Florida Gators coach Billy Napier remains under pressure to prove he’s the right fit to keep leading the team in The Swamp, with ongoing rumors about his job security swirling around him.
Credit goes to Napier, as Florida has shown improvement since their slow start, winning three of their last four games. However, expectations remain high in Gainesville.
Florida’s upcoming games against the Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns, LSU Tigers, and Ole Miss Rebels offer Napier a chance to secure his position. However, this challenging schedule could also become the turning point that prompts Florida to consider a change.
College football analyst J.D. PicKell from On3 has predicted that Missouri Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz could replace Napier at Florida. PicKell shared this speculation during his weekly picks segment leading up to Week 9.
“I don’t really trust Missouri all that much. I love Eli Drinkwitz, love Eli Drinkwitz,” PicKell shared on Wednesday’s episode of *The Hard Count* podcast. “If you’re asking me today, I think he’d be my pick for the next head coach at Florida—assuming that what many of us expect (Napier’s firing) eventually happens.”
This isn’t the first time Drinkwitz has been linked to Florida. However, he signed a $46 million contract with Missouri last December, according to KRCG. For comparison, Napier’s deal with the Gators was $51.8 million, and his buyout going into the 2024 season stood at $26.7 million, per CBS Sports.
