Billy Napier Put on Hot Seat By CFB Fans After Mertz, Florida Lose vs. Texas A&M

Julia StumbaughSeptember 15, 2024

Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Billy Napier’s search for his first winning season at Florida is off to a rocky start in 2024.

Florida lost 33-20 to Texas A&M on Saturday, dropping the Gators’ record to 1-2 and frustrating fans watching the third-year head coach.

Dan Orlovsky @danorlovsky7I honestly was rooting for and believed Napier would do really well at Florida….its jarring to see week in and week out them outplayed

T @tdgator9There is NO debate.

Billy Napier is by far the worst coach in the history of Florida Football.

Brandon Olsen @WNS_BrandonBilly Napier should apologize to the Florida Gators players at halftime, he should thank them for their loyalty, and he should say his goodbyes.

This man is done and he deserves to be done. Embarrassing excuse of a coach.

Clay Travis @ClayTravisFlorida looks AWFUL. If Gators lose at Mississippi State next week do they go ahead and fire Billy Napier before September even ends? First bye week is then, gives interim some time before UCF.

The loss especially stung for Florida after Texas A&M entered the contest with redshirt freshman Marcel Reed starting in place of injured quarterback Conner Weigman.

Blain Crain @Blain_CrainIf Texas A&M walks into Gainesville with a backup quarterback and beats Florida, Billy Napier will be the definition of fired.

Adam Rittenberg @ESPNRittenbergThought Billy Napier could make it into October with that UCF game being the potential last straw, but hard to see him surviving a second blowout loss in three weeks, especially to a first-year coach playing a backup QB. https://t.co/rXlACzKFNM

After allowing a field goal on the game’s opening drive, the Gators fell into a 20-point first-half deficit before intercepting the Aggies on the final play of the second quarter.

Florida responded by opening the second half with a touchdown pass from Graham Mertz.

Then DJ Lagway, who was named Mertz’s backup by Napier earlier this season, came in on the following Gators drive and was unable to score.

Mertz was handed the ball again on the next Florida possession, which ended with a pick-six.

Texas A&M Football @AggieFootballPICK 6 IN THE SWAMP.#GigEm | @BryceAnderson_1 pic.twitter.com/roAvOQKl8r

Ari Wasserman @AriWassermanThe only way what is happening to Florida could have gotten worse for Billy Napier is if Graham Mertz threw a pick-six. It happened.

Mertz went 12-of-15 for 195 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the loss, while Lagway connected on six of 13 pass attempts for 54 yards, a touchdown and two picks.

Aaron Torres @Aaron_TorresBilly Napier doesn’t put DJ Lagway in until Florida is down 20-0.

Then, he goes back to Graham Mertz – who leads a TD drive… and then puts back in DJ Lagway.

Just no rhyme or reason to pretty anything going on in Gainesville right now

Michael Remeikis @reMIKEisBilly Napier goes back to Lagway after the Mertz TD drive because he is the WORST coach in the FBS and completely unserious about winning

Florida signed Napier to a seven-year, $51.8 million contract in 2021 to take over for previous head coach Dan Mullen.

The Gators posted a 6-7 record and made a bowl game appearance during his first season with the program in 2022 before the team’s record dropped to 5-7 in 2023.

Florida opened the 2024 season with a 41-17 loss to Miami, the most points allowed in a home opener in program history.

The Gators won 45-7 over Samford in Week 2 before dropping Saturday’s contest.

Florida Gators 🐊🔥 @gatorssznBilly Napier is cooked.

Time for a new head coach. pic.twitter.com/N5VqRFI00w

BetMGM 🦁 @BetMGMFlorida fans when they see Billy Napier running out of the tunnel after halftimepic.twitter.com/SCnyaawX3H

FanDuel @FanDuelBilly Napier entering the office next week:#Florida | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/kcA5Ibbd00

College Football Live @CollegeFBonXMike Norvell and Billy Napier calling each other after they both get their buyout checks later this season pic.twitter.com/g9gFBaWUVJ

Texas A&M recorded 488 total yards of offense on Saturday, marking the most yards the Gators have allowed since Miami racked up 549 in the season opener.

Napier has just over a month to turn his team’s season around before a difficult back stretch of the campaign pits the Gators against top-ranked conference opponents including No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Texas and No. 5 Ole Miss this fall.

Florida returns to action next Saturday with another SEC contest, and the team’s first road game of the season, against Mississippi State.