Eight games remain: Can Napier, Gators reverse their fortunes?
Theoretically speaking, Billy Napier and the Florida Gators (1-3, 0-1 SEC) could go on a winning binge in the final eight games that would calm the Gator Nation and ensure that Napier is gainfully employed by the University of Florida in 2026. It might take a water into wine miracle for that to happen, but it is possible.
Possible, yes. Probable? Hardly.
Reality speaking says Florida’s remaining eight games are the toughest gauntlet in the nation and nothing the Gators have done so far would indicate they’re remotely capable of stringing some wins together. Florida’s defense has played very well, giving up both yards and points grudgingly. If there is a chance that the Gators can start winning, all we've seen so far tells us the defense is going to have to carry the load.
The Florida offense? Different story altogether. Calling it anemic might be giving it more credit than it deserves. Hence the problem when trying to envision the Gators going on a winning tear in the last eight games.
In their next two games – a home game next Saturday with No. 10 Texas (3-1) followed by a road trip to No. 9 Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0 SEC) – the Gators will be going head-to-head with formidable defenses. Texas is the No. 5 defense in the country, allowing only 211 yards and 7.8 points (No. 4 nationally) per game. Texas A&M just held Auburn to 177 total yards and 0-13 on third down.
For Florida to break out of its offensive funk against these two defensive units, Billy Napier is going to have to inject a measure of mystery into the schemes and play calls. Through the first four games and quite frankly, since Napier became Florida’s head coach, the offense has looked like something from the mind of Captain Obvious. The schemes are too simplistic and the play calls way too predictable.
Despite calls from every possible angle for Napier to turn the play calling over to someone else on the staff, he steadfastly refuses. Florida’s football team is like a sinking ship and as the captain Napier will have his hands gripping the wheel when the boat goes belly up.
Talent is not an issue. As Nick Saban has pointed out, the Gators have as much or more talent than any team on the schedule, but in addition to predictable play calls, there is that matter of offensive execution. Both the play calls and the lack of execution are the responsibility of the head coach.
Based on the Gators’ performance in the first four games of the season and what we’ve seen so far from the eight teams remaining on the schedule, it doesn’t take much imagination to foresee a 1-11 or 2-10 season ahead.
Could things change? Could the Gators turn it around and start winning? Anything is possible. Nobody, for example, ever thought there would be enough of a flood to float away the big boat Noah loaded up with animals.
SEC FOOTBALL
No. 13 Ole Miss (5-0, 3-0 SEC) 24, No. 4 LSU (4-1, 1-1 SEC) 19: Ole Miss overcame 14 penalties to move to 3-0 in SEC play behind Trinidad Chambliss, who threw for 314 yards and a touchdown while running for 71 more. Kewan Lacy also pounded the LSU defense for 88 yards on the ground with one TD. Had it not been for the penalties, Ole Miss would have run away with the game. The Rebels totaled 480 offensive yards while the defense held LSU to 254. The most stunning statistic of all – Ole Miss squeezed off 84 offensive plays while LSU managed only 56.
No. 17 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC) 24, No. 5 Georgia (3-1, 0-1 SEC) 21: Taking over on their own 12 with 3:19 remaining and nursing a 3-point lead, Alabama was able to run out the clock to hand Georgia its first loss at Sanford Stadium in 34 games. Alabama jumped to a 14-0 lead and scored all 24 of its points in the first half. In the second half, Alabama came up with a critical stop on fourth-and-1 at the 8-yard line when Deontae Lawson and LT Overton stuffed Cash Jones for a 3-yard loss. Ty Simpson threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns for Bama, which converted 12 of 19 on third down. Chauncey Owens, who ran for 119 yards and a TD, paced a Georgia offense that pounded Alabama for 227 rushing yards.
No. 9 Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0 SEC) 16, Auburn (3-2, 0-2 SEC) 10: This game was decided on third down. The Aggie defense held Auburn to 0-13 on third down and just 177 total yards. Le’Veon Moss ran for 139 yards to lead a balanced Aggie offense that had 207 passing yards and 207 on the ground. The Aggie defense had five sacks that cost Auburn -32 yards in losses. Auburn was able to generate only 52 rushing yards. Jackson Arnold threw for 125 yards but it took 33 attempts.
No. 15 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) 41, Mississippi State (4-1, 0-1 SEC) 34, OT: The Vols got a fourth down stop at the end of overtime to pull out a win over previously unbeaten Mississippi State. On the Vols first play of overtime, DeSean Bishop scored on a 25-yard run to put Tennessee ahead. On fourth-and-goal from the four, Blake Shapen’s pass was broken up in the end zone by Arion Carter to preserve the win. Joey Aguilar threw for 335 yards and a TD but his biggest play was a 6-yard run for a TD with 1:55 left in the game to tie the score at 27-27. The Vols were torched by Fluff Bothwell, who ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns. For Tennessee, Mike Matthews caught six passes for 118 yards and Chris Brazzell II caught six for 105 yards and one TD.
No. 18 Vanderbilt (5-0, 1-0 SEC) 55, Utah State (3-2) 35: Diego Pavia accounted for six touchdowns as the Commodores improved to 5-0. Pavia completed 26-34 of his passes for 321 yards and five touchdowns plus ran for 79 yards and another TD. With 13 TDPs and two running TDs for an unbeaten team in the nation’s toughest conference, perhaps it’s time for Diego Pavia to move into Heisman Trophy contention. This was the second straight game the Commodores have scored more than 50 points. The last time that happened for a Vandy team was in 1919.
No. 20 Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC) 42, UMass (0-4) 6: Mizzou improved to 5-0 as Ahmad Hardy ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns and Beau Pribula completed 26-29 passes for 241 yards. At one point, Pribula completed 21 consecutive passes. The Missouri defense held UMass to 124 total yards. Missouri generated 521 yards, 253 through the air and 268 on the ground. Missouri held the ball for 38:43, converting 10 first downs in 15 tries. Kevin Coleman Jr. caught 12 passes for 108 yards. Through five games, Hardy has run for 730 yards and nine touchdowns.
No. 22 Notre Dame (2-2) 56, Arkansas (2-3, 0-1 SEC) 13: Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is on very shaky ground after the Razorbacks gave up 641 yards and eight offensive touchdowns to Notre Dame. In losing their last three games, the Razorbacks have given up 129 points and 1,605 yards. The calls for offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to take over will grow louder by the hour.
South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC) 35, Kentucky (2-2, 0-2 SEC) 13: South Carolina’s defense held Kentucky to 232 yards, one TD and two field goals while forcing four turnovers (2 interceptions, 2 fumbles). South Carolina sacked Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley six times for -39 yards. The South Carolina offense generated only 341 yards but Jatius Greer ran a fumble back for a TD and Gerald Kilgore had a pick six so a lot of offense wasn’t needed.
NEXT WEEK
No. 10 Texas (3-1) at FLORIDA (1-3, 0-1 SEC)
Kentucky (2-2, 0-2 SEC) at No. 5 Georgia (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
Kent State (1-3) at No. 7 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
Mississippi State (4-1, 0-1 SEC) at No. 9 Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
No. 18 Vanderbilt (5-0, 1-0 SEC) at No. 17 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC)
I saw some good offensive play yesterday from several teams. There was also some excellent quarterback play. SEC seems to have some great defensive teams. Enjoyed your article….as always!
I was jealous yesterday watching so many well coached OL's and offenses that made sense
In watching games today I saw a lot of quarterbacks who were confident, decisive and who threw precision strikes into tight spots without hesitation. None of these qb's had anywhere near the hype of DJ Lagway. Yet DJ doesn't look anywhere near their level so far. He's regressed every game so far this year and that falls squarely on Billy Napier's shoulders. He's forcing an unprepared and injured player into a situation that he's clearly not ready for and destroying his confidence in the process. I don't care how many games Billy wins this year, he has to go.