Josh Pate gives Florida a reality check as pressure to fire Billy Napier mounts: "It's gonna be ugly"

The job status of Florida coach Billy Napier has been teetering on the edge since the end of last season when the Gators posted another losing season (5-7). This season's results, including the blowout losses to the Miami Hurricanes and the Texas A&M Aggies at home, have not helped the embattled coach's job security either.

In an episode of "Josh Pate's College Football Show," the analyst waded into the debate about Napier's supposedly imminent firing, with Florida boosters reportedly weighing options to contribute to his $26 million contract buyout.

[1:15] "Makes no sense to get rid of him right now cause you got a recruiting class that you gotta hold together but the thing about this is, it doesn't matter when you do it, it's gonna be ugly because you're probably targeting a guy whose team is going to be playoff caliber and the calendar screws you," Pate said.

Billy Napier's firing is inevitable according to analysts

There are several points in the past two seasons when Florida could have sacked Billy Napier.

The Gators are considered one of the elites of college football. Their head coaching position is one of the most lucrative in the country due to the weight of history and the sheer scale of resources available to Florida.

In an episode of the "College GameDay" podcast, analysts Pete Thamel and Rece Davis agreed that the coach's firing was inevitable at this point. However, they both agreed that the Gators would win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville.

“I think it was 2022, we had five power conference coaches fired by October 2nd,” Thamel said. “So look, the Napier thing is inevitable. The whens and the hows? (The Bulldogs game) could extend it and give them some hope and life and give them a chance to get that program with some traction.”

“Pete, I agree,” Davis said. “I’ve been on record, while it appears that this is not going to work and that the change is inevitable, I remain steadfast. And I think Billy Napier is a solid football coach. It just hasn’t worked, happens sometimes. But I think it will work in Starkville this week.”

After the game against the Bulldogs, Napier will have to maximize results in the lull in fixtures because, in November, they face the Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns, LSU Tigers and the Ole Miss Rebels on consecutive weekends.