Florida vs. LSU prediction: What a Gators loss does for Billy Napier’s job security

Florida vs. No. 3 LSU was already going to be a big game this weekend down in Baton Rouge. Now, it could be worth that much more considering what it could mean for the future of Billy Napier.

Appearing on ‘Get Up’ on Thursday, Josh Pate emphasized how important this game is for the job security of Napier. That’s with the Gators having already saved his job once last season, and now being in a spot to have to do so again just two games into their year after their upset loss to USF last weekend in The Swamp.

“Look, this started off badly last year. Graham Mertz, unfortunately, goes down. That gave way to DJ Lagway. It resurrected their season, and so patience was injected. There is none here,” Pate said. “They lose against South Florida. Like, they were given some length of rope. They understood. The folks down there understood that, ‘We got a tough schedule. We can lose two or three games and still make the playoff.’ The USF game was never part of that equation, and now they’re over a touchdown-dog on the road.”

Again, this loss in the short-term could be the beginning of the end in the long-term for Napier. It was bad enough that Florida lost, and looked bad doing it, as a home favorite over USF, an in-state opponent out of the Group of Five. It then gets worse as it sets up the potential for a losing streak and, in the end, maybe a losing record overall as the Gators play eight of their final 10 against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

Five of those eight come against teams currently in the Top 10. Three of those come over their next three games at No. 3 LSU, at No. 5 Miami, and against No. 7 Texas.

That said, Pate isn’t counting Florida out this weekend against LSU. The Gators do have plenty of opportunity, with their roster, to go on the road to open conference play and pull an upset of their own to try to get their season back on track in Death Valley. Still, that’s a difficult position they’ve put themselves in already to make that happen at Tiger Stadium on Saturday.

“There are a lot of potential matchup advantages that Florida should have,” Pate said. “Florida has had potential for a long time. The production has got to be there.

“(Florida) should have a line of scrimmage matchup. Should have a line of scrimmage matchup both ways. They should have a very balanced offensive attack. DJ Lagway should be the best player in the game. So, there’s a lot of ‘should’. That’s the potential stuff I’m talking about. The production needs to happen. I will say this. Last year, no team fought harder for an embattled coach than Florida’s did for Billy Napier, so I do expect that kind of performance level this Saturday night. But, you could do all the right things and still lose on Saturday night in Death Valley.”

This is where Florida finds itself coming out of the loss to USF, with a lot of season left to go in Gainesville. That, looking ahead from here, is why Pate thinks it’s perfectly fine to wonder about Napier’s future as the head coach of the Gators.