Another week of Gator football comes to a close in disappointing fashion, but this week, it’s a whole other level of disappointment and realization. Not only did Gator Nation just witness yet another heartbreaking loss thrown away by the 2025 Florida football team, but Florida fans everywhere just witnessed the Gators being officially eliminated from bowl contention for the second time in three years, both years under a Billy Napier-led program.
Yes Billy Gonzalez has coached the last three games, but leading up to that, the Gators were led by Napier, and for the second time under his regime, the Gators will miss bowl season and be forced to watch from their couches. This will also mark the fifth time since 2013 that the Gators will not be playing past November.
After Florida’s loss to Georgia a few weeks ago, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway stated, “Getting to a bowl game is everything.” Yet, his interception late in the fourth quarter against Ole Miss and the pressure he faced during Florida’s second to last drive and not being able to get rid of the ball expect a hail mary that was almost intercepted, is what caused Florida to not even have a chance to come back in Saturday night’s matchup.
Florida eliminated from bowl contention
With such, the Gators are officially no longer eligible to go “bowling” in December.
The last time Florida missed at least two bowl appearances in a three-season span was from 1977 to 1979 under coaches Doug Dickey (1977-78) and Charley Pell (1979).
To say Florida fans everywhere are disappointed would be an under-statement. The last time the Gators missed out on bowl eligibility was 2023, when they finished the year 5-7. Right now, the Gators are 3-7 (2-5 in the SEC). They have a chance to go 5-7 (3-5 in the SEC) with back-to-back games against Tennessee and FSU in The Swamp; however, those hopes seem dim after how the Gators have played thus far in 2025.
If Florida can’t find a way to win in these last two weeks, it will also mark their worst record in school history. Their worst record to date was in 1953 when they went 3-5-2 under Bob Woodruff. They have two more chances to come back at home and beat that three-win season, but it goes to show how rough shape this team is in.
With a coaching search underway, the only hope for Gator fans is that whatever coach comes in can do a quick 360 on the offense and get it turned around before the start of 2026.
Two big games remain as the Volunteers and Seminoles come to The Swamp the next two weekends to end the year. The matchup against FSU is once again a must-win as always. Should Florida drop that game they will have lost to USF, UM, and FSU all in the same year, which would not be a good look at all and would just add salt to a very open wound among the Florida fanbase.
Florida will hope they can finish the year out on a somewhat positive note.