Entering his fourth year, Billy Napier was staring down the barrel of pressure in Gainesville. The 2024 season was a disaster, with blowout defeats, dicey performances, and already entertaining rumors about his ouster. But then, in vintage college football fashion, the Florida Gators turned it around. They ended the year with four consecutive victories, going 8-5. Florida beat ranked teams like LSU, Ole Miss, and in-state rival Florida State, in addition to a Gasparilla Bowl victory against Tulane. The story had changed in a hurry. Napier’s job was secure (for the moment), and there was genuine hope for 2025.

The rankings placed the Gators in the top 25 of various NCAA statistical trends, such as red zone defense and team sacks, and they notched several top-25 victories as an unranked team. A key contributor to that late-season push? Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. Although he struggled with injuries—initially a hamstring that restricted his movement, then a shoulder ailment that forced him out of spring practice- Lagway also impressed and earned Freshman All-America honors from ESPN and PFF. But Scott Stricklin’s decision to stay with Napier wasn’t purely football-driven. Money and politics had a role, too. Each year, Athlon Sports has this little stunt where they have their competitor SEC coaches dish anonymously on other teams. This year’s Florida piece was particularly saucy. The coaches weren’t kind about the pressure on Billy Napier: “This is a massive year for [Billy] Napier. He survived because of the changing politics of the game and his buyout, but it ended up working out last season. Now he can show positive momentum with this group and start competing for the postseason.” The economics of the modern coaching carousel are staggering, and Napier’s hefty buyout finally bought him time.

Napier’s Florida contract includes a safety net—a $27.1 million buyout if the team terminates him before the expiration of his contract. That’s not chump change; it’s one of the biggest buyouts in the history of college football, and it’s got the entire town of Gainesville buzzing. The contract extends through 2029, and if Florida chooses to cut things off early, they owe 85% of the remaining balance. If they cut loose Napier’s, he will receive half the buyout in 30 days (so, about $13.8 million upfront), and they will pay the remainder out in installments over the next four years.

The general opinion is that Napier is working with his back against the wall. There’s a feeling Florida’s patience has worn thin, particularly after a couple of years in which the team failed to meet the Gator expectation.

What do opposing coaches think of DJ Lagway?

The coaches seem optimistic about DJ Lagway. “If [DJ] Lagway continues to develop and stays healthy, they’re going to continue to improve.” Another coach observed, “Lagway and that offensive line are legit enough to bring back a true ‘Florida offense’. “If they can be in the hunt for a playoff bid and start scoring points like those old Gator programs, I think he’ll be off the hot seat for a while.” There’s genuine admiration for Lagway’s arm ability and athleticism, but also this underlying caution that Florida can’t simply load it all onto the freshman’s back. That’s the reality of having such a young, high-ceilinged QB—he’s the future, but he’s also the safety net.

One must acknowledge that the Gators do possess the elements to catch people off guard, particularly under the guidance of Lagway. He notched 1,915 yards, 12 TDs, and 9 interceptions in 2024. There is a feeling that if things begin to work, Florida might be one of those clubs nobody would like to face come mid-season. So, essentially, the anonymous SEC coaches are saying: Napier’s future at Florida is on the line, but with DJ Lagway, there’s a legitimate chance for a turnaround. The Gators are the wild card, and everybody in the conference is waiting to see if this is the year they finally get it all together. Off the field, the 6-foot-3 QB is already a locker room leader, receiving respect from teammates and coaches. If he stays consistent and lives up to the hype, then don’t be surprised if he’s in the Heisman discussion by mid-season.