The 2024 college football season has been an extremely turbulent one for Florida’s two most storied programs.
While the Miami Hurricanes are still in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff, the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles face the grim possibility of missing the postseason.
If they do, it would mark the first time since 1978 that both teams fail to make a bowl game in the same season.
However, there’s a renewed sense of hope in Gainesville, and former Gators head coach Urban Meyer is sensing it.
Appearing on The Triple Option podcast, Meyer offered high praise for Billy Napier and the Florida Gators, while throwing a subtle jab at the Seminoles.
“I’m going to tell you something, I’m a fan of coach Napier, and here’s why,” Meyer said. “I don’t know him, I met him once or twice. They’ve been obviously really struggling, but the one thing they have not done like the team in Tallahassee is quit. They have continued to fight.”
Meyer’s comments might raise some eyebrows, especially given his history with Florida State as a former head coach of the Gators.
While one might assume his remarks stem from lingering animosity, Meyer had previously spoken highly of Mike Norvell and the Seminoles before the 2024 season.
Back in August, Meyer offered glowing praise for Norvell, calling him “one of the most underrated coaches” in the country and commending the drastic turnaround the Seminoles had made since their dismal 2020 season.
“I think Mike Norvell is one of the most underrated coaches. They were awful in 2020. I’m an old Gator, so I looked at that like, How did Florida State get so bad?” Meyer said.
“But look what this coach has done. I really think he’s one of the top coaches in America. I think they’ll be there, standing in the top 10. I might even have them a little higher at the end of the season.”
Clearly, Meyer’s perspective has shifted since then, as Florida State’s struggles have continued.
But as is often the case in college football, things can change quickly. In Gainesville, a sense of optimism surged after the Gators’ dramatic upset victory over LSU last Saturday.
While Florida had already committed to Napier beyond this season, that win against LSU seemed to give public perception of the program a much-needed boost.
On the heels of that victory, Meyer is now optimistic that the Gators could pull off another upset, this time against the Ole Miss Rebels.
“I see things, I hear things obviously and I still know a lot of people down there. The Swamp was electric. I think Ole Miss is walking into a hornet’s nest here,” Meyer said.
“I don’t know if they’re good enough to beat Ole Miss, but I’m going to take Florida and the points. It started at 9.5, I believe it’s at 10 (now). I’m not sure, Vegas might know something. But I call for this to be a one-score game.”
With a huge opportunity looming in their clash with Ole Miss, Florida fans are hopeful that the Gators are on the verge of a breakthrough under Napier.
Meanwhile, the 2024 season has been an absolute nightmare for Norvell and the Noles in every single way imaginable.
What are your thoughts on the two programs (and coaches) going forward???