As Week 4 of the college football season approaches, ESPN’s “College GameDay” has shed light on why the Florida Gators have not yet dismissed head coach Billy Napier. In his third year with the team, Napier finds himself with two losses in three games to start the 2024 season, including heavy defeats to in-state rival Miami and SEC foe Texas A&M. In his previous two seasons, Napier did not lead the Gators to a record above .500, indicating he may be on track for another disappointing year. The Gators are currently on a seven-game losing streak against FBS opponents.
During the latest episode of “College GameDay,” analyst Pete Thamel mentioned that the prevailing belief is Napier will not return for a fourth season. He pointed to the seven-game FBS losing streak and the two blowout losses at home as contributing factors. Thamel explained why Florida hasn’t acted yet: there isn’t a replacement ready to step in. He noted, “If you’re going to fire a coach at this point in the season, you need a clear path to improvement, and Florida doesn’t seem to have that.” Thamel added that the situation is complicated as Napier serves as both the head coach and the offensive play-caller, meaning firing him would require replacing two key roles, which is challenging mid-season.
The Gators are set to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville on Saturday, where many fans hope they can snap their seven-game FBS losing streak. Mississippi State is coming off a 41-17 defeat to the Toledo Rockets, despite being favored by 10.5 points. Kickoff is at noon ET on ESPN.
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