The End is Seemingly Near for Gators HC Billy Napier

Florida plays an important conference game on Saturday, but the focus remains on Billy Napier's future with the Gators.

Head coach Billy Napier's time with the Florida Gators may be coming to an end soon. | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- Billy Napier's job security at Florida has become a bigger story than the Gators' upcoming homecoming game against Mississippi State.

On Wednesday, the criticized head coach, once again, addressed his job security and was asked if he could make a case to keep his job. Instead, he echoed Monday's message by saying it's "a reality in our profession."

"I think that as a competitor, as a leader, you know, I think that it comes with the territory," he said. "So I think you have to have the ability to focus on the things that are important today, you know? I think it's, that's the whole key here is you got to stack good days, and you got to do a good job setting a great example for your players and staff."

Following last week's loss to Texas A&M, the idea of Napier's firing returned to more of a matter of "when" and not "if," a mindset that was first evident after the Gators' 1-2 start a year ago.

"When" has never seemed more imminent.

Multiple reports, including one by USA Today's Matt Hayes, which cited booster conversations with athletic director Scott Stricklin, indicate Napier could be fired this weekend, even if the Gators defeat Mississippi State. A loss would ultimately seal the deal.

Florida Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin (left) announced plans to retain Billy Napier for a fourth season even before last year's turnaround. | Kyle Lander / Florida Gators on SI

The ongoing Napier dilemma can trace its roots to last season's 1-2 start after losses to Miami and Texas A&M at home, after which reports indicated boosters had raised the funds - roughly $28 million at the time - to pay Napier's buyout, and "if" turned into "when."

Yet, Napier survived, much due to the Stricklin's efforts, a late turnaround by the Gators and an unkept promise to hire an offensive coordinator.

Hayes reported that Napier made an attempt to hire an offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season, when he failed to bring Charlie Weis Jr. over from Ole Miss. He did not make another attempt after 2024, instead promoting co-offensive coordinator Russ Callaway to offensive coordinator.

Napier remained the play-caller despite the promotion, much to the chagrin of Gator fans.

To say bringing Napier back, a decision Stricklin made even before last year's four-game winning streak to end the season, has been a failure is an understatement.

The Gators are 2-4 in what was supposed to be a playoff-contending season with a shocking loss to USF at home, bad road losses at LSU and Miami where the offense struggled mightily and last week's loss to Texas A&M in which Florida was only truly competitive in the first quarter.

An upset over Texas two weeks ago bought Napier more time. The loss to the Aggies, which moved Napier to 21-23 in his time with the program, seemingly sold it.

"Ultimately, we got to get consumed with what's important now, and you live with the result on Saturday," Napier said Wednesday. "I think we all want better results, even sometimes when we win, you know, I think the product isn't as good as we would like it to be. And then sometimes you can be proud of how you competed and played, and you played a good opponent, and you came up short."

It remains to be seen when Napier's time with the program comes to an end, but with the outside focus more on the head coach's job security than on an important SEC game, that ending could be sooner than later.

Kickoff against the Bulldogs is at 4:15 p.m. with television coverage on SEC Network.