CFB radio host validates Billy Napier firing rumors with his assessment on Florida Gators HC's contract buyout

The grim reaper of pink slips is hovering over Florida Gators coach Billy Napier, who entered the 2024 season as one of the coaches on the hottest of hot seats in college football. The Gators lost 33-20 at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to the Texas A&M Aggies in Week 3 to account for two home losses in the nascent season.

According to an ESPN report, Florida boosters have already gathered the required $26 million to buy out Napier's contract. On Tuesday, CFB radio host Dan Patrick on the "Dan Patrick Show" seemingly validated the speculation around Napier's imminent firing with his assessment of the coach's contract buyout.

"Florida is already doing the math on Billy Napier's buyout," Patrick said. "It's mid-September. You already have the toughest schedule in college football.

"They did a commercial on the jumbotron where Billy Napier, I think, did something for anti-smoking, and as soon as he came up, the fans started booing. Like they were pro-cancer. 'We're pro-nicotine, man!' They're booing their coach, he's running off the field. That's a bad situation. ... I think they owe Napier like $26 million. They added it down to the penny. That's not a good sign."

Paul Finebaum calls for firing of Billy Napier

The Florida coach seems to have no support at the moment, with calls for Napier's job growing both among Gators fans who booed him at "The Swamp" and among college football analysts.

During an episode of the "Matt Barrie Show," controversial ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum detailed Napier's failings that led to the current state of the Florida team.

“He was good in a lot of areas. He was a good organizer,” Finebaum said. “But when you make mistakes in staffing and hiring, you’re going to fail. He made multiple mistakes. It was just too big for him. By the way, that’s the problem now with people."

Finebaum further emphasized his calls for the coach to be fired, saying that the Gators should have done it after last season's losing record and the team missing out on bowl eligibility.

"Everywhere I went in Gainesville in two out of the last three weekends, I would say something about Napier, and [they would say], ‘Oh, Billy’s a good guy,’" Finebaum said.

"I don’t care what kind of guy he is. Short of being a serial killer, I want you to be a good head coach. People were just convinced that he was gonna make it, and he should’ve been fired at the end of last season, but they just decided to go all in on him, and it was a disaster."

Napier's future seems to be a fait accompli, with the college football schedule only bound to get harder for the Florida Gators.