If anyone is having it rougher than Deion Sanders, then it’s Gators HC Billy Napier. This year has been rough for the team with the messy depth chart, and notable players already out of the games because of injuries and other issues. Billy Napier and his team started off the season with a loss to Florida State at 24-15. If that wasn’t enough, the team went on to get thrashed by Miami and lost to a 41-17 game.

The 2024 season schedule for the Gators feels like something that was set up to make the team fail. Generally, the Gators go up against the likes of South Carolina or Vanderbilt. However, this time around, all those teams have been replaced by No.20 ranked Texas A&M, followed by No.4 Texas Longhorns and then No.6 Mississippi. If that wasn’t enough, the team would be going up against one of the best teams in CFB; Georgia Bulldogs as well. No. 15 Tennessee and No. 13 LSU are also on the list. Napier did manage to make a comeback during the game against Samford, where the Gators went 45-7. The next foe they face would be a top 20 team in CFB and it is not going to be easy. The team needs 10 wins to make it to the playoffs and out of the 13 games; they have already lost 2.

Looking at the schedule and the monsters Napier and the Gators have to go up against, we think the Gators ain’t gonna make it to the playoffs. If by some miracle they do, they wouldn’t last long. This also gives a grim perspective regarding Napier’s employment at the Gators. We do think that Napier shouldn’t be bashed endlessly because, at the end of the day, he had no control over the team schedule. However, the main point to keep in mind right now would be salvaging the roster.

Losing the best

We did mention at the start that Gators have had a messy depth chart and there have been some concerning player injuries. One major player that Napier has lost for the 2024 season run would be his WR Kahleil Jackson. Dealing with an ACL injury and also undergoing surgery for it, Jackson has to sit it off for the entire season. This puts a dent in the overall roster. If that wasn’t enough, CB Devin Moore and STAR Sharif Denson are also out because of undisclosed injuries.

Another thing to keep in mind is Napier will also be losing one of his best QBs and probably one of the best players in CFB as well. QB DJ Lagway has hit the transfer portal and there is little Napier can do to stop him. Losing Lagway would mean losing a guy who has locked in over 50 TDs and over 4000 yards with a completion rate of 72%. Unfortunately, this year, the 3 times national champs are destined for failure.