After their humiliating 18-16 upset loss against South Florida, there have been speculations that Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier might get fired and Florida buying out his contract. He has not produced as well as what was expected of him at Florida so far, with many believing his time there might soon be over. However, he might be taking other players with him, including QB1 DJ Lagway.
Analyst Pete Thamel said on ESPN’s College Football Show that Lagway has been very vocal for his support of Napier and this sets up the possibility of him entering the transfer portal should the school buy out Napier’s contract.
“If you fire Billy Napier, do you risk losing DJ Lagway? He was very clear about his fidelity towards him. That’s certainly something you’d talk about before you make the decision. But I do think that’s interesting, right? Like, oh, you’re going to start over and you’re gonna, they can get their own guy, they can go find a John Mat or whatever, but I think DJ Lagway is pretty special,” the analyst said. (7:48)
Host Rece Davis agreed with the sentiment, noting that Napier himself is a good coach and believes that he can win in the SEC. But at the end of the day, it will be Florida’s athletic director who will be making the decision, and should Florida fire Napier, it should have nothing to do with Lagway leaving.
Napier actually started the season out strong, demolishing LIU 55-0. However, all the hype surrounding the Gators this season vanished after that 16-18 defeat against South Florida.
Florida Has Tough Schedule Ahead After Humiliating Loss to South Florida
The Gators were the odds-on favorites against South Florida, and many believe that they were going to use the momentum from two theoretically easy games to go on a tough schedule that features some of the best college football teams in the country.
After that loss to South Florida, the Gators now find themselves in a must-win situation as they prepare for a string of tough games. This starts on Saturday against No. 3-ranked LSU, which is considered a national contender.
That is only the start, however, as they take on No. 5 Miami on the road on Sept. 20, and then return home to host No. 7 Texas, which also finds itself in a must-win situation against Florida,on Oct. 4. The Gators also have another tough matchup against No, 16-ranked Texas A&M on Oct. 11, which means Billy Napier’s squad would have to face four ranked teams in a row.
Related:
Florida Gators’ Heisman Hype For DJ Lagway Questioned by Analyst Over One Glaring Concern
Florida Gators’ 2025 Outlook Dims As DJ Lagway’s Rise Can’t Drown Out Brutal SEC Predictions For Billy Napier’s Future
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
