Billy Napier and the Florida Gators are set for a primetime matchup against No. 3 LSU in Death Valley.
A contest that could have been a battle between top-10 teams now holds a significantly different meaning after the Gators were upended by USF in Week 2, bumping UF out of the AP Top 25.
All of a sudden, Florida has its back against the wall. A win would get a once-exciting season back on track, and a loss would inch the program closer to potentially having to start from scratch this winter.
So, how are Gator fans feeling just hours out of the possibly tide-turning matchup?
I'll spoil it a bit... they're all over the place -- and for good reason.
The Hopeful
Call me crazy, my feeling is we shock the world tonight! Let’s Go Gators!🐊
— Michael Giberti (@gatorays88) September 13, 2025
Today DJ Lagway and the Gators show everyone that they are the best team in the country and Billy Napier reminds the haters why he was hired to lead this team. Go Gators 🐊
— Oʀɪɴ Vᴇɪᴅᴛ (@OrinVeidt) September 13, 2025
@DerekLagway will have a statement game tonight, 250+ passing 65% completion and 2 TDs. Baugh goes over 100 with 2 TDS. UF wins 31-21 in Baton Rouge. GO GATORS! 😎🐊
— Jacob Vasquez (@JakeTakesOff) September 13, 2025
The Gators will shock the world tonight pic.twitter.com/VflzVfTCNB
— Brett James (@thebrettjames1) September 13, 2025
All we want is for our Florida Gators to play this brand of football. We know it's there. Go Gators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/KJYPXYR8Wc
— GATORCHOMP🇺🇲🐊(1-1) (@GatorChompXX) September 13, 2025
Backs against the wall, coming out hair on fire, DJ fixing his shit realizes if he doesn’t his coach is gone, more Jaden Baugh runs, be the more physical team. Gators shock the world.
— Jmitt (@Ahdkxiandxiajsj) September 13, 2025
Tebow said it best. Florida's issues can be corrected. Show up and shock the World. Go Gators 🌎🐊
— GATORCHOMP🇺🇲🐊(1-1) (@GatorChompXX) September 13, 2025
There's no denying the level of talent the Gators have on roster, and that's probably a big reason for the level of optimism among the fanbase. At times, Florida has flashed greatness, it's just a matter of whether or not they are great tonight.
Last year's winning streak to end the regular season showed what Florida can do when facing long odds, and that they have the resiliency to overcome adversity.
All of that is why there's hope.
The Conflicted
With that being said it's still Go Gators I! But at this point I'm cool with whatever gotta happen to get him off playcalling duties , I don't even want him fired necessarily but Jesus Christ how oblivious can you be ? Or is he THAT stubborn or embarrassed to admit it don't work?
— TheMOSThigh904 Part Deux (@TheMOSThigh904) September 13, 2025
Game day for my GATORS!!! Let’s go win this!! #BEATLSU 🐊🏈
— Kathryn Gator (@kat22an) September 13, 2025
But if we lose let’s lose by 100 so the need for change will be clear.
I think God has completely abandoned the Florida gators
— Bern Mustian (@BernMustian) September 13, 2025
IF the Gators somehow win tonight, hope it doesn’t turn into a useless win
— #TeamJL // #22crew (@joey22fan22) September 13, 2025
It's been a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the first two weeks of the seasons, and that's evident in the way fans are feeling Saturday morning.
If you're not sold on Napier, the result doesn't really matter -- a win is exciting, a loss gets you one step closer to finding a new head coach.
Nobody knows what's going to happen in Baton Rouge, and the level of uncertainty has fans pulled in many directions, and even pondering whether or not there's a higher power backing the Gators.
The Pessimistic
I’m super excited to watch Baugh run it down LSUs throat for a quarter tonight only to be used 2x the following 3 quarters… Go Gators!
— DG (@redfish0820) September 13, 2025
I pray my Gators dont get embarrassed on primetime TV tonight smh.
— -1ØVĒ🫶🏿 (@KrownMeKing_) September 13, 2025
The Gators set another record by laying a goose egg
— Special Sauce (@SauceySpices) September 13, 2025
The negative is definitely outweighed by the positive on gameday morning, but there's still a fraction of Gator fans that aren't bought in to the idea of a Florida win, or at least a major improvement.
Fear of another embarrassment, a goose egg and more questionable play calling or decision making from Napier highlight the many concerns at this point.