We here at Hail Florida Hail are noted critics of Billy Napier and the direction he has taken Florida Football. The Gators are 19-19 under his watch, and even though he closed on a four-game winning streak in 2024, there is no denying he is entering 2025 still on the hot seat.
But it isn't just us who have our doubts, and noted ESPN pundit Paul Finebaum has the Gators sinking to a level even lower than we envision.
Florida Football: Paaaaaaawl
Finebaum appeared on the Andy & Ari Show on On3 to talk about coaches on the hot seat for 2025. Co-host Ari Wasserman put out a list yesterday that had Napier ranked as the one coach with the most to prove in 2025.
Finebaum didn't hold back that he doesn't envision a happy ending for Napier this year:
"Not even a big statement, but he should lose all four."
Paul Finebaum on Billy Napier, Florida's 4-game stretch vs LSU, Miami, Texas, and Texas A&M:
— On3 (@On3sports) March 25, 2025
"Not even big statement to say, but he should lose all four." pic.twitter.com/kZmVdZ0kaF
He is referring to the four-game stretch Florida has against LSU, Miami, Texas, and Texas A&M. It is a bold statement to make rooted in pessimism, especially considering Florida beat LSU last year and Miami will be breaking in Carson Beck. The Gators will also get Texas at home coming off of a bye week before traveling to Texas A&M.
But Florida also went 1-3 against these teams in 2024, and the three losses were by a combined 123-54.
Florida also didn't have DJ Lagway starting in any of those games, and as pessimistic as we may be about Napier, we also recognize the star power ability Lagway has to do much better than 0-4, especially considering he is undefeated in games he started and finished.
There was one other thing Finebaum said that we would agree with:
"Ron Zook would have been fired with that season (in 2024), but Billy Napier was heralded as a hero."