Resetting where Florida Gators stand as Billy Napier enters make-or-break five-week stretch

Florida has a better chance than was predicted to save Napier's job

The Florida football program needs to show it is trending in a positive direction, and the next five weeks provide chances to do that. The Florida-Georgia game this weekend marks the first inflection point for Billy Napier's Gators, who have improved after being blown out by Miami and soundly beaten by Texas A&M.

How much the Gators have improved is the big question and the answer in November will determine Napier's fate. 

Florida has not been competitive in this rivalry under Napier, losing by more than 20 points each of the past three years as Georgia has ascended to national power status. Georgia coach Kirby Smart is thought to place extra emphasis on the border battle in Jacksonville, much like Steve Spurrier did in the 1990s. Georgia's current dominance feels reminiscent of those days, with the Bulldogs winning six of the last seven, but it's just the beginning of a daunting end-of-season slate for the Gators.

A positive for Florida is that the schedule appears lighter than initially expected. Georgia, Texas, and LSU are ever-formidable, and Florida faces them in that order. Ole Miss, however, is not the offensive buzzsaw it appeared to be early on against FCS and Group of Five teams, and Florida State sits at 1-7. Heading into the season, this was always considered the defining stretch for Napier's tenure, and now it has arrived.

Five-star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway is the future -- whether in Gainesville or elsewhere remains to be seen as suitors will undoubtedly queue up when the transfer portal opens in December -- but for now, Lagway is QB1 in orange and blue. He brings undeniable explosiveness to the offense behind an adequate offensive line anchored by left tackle Austin Barber, who is generating buzz as an NFL prospect. Florida's rushing attack has also been strong, with contributions from freshman Jadan Baugh and veteran Montrell Johnson, who is battling a knee injury and is questionable for the Georgia game. Lagway has had two games with five completions of 40 yards or more, a feat no Florida quarterback has achieved in the last 20 years. However, his consistency in the short and intermediate passing game will be crucial for the Gators. Lagway will also need to shine without playmaker Eugene Wilson III against Georgia.

The Gators have improved on defense, allowing only 13 offensive points to UCF and Kentucky and 17 in regulation to Tennessee. However, Florida's special teams inefficiencies continue to rear their ugly head, costing the team points in the past two games. Against Kentucky, the Wildcats returned a kickoff for a touchdown, highlighting a recurring theme of special teams mistakes under Napier. Against Tennessee, the Gators incurred a 12-men-on-the-field penalty, forcing a 10-second runoff and negating a field goal before halftime. Florida went on to lose that game in overtime.

Off the field, Florida has three verbal commits in the Top247 player rankings for 2025 ranks No. 51 in the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings team rankings with the early signing period (Dec. 4-6) approaching. The date has been moved up from recent years, and the program still lacks a permanent general manager as the search continues to replace former chief of staff Mark Robinson, who departed just before fall camp. 

Napier's tenure has felt like a week-to-week proposition for much of the season. After a few weeks of calm, the upcoming stretch provides an opportunity to generate momentum -- either positively or negatively -- about the future.

MORE: Who holds the power to make a move in Florida's coaching search?