Latest news with #BillyNapier
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joel Klatt Reveals 'Must-Win' Game for Billy Napier and Florida
Joel Klatt Reveals 'Must-Win' Game for Billy Napier and Florida originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last year, the Florida Gators found themselves in a precarious situation for a third straight year, eyeing a losing season towards the tail end of the schedule. Instead, Florida, under third-year head coach Billy Napier, won their final four games, including a blowout bowl victory over the Tulane Green Wave. Advertisement The mini-winning streak to end the year undoubtedly brought Napier goodwill among the fan base as he continues to try to return the Gators to their mid-2000s glory. However, Joel Klatt, a college football analyst for Fox Sports, believes Napier is still very much entering a make-or-break season in Gainesville. Florida head coach Billy Napier.© Brett Patzke-Imagn Images During The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast, the veteran college football analyst compared the Florida front man to another longtime head coach, saying, "Billy Napier is in the same exact category as Mike Norvell. 'We like you, but is this going to work?'" Klatt points towards Napier and Florida's strong finish to the season, with wins against the Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers, as a reason for optimism. Napier also has a strong relationship with former five-star prospect and quarterback DJ Lagway. Advertisement However, the Gators will face a tough schedule in 2025, and Klatt points to their four-game stretch early in the season as a big moment for Napier. He calls for, at the very least, a split against the LSU Tigers, Miami Hurricanes, Texas Longhorns, and Texas A&M Aggies, with Miami being the most pivotal. "You have to prove you are not the third-tier team in the state of Florida," said Klatt. He continued to emphasize the importance of their game against Miami, saying, "The game at Miami is actually the one where the pressure gets ratcheted up. Again, tough four-game stretch. I think they need 2-2. If you don't beat Miami, which other two teams are you beating? Related: Florida Beats Out Three SEC Rivals For Elite OL Recruit This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN predicts Florida football's 2025 record–and it's not pretty
ESPN predicts Florida football's 2025 record–and it's not pretty The Florida Gators are staring down a .500 season in 2025, according to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI). Florida football is projected to go 6.4-5.6, effectively a 6-6 regular season–ranking 12th in the SEC. It's a tough outlook for head coach Billy Napier, who enters a pivotal fourth season under pressure to show progress. Despite the buzz surrounding quarterback DJ Lagway, one of college football's young stars, the Gators face the No. 1 toughest remaining schedule (REM SOS) in college football. That makes any turnaround effort even more difficult. The Gators sit well behind SEC contenders like the Texas Longhorns, Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, each projected to win nine or more games and contend for playoff spots. Even middle-tier programs like the Oklahoma Sooners and Auburn Tigers are ranked above Florida in ESPN's advanced model. Key FPI Metrics SEC FPI Rank: 12th 12th Projected Record: 6.4-5.6 (6-6) 6.4-5.6 (6-6) Chance to win SEC: 1.0% 1.0% Playoff Chance: 14.5% 14.5% Bowl Eligibility Odds: 68.2% Bottom Line ESPN's FPI doesn't see Florida breaking through in 2025. For Napier and Lagway, a 6-6 season may be the floor–but also the line they have to rise above. With pressure mounting in Gainesville, exceeding expectations won't just quiet critics–it may be necessary to secure the future of the program's leadership. Every game will be a test–not just of talent, but of whether this rebuild is actually turning the corner. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
DJ Lagway Injury Scare Not the Only Red Flag for Billy Napier's Florida Gators in 2025
DJ Lagway Injury Scare Not the Only Red Flag for Billy Napier's Florida Gators in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Billy Napier and Florida Gators are seriously dependant on DJ Lagway to succeed this season. Even last year, he chimed in when they really needed a miracle to bring the season back from the dead. Advertisement ESPN college football's insider Greg McElroy believes Gators' will face their "worst case scenario" if DJ Lagway is not regularly and optimally available to play for them. But outside his concerns, there's another threat looming on the team. Gators face the much-talked about gruelling schedule. Again, they were partially able to survive it last year. But this year is a whole new story. Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gives an injured Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) a hug after the game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL.© Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Breaking down the worst case scenario for Gators on Always College Football, Greg McElroy said, "The brutal schedule eventually takes its toll. Last year, it didn't. They got stronger as the season went along and started to win some of those games down the stretch that you thought they might be out of gas in... ...But this year, they have one of the hardest schedules in college football." Advertisement Gators kick off their season against relatively easy opponents, Long Island and South Florida, in week 1 and week 2 respectively. But this is just the silence before the potential storm. The first two games are followed by four brutal match ups for Florida starting with LSU, followed by Miami, Texas and finally Texas A&M. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, Florida is set to finish 6-6 owing to their difficult schedule. But Greg McElroy sees them overcoming all of these odds given their tremendous momentum from last year's final stretch. Gators were able to garner impact wins with DJ Lagway at the centre. The win against Ole Miss could serve as a morale booster as it resulted it Lane Kiffin's Rebels missing the playoff. DJ Lagway is still limited in practice but he still has two more months to recover from his injury. And since he was leading the team for the better part of last season, he will not have early pains like a starter would have had. Advertisement Florida Gators kick off their season against LIU on August 30, 2025 on ESPN+. Related: DJ Lagway Boosts Florida Women's Sports with NIL Donation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Predicted to Flip Blue-Chip DB From Historic College Football Program
Florida Predicted to Flip Blue-Chip DB From Historic College Football Program originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Florida got some good recruiting news on Tuesday night when four-star cornerback C.J. Bronaugh de-committed from Nebraska. Advertisement Per On3's Hayes Fawcett, Bronaugh had been committed to Nebraska since last November before re-opening his recruitment on Tuesday. The Gators have some reason to be excited about flipping Bronaugh because, according to Corey Bender of Gators Online, he visited their campus on Tuesday. On3's Steve Wiltfong later logged a crystal ball prediction for the Gators to land Bronaugh. Florida head coach Billy Napier.© Brett Patzke-Imagn Images This would be a big recruiting win for the Gators since Bronaugh is from Florida. He is a four-star recruit in the 2026 recruiting class and the No. 12 recruit in his home state, per 247Sports composite rankings. He is also the No. 12 cornerback recruit in the nation and the No. 99 overall recruit. Advertisement The Gators currently have the No. 24 recruiting class in the country in 2026 and can improve that ranking by landing Bronaugh. Gators head coach Billy Napier has been at the helm for three seasons, compiling a 19-19 record. He had his best season with the Gators in 2024 when they finished 8-5. Their eighth win came in the Gasparilla Bowl against the Tulane Green Wave. It was a season that Napier needed since the Gators finished below .500 in his first two seasons as head coach. He'll try to continue to ride that momentum into the 2025 season when the Gators play their first game against the Long Island Sharks on August 30. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. ET. Related: DJ Lagway Injury Scare Not the Only Red Flag for Billy Napier's Florida Gators in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida QB Commit Sends Strong Message to Top Recruits on Visit
Florida QB Commit Sends Strong Message to Top Recruits on Visit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Florida QB commit Will Griffin spoke during the Gators' official visit weekend. He kept it brief while making sure that his message was clear. Standing in front of the group, he introduced himself and shared a bit about his background. Advertisement Griffin explained how he had a special connection with the place. That connection played a significant role in his early commitment. He made sure the recruits knew why this place mattered to him. Florida Gators head coach Billy NapierMatt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Griffin said, 'It's been a dream to play here, and hopefully we can make that happen.' Griffin let everyone know he was the first to commit. He's been locked in with Florida for over a year. His message was clear. He spoke to the recruits who might still be deciding. No pressure, just a nudge to join him. 'This is the last OV, the most special one, so don't be afraid to commit,' he said. Recruiting reporter Corey Bender shared the moment on social media. Griffin stood in front of the crowd and spoke directly to the recruits. His short speech ended with a simple 'Go Gators'. The setting allowed Griffin to demonstrate his standing within the program. Advertisement Florida is in a critical phase of its recruiting cycle. The staff is looking to lock in commitments, and moments like this help. Getting current commits involved adds a personal touch. Griffin's message wasn't long, but it made the point. He's all in. And he's hoping others in the room will follow his lead. Related: Alabama's Blake Sims Answers QB Concerns With Huge Game Against Florida Related: College Football World Praying For Florida State QB Jordan Travis After Gruesome Injury Related: Elite QB, Former Florida State Commit Reveals Top Four Schools This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
