Florida Coach Billy Napier Gets Vote of Confidence, But Gators Suffer 49-17 Loss to No. 5 Texas

Gators Suffer 49-17 Loss to No. 5 Texas

On Thursday, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin reaffirmed his support for head coach Billy Napier, declaring that Napier "will continue as head football coach of the Florida Gators." Stricklin pointed to the progress the team has made this season as a reason for optimism. However, just two days later, the Gators (4-5, 2-4 SEC) were handed a harsh reminder of how much work remains, suffering a 49-17 defeat to No. 5 Texas in a game where they trailed 42-0 at halftime.

Napier was blunt in his assessment after the game, acknowledging that the contest quickly got out of hand in the first half. "We have to evaluate the effort, the point-of-attack issues we had, and just flat-out play better," he said. Despite the crushing loss, Napier expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue guiding the team, noting the progress made over the past few weeks. He praised the leadership and character of his players, pointing to the young talent on the roster as a building block for the future.

The Gators were hampered by injuries, with both starting quarterback Graham Mertz and freshman DJ Lagway unavailable for the game. Mertz is out for the season with a knee injury, and Lagway, who had been recovering from a hamstring issue, was unable to play despite warming up before the game. That left Aidan Warner, a former Yale walk-on, to make his first start. Warner completed 12 of 25 passes for 132 yards but threw two interceptions in the loss. Napier acknowledged Warner's efforts against one of the top defenses in the country, saying, "Aidan fought his tail off... it was good to see him move the team a little bit in the second half."

Texas' offense, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, was unstoppable. Ewers threw for 333 yards and five touchdowns, helping the Longhorns rack up 562 total yards. Florida’s defense struggled to slow down the Texas attack, allowing 353 yards in the first half alone. Napier said his team failed to affect Ewers, who had one of his best games of the season. "You look up and it's 10 yards a play in the first half," he said, highlighting the Gators' inability to disrupt Texas' offensive rhythm.

Napier's third season at Florida has been filled with challenges, and this loss dropped his record to 15-19 with the Gators. With home games against LSU and Ole Miss and a road trip to Florida State still ahead, Florida's chances of making a bowl game are hanging in the balance. Despite the heavy defeat, players like wide receiver Chimere Dike and linebacker Shemar James voiced support for Napier, expressing relief at Stricklin's letter of confidence. "I have full belief in him," Dike said. "Today was tough, but we're heading in the right direction with a lot of young guys who continue to improve."

Florida Coach Billy Napier Gets Vote of Confidence, But Gators Suffer 49-17 Loss to No. 5 Texas