Time of Death: 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Billy Napier’s final act as Florida’s head coach was one covered in cries of “fire Billy!” and “What are we doing!” as the Homecoming game gave a crash course in offensive confusion and defensive disarray.
With the announcement of Napier’s firing the following day, a sense of relief washed over The Swamp.
Napier arrived in Gainesville in 2021, with a solid resume coming in from Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns. After the collapse of the Dan Mullen era, Florida was looking for structure, discipline and a long-term vision. Napier offered that, and the rebuild began.
Over the past few years, Gator fans watched as there were more analysts than touchdowns, more excuses than wins and a humiliating amount of fourth-and-short disasters. College football doesn’t wait for anyone, especially not in the SEC. Vision without execution only has one result, and Napier is a prime example.
Small flashes of hope came every so often — Utah in 2022 and Tennessee in 2023. There was truly an elite recruiting class in ‘24. But for every step forward, the Gators took five yards back. From clock mismanagement to baffling offensive play-calling, the question of Napier’s firing became not an “if” but instead a matter of “when.”
I’ll be honest — I do believe Billy Napier was working as hard as he could and had a real desire to do right by the program. However, after a weekly disappointing post-game talk, Saturdays became something to dread as opposed to celebrate. Florida football became unrecognizable, and with every SEC team getting tougher, Napier’s Florida became a David in a conference of Goliaths.
Here’s the good news: There is still time.
Florida still has the resources, the recruits, the facilities and the name. Napier may not have been able to develop, but he was able to enlist, leaving some excellent — but undercoached — players ready to go.
This is a rare moment where Florida will be able to rebuild while the bones are still good. All that needs to happen is that the next coach knows how to win in 2025, not 2008.
So with five games left this season and Billy Gonzales stepping in as interim head coach (I hope the first name isn’t cursed), there is a sense of optimism in the air.
Not all hope is lost. FSU and Miami both stumbled this past weekend, and while the Gators have plenty to fix, they did secure a Homecoming win.
A new chapter is coming. It’s up to the program to make sure it’s the right one.
Riley Brinser is a 19-year-old Santa Fe sustainability studies student.
