The college football season is a few months away from getting underway, but one prominent name is already predicting a difficult season for one top team and head coach.
The SEC is a difficult league to win in, and no one is more aware of that fact than Florida’s Billy Napier. Napier went 11-14 in his first two seasons at Florida and entered last season on one of the hottest seats in the country.
He responded well, going 8-4 for his first winning season in Gainesville, but the road will be difficult for Napier and the Gators in 2025. During an appearance on a prominent podcast, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum broke down Florida’s schedule.
Florida will play LSU and Miami on the road before welcoming Texas to the Swamp, and they’ll finish that four-game stretch with a trip to Texas A&M to take on the Aggies.
It’s one of the most difficult runs that a team will face next season, and Finebaum doesn’t believe it spells success for Napier.
Paul Finebaum on Billy Napier, Florida's 4-game stretch vs LSU, Miami, Texas, and Texas A&M: "Not even big statement to say, but he should lose all four." pic.twitter.com/kZmVdZ0kaF
— On3 (@On3sports) March 25, 2025
“Not even a big statement to say, but he should lose all four,” Finebaum predicted on a recent episode of On3’s “Andy & Ari.”
Florida opened the 2024 season at 1-2 with losses to Miami and Texas A&M. They split their next six games evenly before winning four straight over LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane to end the year.
James Gilbert/Getty Images
The Gators may not have been championship contenders last year, but they showed heard and an ability to overcome adversity after their difficult start to the season. Napier was expected to lose his job after the team’s first three games, and he ended the year celebrating his best season at the school to date.
Things won’t be easy for Florida next season, especially with the second-year of the new-look SEC. The Gators will meet teams like Georgia, Tennessee and Ole Miss all in the second half of the season.
As the 2025 college football season begins to take shape, we’ll see if Napier and Florida can repeat the success they had last year, or if it’s time to consider Napier’s job security with the Gators once again.
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