Joel Klatt Reveals 'Must-Win' Game for Billy Napier and Florida
Joel Klatt Reveals 'Must-Win' Game for Billy Napier and Florida originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Last year, the Florida Gators found themselves in a precarious situation for a third straight year, eyeing a losing season towards the tail end of the schedule. Instead, Florida, under third-year head coach Billy Napier, won their final four games, including a blowout bowl victory over the Tulane Green Wave.
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The mini-winning streak to end the year undoubtedly brought Napier goodwill among the fan base as he continues to try to return the Gators to their mid-2000s glory. However, Joel Klatt, a college football analyst for Fox Sports, believes Napier is still very much entering a make-or-break season in Gainesville.
Florida head coach Billy Napier.© Brett Patzke-Imagn Images
During The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast, the veteran college football analyst compared the Florida front man to another longtime head coach, saying, "Billy Napier is in the same exact category as Mike Norvell. 'We like you, but is this going to work?'"
Klatt points towards Napier and Florida's strong finish to the season, with wins against the Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers, as a reason for optimism. Napier also has a strong relationship with former five-star prospect and quarterback DJ Lagway.
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However, the Gators will face a tough schedule in 2025, and Klatt points to their four-game stretch early in the season as a big moment for Napier. He calls for, at the very least, a split against the LSU Tigers, Miami Hurricanes, Texas Longhorns, and Texas A&M Aggies, with Miami being the most pivotal.
"You have to prove you are not the third-tier team in the state of Florida," said Klatt. He continued to emphasize the importance of their game against Miami, saying, "The game at Miami is actually the one where the pressure gets ratcheted up. Again, tough four-game stretch. I think they need 2-2. If you don't beat Miami, which other two teams are you beating?
Related: Florida Beats Out Three SEC Rivals For Elite OL Recruit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
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