University of Florida Gators – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Gregory Reed
For Florida, the 2024 season could not have gotten off to a worse start.
The Gators lost to Miami 41–17 at home on Saturday due to overwhelming odds. In Gainesville, the Hurricanes upset the record for most points scored in a Week 1 matchup against the Gators by playing better all around.
With the exception of Montrell Johnson Jr.’s 71-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, which offered Florida supporters some hope, the Gators’ offense was unable to move the ball effectively against Miami. Entering his second season as Florida’s starting quarterback, Graham Mertz was only 11 of 20 for 91 passing yards and was forced to exit the game in the second half after being hit after an interception.
The Gators only gained 139 yards of total running. If you discount Johnson’s huge run, you have 68 yards on 28 carries.
Florida and head coach Billy Napier faced a dilemma going into 2024. After Napier’s first two seasons at Gainesville ended in back-to-back seven-loss seasons, the Gators were hoping for a breakthrough. However, it’s difficult to see how any jump will occur, even if Mertz comes back in a week.
Florida had the most difficult projected schedule in the nation going into the season. Week 3 sees a visit from No. 20 Texas A&M following a matchup against FCS rival Samford in Week 2. And during the second half of the season, things truly get difficult. Following a midseason trip to No. 15 Tennessee on October 12, Florida’s November schedule consists of four games against No. 1 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 13 LSU, and No. 6 Ole Miss before finishing the season against Florida State.
To put it plainly, bowl eligibility would have greatly increased with a victory over Miami. And Florida did not even attempt to accomplish that.
On Saturday, Napier’s situation got so bad that former head coach Dan Mullen accidentally retweeted him. With one game remaining in the 2021 season, Florida was 5-6, and the current ESPN analyst was let go. Mullen’s first two years at the university saw Florida finish 21-5 overall. In his third season, he went 8-4, and in his final, he suffered six losses.
Since Raymond Wolf in 1946 and 1947, Napier is already the first Florida coach to have consecutive losing seasons. Many Florida supporters already lacked patience, and on Saturday, their lack of patience only grew.
It is not precisely financially possible, though, to leave Napier if things really go south. The guaranteed money left on his deal, $26 million, is his due if Florida decides to trade for him at any time during the season.
Naturally, Florida still has a lot of time to recover. And Napier ought to take a lot of the credit if the Gators succeed. It would be impressive to get through that challenging schedule with a winning record. It also doesn’t seem likely right now.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.