Florida’s loss with Lagway’s five interceptions puts Billy Napier on hot seat originally appeared on The Sporting News
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway arguably had the worst performance in his career against the LSU Tigers on Saturday night. The score did not portray how bad he looked in Death Valley.
Billy Napier’s seat in Gainesville is getting hotter, and Saturday night’s performance at LSU only turned up the flame. Florida’s 20-10 loss wasn’t just another defeat in the standings, but rather a snapshot of a program still wandering under its fourth-year coach. Costly penalties, missed opportunities and a rash of turnovers under Lagway is a familiar theme. Florida is talented but undisciplined and never quite there.
Napier, now 20–21 overall at Florida, faces the unforgiving math of the SEC. A losing record on the road (5–14) and zero wins against ranked opponents away from home in four seasons has lost the patience among Gators faithful. In this league, the standards are ruthless. Either win consistently, or step aside.
Coming into the season, Gators fans and analysts had high hopes for Lagway’s second season after he stepped into the starting job in place of Graham Mertz. Last year, he put up 1,915 passing yards with a completion percentage of 59.9% with twelve touchdowns and nine interceptions. His 154.9 passer rating was the highest amongst true freshmen in the FBS. He appeared in twelve games and started in seven of them.
This season as the full-time starter, he already has more interceptions than passing touchdowns and thanks to his five interceptions against the LSU Tigers. In Death Valley, he completed 33-of-49 passing attempts for 287 yards and just one touchdown. Against South Florida, he was 23-of-33 passing for 222 yards and only one touchdown again. In two weeks Lagway has just two passing touchdowns.
So far, Lagway has completed 71% of his passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns with six interceptions. LSU was able to make Lagway uncomfortable in the pocket all night.
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None of this is to suggest Napier isn’t working tirelessly. His recruiting classes have ranked among the nation’s best, and his players continue to battle for him. After LSU, he praised their effort in a somber tone. But effort alone doesn’t win games in Baton Rouge, Athens or Tuscaloosa.
Fans expect championships or at least progress toward them. And with rivals thriving and the Gators sputter, frustration is mounting in Gainesville
Florida still must play Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Texas, Florida State, and Tennessee as ranked opponents on their schedule. Despite Lagway’s poor performance, the Gators only lost by ten points. The defense forced five turnovers, but it was not enough because their quarterback returned the favor.
How long will Napier lose before he pulls the plug on Lagway? Freshman quarterback Tramell Jones and Senior Harrison Bailey are possible alternatives. With one of the toughest schedules, if the Gators do not make a change the season could be a waste.
Napier’s challenge is to turn promising talent into better results. Otherwise, the SEC’s relentless cycle will churn again, and Florida will be looking elsewhere for answers.
The Gators hit the road to face 4th-ranked Miami Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
