Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier enters his second year on the hot seat. Although the Gators made a bowl game last season, overall, Napier’s first year as Gators head coach wasn’t seen as a success.
In fact, one college football writer thinks that Napier won’t make it past the 2023 season.
Stewart Mandel, editor-in-chief of The Athletic college football coverage made it clear he doesn’t think Napier nor the Gators have a chance this year.
He thinks the Gators will win no more than three games this season and will only win one conference game. A brutal season for Gators if this comes true.
“Week 11. Big-brand SEC programs don’t let coaches have two bad seasons, and Napier, 6-7 in his first one, has the makings of a last-place team this fall. That former Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz is his best option at that position does not bode well. If he really goes 3-9, the boosters will find $32 million to pull the plug.”
Mandel may not be wrong. According to ESPN’s FPI, the Gators have the second toughest schedule in the country and they kicked off the season with Pac 12 champion Utah Utes next week on the road.
Not exactly the way you’d want to kick off the 2023 season. Florida did beat Utah in a thriller to kickoff the 2022 season but that was in Gainesville. College football fans will know a lot about how the Gators’ season will go after that first game.
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.