been held so far. DJ Lagway has not thrown a pass in front of us. He’s simulated his footwork… doing handoffs and some other light work. But they’re not letting him show off his arm.” Lagway is still recovering from his injury, but these results do bode trouble for Napier.
The head coach had admitted before spring practice began that Lagway would be “limited,” according to Sports Illustrated. “We’ve done a lot of homework with the things he went through as a player, but he was an absolute warrior and a great competitor that showed toughness. In general, he will be able to do quite a bit, but there’ll be some limitations.” Napier is definitely prioritizing Lagway’s injury recovery. But with these results, will Lagway truly be able to recreate what he made possible for the Gators last season?
Napier is easily among those coaches in Division I college football who will enter a ‘do or die’ season. With analysts having no hope and his star QB in jeopardy, how will Napier get through all his adversities?
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