247Sports thinks Billy Napier survives 2024 hot seat

Following an 11-14 start to the Billy Napier era in Gainesville, the Gators coach enters Year 3 at Florida on the hot seat. With the toughest schedule in the nation ahead, few are projecting Napier will make it to 2025, but the folks at 247Sports aren’t buying into that narrative.

“Say what you want about the Gators’ all-time tough slate this season; Napier will be the leader of the program in 2025,” college football analyst Brad Crawford said in an article aiming to provide hot takes for every SEC team.

Crawford has plenty of reasons for that prediction, but he doesn’t mention the Gators improving on the field this season. Instead, his two main pieces of support are the remaining money left on Napier’s contract and the fact that another failed football coach could mean the end of athletic director Scott Stricklin’s tenure at the university.

Napier would be owed more than $25 million if let go after this season. He signed for seven years and $51.8 million in the fall of 2021. Stricklin has been around since November 2016, but he is the one who brought in Dan Mullen. Several athletic programs have dealt with scandal during Stricklin’s time at Florida — women’s basketball (abuse) and football (NIL).

There is some light at the end of the tunnel for Napier, though. Signing DJ Lagway has provided some optimism for the future of the program. Napier’s fate may rest in the true freshman’s hands. He’ll take over the starting job in 2025, which should be the true make-or-break season for Napier.

Crawford is also projecting a Gators loss to Texas A&M in September, as he expects Aggies head coach Mike Elko to start off strong.

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