Billy Napier to Return as Florida HC for 2025 CFB Season Despite 15-18 Record

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVNovember 7, 2024

Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin announced Thursday that Billy Napier will return in 2025 as the head football coach.

“I am confident that Billy will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead,” he said. “We will work alongside him to support any changes needed to elevate Gator football. As college athletics evolves, UF is committed to embracing innovation and strategy, ensuring the Gators thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”

Florida Gators @FloridaGatorsA message from Scott Stricklin pic.twitter.com/NpLD6ktrHj

Napier is midway through his third season at the school and has a 15-18 record since arriving.

Because of that underwhelming mark, a lot of Florida fans won’t be thrilled to learn that Napier is sticking around, at least for one more year.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel offered some context behind the school’s decision, though, with NIL and contractual concerns playing a role:

Pete Thamel @PeteThamelCouple notes on Florida bringing back Napier.
Per ESPN sources, 70-percent of Florida’s NIL money is in freshman and sophomores. There’s a feeling in the program that star freshman QB DJ Lagway is aligned with Napier, and Napier can grow this core of young players. pic.twitter.com/SwKdmNSbKd

Pete Thamel @PeteThamelThis decision comes with the backdrop of the expected passage of revenue share for the 2025 season, which portends a quieter year than normal for college coaching changes. Schools need to find an extra $20 million at the highest levels, which makes buyouts more difficult.

This also might reflect the shifting standards for Gators administrators thanks to the advent of the 12-team playoff.

Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen were all dismissed despite having records over .500. In the case of McElwain, things had turned sour before he even completed his third year at the helm.

All three were considered disappointments because they couldn’t replicate the success of the Urban Meyer era or carry the Gators into the College Football Playoff. Now, the barrier for entry into the playoff is much lower, so it’s easier to buy into the idea that Napier is good enough to at least make Florida a top-12 team and go from there.

Any coach is one good transfer portal away from turning things around as well.

Miami was mired in a similar level of mediocrity for years and now it’s 9-0 on the strength of quarterback Cam Ward, who came in from Washington State. Leading tackler Francisco Mauigoa is also a Wazzu transfer, joining the Hurricanes in 2023, while sack leader Simeon Barrow was a Michigan State transfer in the offseason.

If Napier’s return signals a stronger commitment from boosters and NIL collectives, then Florida will wind up having the last laugh.

Andy Staples @Andy_StaplesFlorida is keeping Billy Napier. Here’s what has to happen next to avoid Groundhog Day.https://t.co/ykNXR3bmRa pic.twitter.com/FTkCwUrIx1

Of course, if this is purely driven by Napier’s buyout figure, then it’s a choice that’s potentially self-defeating. Hovering around .500 for another year will only lead the Gators to slip further down the SEC hierarchy and make it tougher to build a roster that’s capable of contending.

Cutting a huge check is short-term pain for long-term pain. Texas A&M paid Jimbo Fisher more than $76 million to go away, and the Aggies probably aren’t regretting that decision as they’re off to a 7-2 start under Mike Elko.