The Florida Gators are off to a slow start in a season where they could least afford it. Head coach Billy Napier entered the year on arguably the hottest seat in college football — and so far, his team has done the opposite of what’s needed to cool it down. After the opening loss to USF, calls for Napier’s job came almost immediately.
“Needless to say, this was a nightmare scenario for fourth-year coach Napier, who finally earned some goodwill with a strong finish last season but may now face trouble all over again,” The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel wrote.
There’s growing speculation that the Gators could move on from Napier before the season ends. However, one major obstacle stands in the way: his significant buyout. Florida finds itself in a difficult position regarding the future of the program.
“That loss immediately sparked an angry reaction from the Florida fan base, with many wondering what the cost would be to get rid of Napier. The Florida coach's buyout is 85% of his current remaining contract, which would be $19.38 million after this season,” CBS Sports’ Robby Kalland wrote.
Following a 1–3 start, the Gators are coming off a bye week and preparing to host the Texas Longhorns. Quarterback DJ Lagway has decided to send a bold message — not just to Texas, but to every team left on their schedule.
“Eventually it’s going to pop. And when it pops, it is going to be hard to stop. I’ll tell you that right now,” Lagway said.
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Lagway’s confidence signals a belief that things are about to turn around in Gainesville. But statements like these can be dangerous — especially if future opponents take them as bulletin board material.
The reality is that no team wants to suffer a loss to a struggling Florida squad — especially one that could derail playoff aspirations. Lagway better hope his words aren’t twisted or used as fuel by future opponents.