Gators, Billy Napier among those under most pressure to win in 2024

The Gator Nation has been damned to a doldrums of three-straight losing seasons this decade — the first time that has happened since the 1940s — and the current outlook is not looking too promising.

Florida football enters the 2024 campaign with possibly the hardest strength of schedule in the nation and the prognostications are calling for a .500 finish to the regular season… at best. The fact of the matter is that it will take a minor miracle for the Orange and Blue to win six games this fall, but they play the matchups on the field not on paper.

Pro Football Focus college football analyst Mitch Kaiser published a list of five collegiate programs under the most pressure, which was headlined by the denizens of the Swamp.

Billy Napier on the hot seat

“There might not be a head coach on a hotter seat than Billy Napier,” Kaiser begins.

“Whether expectations have been fair or not, Napier’s teams haven’t lived up to their preseason hype in his first two years at Florida. The Gators have gone 11-14 in his tenure and finished with a disappointing 0.067 EPA per play in 2023, which ranked 41st in the country.”

Florida’s strength of schedule

“The 2024 season will present an incredible challenge for the Gators, who may have the hardest schedule in college football, going through the normal SEC gauntlet in addition to facing Miami, UCF and Florida State. Winning six games could be a significant challenge.”

PFF has Florida’s strength of schedule ranked second-hardest in the nation and expects it to finish with a 5-7 record.

Graham Mertz and the Florida offense

“Florida has the talent to exceed expectations, though, with quarterback Graham Mertz coming back after a breakout season (77.9 PFF passing grade). Montrell Johnson Jr. and Eugene Wilson III, both of whom earned 80.0-plus PFF overall grades, are two top weapons looking to build on big years, as well.”

Gators’ improvements on defense

“Defensively, the Gators will need improvements out of cornerstone secondary pieces Jordan Castell and Jason Marshall Jr. Each recorded three pass breakups in 2023, which leads all returning defenders on the roster.

“If Napier can develop his players the same way he did at Louisiana, he will undoubtedly bring Florida back to relevance before long.”

Florida’s 2024 season opener

The Florida and the Miami Hurricanes open their schedule on Aug. 31 in Gainesville, Florida. Kickoff time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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