Billy Napier's seat in Gainesville is heating up, and fast. According to USA Today, the Florida head coach could be fired as soon as this weekend if the Gators drop another game.
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The report says Napier "won't survive one more loss," putting Saturday's matchup with Mississippi State squarely in the must-win column.
Athletic director Scott Stricklin reportedly met with several major boosters on Tuesday, and the message was blunt: they want a "new direction."
Those same boosters were ready to pay Napier's buyout after last season's 8-5 campaign but were convinced to give him one more shot — and to use their money to help keep top recruits like receiver Dallas Wilson.
That patience appears to be wearing thin. Florida started the season ranked No. 15 but quickly fell apart, losing to South Florida, LSU, and in-state rival Miami to drop to 1-3. A surprise win over Texas briefly steadied things, but last week's loss at Texas A&M brought the frustration right back.
Napier's buyout sits around $21 million, a big number but not insurmountable for a program used to competing for national titles. He's 21-23 in four seasons with the Gators after a successful run at Louisiana, and with upcoming games against Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, the road ahead isn't getting easier.
For now, Florida hopes Napier can finish the season. But if the Gators stumble again on Saturday, his time in the Swamp may already be over.
Penn State fired coach James Franklin earlier this week after the Nittany Lions, like the Gators, failed to live up to the preseason hype.
