On Thursday, Nov. 7 – just two days before the Gators come to town – Florida announced that head coach Billy Napier would remain as the program's head coach. So far this season, Napier has led the Gators to a 4-4 overall record and 2-3 in conference play.
To put it simply, Napier has struggled to build up the Florida football program, especially in comparison to what the Gators used to be.
However, Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin shared that the department and the team are "dedicated to a disciplined, stable approach that is focused on long-term sustained success." Which, apparently, means Napier keeping his job.
A message from Scott Stricklin pic.twitter.com/NpLD6ktrHj
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) November 7, 2024
Napier has been at the forefront of conversations about which Power Conference head coach is most likely to lose their job first, alongside Arkansas' Sam Pittman. However, wins over Kentucky, UCF, and Mississippi State were apparently enough to keep Napier in his place.
Also read: Predicting the first college football head coach to be fired in 2024
The Florida head coach has been with the program since 2022 and has led the Gators to an abysmal 15-18 overall record thus far. In the summer, Napier said that the football team is a "work in progress."
While Florida fans may be frustrated with the announcement of Napier's continuation in Gainesville, Texas Longhorn fans should sleep soundly on Friday night, knowing that Napier is the head coach leading the charge as the Gators come to Austin.
Florida and Texas are scheduled to play at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Darrell K Royal Texas-Memorial Stadium. The Gators are currently unranked and the Longhorns are sitting at No. 5 in both the AP Top 25 and the CFP rankings.