The outlook for Billy Napier’s tenure as head coach of the Florida Gators is increasingly grim.
Two games into his third season, Napier holds a 12-15 record, far below the lofty expectations set by the program and its passionate fanbase.
As the Gators prepare to host Texas A&M tomorrow, many believe Napier’s future is hanging by a thread.
ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum has been particularly vocal about the critical nature of the SEC showdown against the Aggies.
Speaking on the “Always College Football” podcast with Greg McElroy, Finebaum didn’t mince words about what a loss could mean for Napier’s job security.
“I think ‘must-win’ is really an understatement,” Finebaum said. “I think should Billy Napier fail to win this game and Florida loses again, I don’t see how he can survive.”
Napier, who faces fellow 1-1 head coach Mike Elko of Texas A&M, finds himself under far more scrutiny.
Finebaum pointed out that while both teams have had rocky starts to the season, the stakes are much higher for the Gators’ coach.
“All the goodwill Napier found in the offseason, and he found a lot, went out the window,” Finebaum said. “There’s virtually no confidence in this program without a win and a win against Texas A&M doesn’t really mean anything, but it stops the hemorrhaging.”
As usual, the SEC is dominating the top-25 rankings.
Finebaum predicted that four teams from the conference will end up making the 12-team College Football Playoff.
“I still think four can get to the playoffs,” Finebaum said. “I think five is really a challenge, and I know SEC honks – easy for me to say – think they all deserve to be in. But I’m trying to be realistic and respectful of the rest of college [football] and also think like the committee thinks.”
Like most of the country, Finebaum recognized Georgia and Texas as the two best teams in the SEC. However, there are clearly other national title contenders in the mix.
“There’s two I would take with comfort, and there’s one that remains a little bit of a mystery to me that could surprise us all,” Finebaum said. “Obviously, Georgia and Texas seem like maybe they’re in a class of their own.
“The school I can’t make up my mind about if they’re going to play for the title or disappoint us is Ole Miss. They look really flawless right now.”
Finebaum also admitted he’s been impressed with Alabama, Tennessee and Missouri.
As for Florida, their showdown against Texas A&M tomorrow will kick off at 3:30pm EST.
If the Gators lose, do you think Napier will indeed be a dead man walking? … Or is that the case already?
In the bigger picture, how many SEC teams do you think will end up making the playoffs???
