The Florida football program is facing challenges that haven’t been seen in Gainesville for almost 80 years, and much of the criticism is directed at current head coach Billy Napier. Despite inheriting a team with few resources from his predecessor and facing tough schedules, Napier is ultimately held accountable for the team’s performance.
CBS Sports writer Will Backus ranked Napier as the 13th head coach in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), citing the team’s record and lack of improvement under his leadership. According to Backus, the Gators’ performance under Napier has not met expectations, with mistakes still being made in his second year that are typically seen in a team transitioning under a new coach. With a challenging schedule ahead in 2024, there may not be much room for improvement in the team’s record.
In addition to this criticism, Napier has also dropped from his 11th place ranking in the SEC after the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the conference. Kirby Smart of Georgia leads the top 10 SEC coaches rankings by Backus, followed by Brian Kelly of LSU and Steve Sarkisian of Texas. The Florida Gators are set to open their 2024 season against the Miami Hurricanes on August 31 in Gainesville, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game broadcast on ABC Sports. Be sure to follow @GatorsWire on X and like their page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news and updates.
