Billy Napier has been in the spotlight this whole season, but for no good reason. It seemed like the Gators finally had their season on track after a horrendous start, but after two back-to-back wins, they lost their third game of the season. The Tennessee Volunteers were challenged but bounced back and secured their fifth victory of the season. They dominated the Gators and registered a 23-17 win, which has resurfaced questions about Napier’s future.

Tennessee Volunteers’s running back Dylan Sampson scored his third touchdown in overtime and helped his team secure their fifth victory of the season. Volunteers have played an overtime game for the second time since 1998. The year they won the national title. Paul Finebaum, a popular television and radio personality, has joined the debate. He suggests that the upcoming games against Kentucky and Georgia will be critical, and a win is essential for their playoff hopes.

ESPN college football shared The Matt Barrie Show, where Finebaum took a dig at the Gators head coach and asked him and his team to buckle up as the season is getting intense. “Almost had one game on the schedule that I think will do them in, even assuming they’re not done in already, because that Kentucky lost his town looking nasty. They have to deal with Georgia that that’s a win against Georgia, and depending on where Georgia is, but Georgia very likely, he’s going to have to win that game too.” He added,  “So I don’t see their path, which gives Wayne, you know, far more time to start doing some voodoo on Billy Napier’s career so he can guard the job.”

After losing to Texas A&M, Billy Napier and his team were under observation, but after back-to-back victories, they managed to come back in the race. Similarly, last night, they tried to bounce back and tie the game when just 29 seconds were remaining. Quarterback DJ Lagway stepped in at the right moment and made his 27-yard touchdown pass to Chimere Dike. Quarterback Dylan Sampson contributed by rushing 112 yards, and he also scored a crucial 23-yard touchdown in the last quarter. This touchdown was very difficult to execute; he was stopped by a strong defensive effort and forced the Gators to punt in their area.

Napier’s two-point conversion decision sparks debate after Gators’ OT loss

After the Gators lost the third game of the season. Everyone had the same question: why did head coach Billy Napier and his team not opt for a two-point conversion yesterday at the end of the 4th quarter?

Was it the right time to play safe, or could Napier have shown some bravery? With 29 seconds left in the game, the Gators scored a touchdown to make the score 16-17. Napier was left with two choices- either go from an extra point or a two-point conversion. For a minute, it looked like Napier was the bravest human in the country when he sent his players to go for two points using a swinging gate formation.

Alas! It wasn’t the case. Napier’s plan was to instigate Tennessee to call a timeout. However, after the timeout, Napier decided to send his kicker Trey Smack for the extra point, and they succeeded and tied the game at 17.

Gainesville Sun reported Napier’s statement, where he explained his decision not to go for a two-point conversion after tying the score late in regulation. “We had a play that we felt good about, and then obviously they burned their timeout.” He added, “And I think we felt from the 3 there, we were playing pretty good on both sides of our team at that point in time, so I felt like let’s go play overtime, give our guys a chance to play more plays. I thought defensively we kept ourselves in it. Wasn’t quite ready to do that at that point in time.”

Well, that didn’t go per plan. The Gators failed to score in the OT, while Tennessee killed the game with a touchdown. A little bravery, and Napier may have had some credit in the bank despite the loss.