Is Florida bowl eligible? How Billy Napier can get the Gators through, explored

The Florida Gators have had a mediocre 2024 season at 4-4 under head coach Billy Napier. They failed to reach bowl eligibility last season at 5-7 but do have a path to eligibility this year.

Let's explore that path this season as Napier looks to gain a positive reputation despite reports his job is safe.

Is Florida bowl eligible?

At the moment, no.

In order to be eligible for a bowl game, a team must win at least six games and have a winning record. A team can include one win against a FCS program in the six, which Florida currently has. There are no more FCS opponents left on the schedule, so the Gators don't have to worry about potentially getting a win that doesn't count. However, the schedule doesn't set up well for Florida to get to six wins.

Three of Florida's four remaining opponents are ranked teams: No. 5 Texas, No. 15 LSU, and No. 16 Ole Miss. The season finale is a rivalry game against a struggling Florida State team that will be desperate for some sort of good feeling this season. Going 3-1 in that stretch is a tough ask.

Gators head to Texas

Florida has placed its offense in the hands of sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway for the second half of the season after losing Graham Mertz for the year. He suffered a hamstring injury last week that forced Napier to run the offense with Aidan Warner. Despite the injury, Lagway is doing his best to play Saturday against Texas.

“He’s trying,” Napier said following practice Wednesday. “He’s a competitor. He’s going back to his home state. He wants to try to find a pathway to make this work. Obviously, it’s touch and go. Look, the guy’s giving it his best shot.”

If Lagway cannot perform, Warner is set to play quarterback. Warner put up just 66 yards and an interception in the Gators' 34-20 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs.

Whoever is playing quarterback will still likely be overwhelmed by Texas' defense, which has allowed 13 or fewer points in six of its eight games this year.

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