Who’s Next in Gainesville? Florida’s Coaching Future and Roster Fallout

Florida hits the reset button once again, parting ways with Billy Napier after another disappointing start.

Florida has officially parted ways with Billy Napier after a 3–4 start to the 2025 season, closing the book on a 22–23 tenure that never truly got off the ground. What was supposed to be a culture rebuild turned into four years of frustration, inconsistency, and missed opportunities. Napier leaves Gainesville with a .489 winning percentage, the worst by a Florida head coach since 1949, and a fanbase that ran out of patience long before the administration did.

The decision came just one day after Florida’s narrow 23–21 win over Mississippi State, a game that ended with “Fire Billy!” chants echoing through the Swamp. While the timing raised eyebrows, this outcome was set in motion weeks earlier. Napier’s $19.3 million buyout, half of which will be paid within 30 days, marks another costly reset for a program still chasing its identity.

The writing had been on the wall since Week 2’s stunning home loss to South Florida. A team ranked in the top 15 to start the year unraveled quickly, with offensive stagnation, poor discipline, and questionable game management defining yet another lost season. Napier’s refusal to hand off play-calling duties became a lightning rod. At the same time, Florida’s offense, once synonymous with innovation and explosiveness, fell flat despite having one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the country in DJ Lagway.

It’s over now. Four years of almost, of promising starts and late collapses, of “trust the process” and dwindling results. Florida will move forward with wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales as interim head coach, but the real story is what comes next. The Gators have the money, the brand, and the recruiting base; what they need now is the right voice to bring it all together.

Change has come to Gainesville. Now, the question is: who’s next?

Finding the Right Fit

For the fifth time since Urban Meyer stepped away in 2010, Florida is once again searching for its next head coach. Few programs in college football combine potential and pressure quite like this one. The Gators have every built-in advantage imaginable: elite in-state recruiting access, top-tier financial support, and a fan base that expects to compete for national championships every single year. But despite all that, the program has struggled to find stability.

Since Steve Spurrier’s run in the 1990s, no one has managed to build a truly sustainable winner in Gainesville. Urban Meyer won big but burned out quickly, and every coach since has failed to bridge the gap between “good” and “great.” Florida gave Billy Napier the resources, the staff, and the recruiting foundation to succeed — and to his credit, talent on the roster isn’t the issue. Coaches across the SEC consistently praised Florida’s personnel over the last two seasons. The problem was cohesion. The flashes never lasted long enough to turn into momentum.

Now, the responsibility falls back on athletic director Scott Stricklin, who just earned a contract extension this summer and will be making his third football hire. Whether he’ll have full control over the process remains to be seen, but one thing isn’t in question — this hire has to hit. Florida still hasn’t made the College Football Playoff, and with the expanded format now live, the Gators can’t afford to sit on the outside looking in.

The fan base wants experience, the administration wants results, and with the resources Florida has, there’s no reason this program shouldn’t be playing deep into December every season. The next hire will define the Stricklin era and determine whether Florida remains a sleeping giant or finally reclaims its place among the elite.

Now let’s dive into my top five candidates and a true wildcard for who should lead the Gators into their next chapter.

1. Lane Kiffin – Ole Miss Head Coach

If Florida is serious about winning titles again, Lane Kiffin has to be their first call and they need to make it count. He’s the closest thing to Steve Spurrier in modern college football: brash, fearless, and offensively brilliant. The swagger, the play-calling creativity, the quarterback development, it all fits the Florida brand. Kiffin would instantly bring back the kind of juice this program has been missing for over a decade.

At Ole Miss, he’s built one of the SEC’s most consistent contenders. The Rebels have won 10-plus games in three of the last four seasons and are 27-6 since 2023, taking down Georgia, South Carolina, and several ranked opponents along the way. He’s adapted seamlessly to the new era, blending portal talent, NIL savvy, and modern offensive design better than almost anyone in the country. Under Kiffin, Florida’s offense would once again be feared, fast, explosive, and dangerous.

There are hurdles, of course. Kiffin earns around $9 million per year, with another $2.6 million in potential bonuses and a buyout near $4 million. Ole Miss is already working on an extension, so Florida would have to move aggressively to even get in the room. But the fit makes too much sense to ignore. Kiffin’s time at FAU gives him real ties to the state, and his offensive system fits the type of quarterback talent Florida already has in DJ Lagway and its future recruiting pipeline.

The only question is whether Florida’s administration — and athletic director Scott Stricklin — are ready to embrace his personality. Kiffin is outspoken, unapologetic, and never dull, traits that make him a lightning rod in college football circles. But let’s be honest: Florida has always been at its best when led by a big personality unafraid to stir the pot.

If the Gators want flash, offense, and instant credibility, this is the swing. It would be loud, it would be polarizing — and it just might be exactly what Florida needs.

2. Eli Drinkwitz – Missouri Head Coach

If Florida wants someone who can build and sustain a program the right way, Eli Drinkwitz deserves a serious look. The Oklahoma-born, Arkansas-raised disciple of Gus Malzahn has quietly engineered one of the best turnarounds in the SEC. Missouri has gone 27–6 over the past two-plus seasons, every loss coming to ranked opponents, and Drinkwitz has the Tigers chasing a third straight 10-win year, something almost unimaginable when he arrived.

Drinkwitz has proven to be both adaptable and self-aware, two traits Billy Napier never mastered. After three seasons hovering around .500, he handed off play-calling duties and evolved into more of a CEO-style head coach. The results speak for themselves: a balanced team, strong quarterback development, and consistent improvement in both recruiting and player retention. Missouri has never been an easy place to win, yet he’s managed to build the most stable version of that program in its modern history.

From Florida’s perspective, the appeal is obvious. Drinkwitz understands the SEC grind, can develop quarterbacks, and knows how to run a program with alignment from top to bottom. His recruiting track record has climbed steadily, with top-15 high school classes and top-10 transfer portal hauls, despite the Tigers lacking Florida’s resources or brand power. Handing him the keys to a blue-blood like the Gators could unlock another level entirely.

The downside? He’s eccentric, outspoken, and not shy around the cameras, traits that could make Florida’s administration uneasy after the McElwain and Mullen years. But like Kiffin, Drinkwitz isn’t afraid to challenge narratives or speak his mind, and that’s not a flaw; it’s confidence. Whether he’d even leave Missouri is uncertain; he’s well-compensated and comfortable in Columbia. Still, the opportunity to elevate a sleeping giant like Florida might be the one challenge that gets his attention.

Drinkwitz may not be the flashiest hire, but he’s the kind of steady, intelligent leader who could bring structure back to Gainesville. He’s built a winner without geography or advantage; imagine what he could do with both.

3. James Franklin – Former Penn State Head Coach

This one’s tricky. Just a week removed from his firing at Penn State, James Franklin instantly becomes one of the most experienced names on the market, but the question is whether Florida’s fan base would embrace him. On paper, Franklin checks almost every box a program like Florida should want: proven winner, elite recruiter, and someone who’s already built and maintained a top-10 program in the toughest environments in college football.

Across 11 full seasons in State College, Franklin won 10 or more games six times, reached the postseason in all but one, and was a legitimate playoff contender last year before falling to Notre Dame in the semifinals. His 128–60 career record, including a 24–15 stint in the SEC at Vanderbilt, shows consistency and adaptability. Taking Vanderbilt to back-to-back Top 25 finishes, something that hadn’t happened there in over six decades, remains one of the most underrated feats of the modern era. Simply put, Franklin knows how to build and sustain a winner.

So why was he fired? The narrative at Penn State was all about ceilings. Despite the stability, the top-10 recruiting classes, and the NFL talent pipeline, Franklin’s teams couldn’t get over the hump, particularly against elite opponents. A 4–21 record versus top-10 teams became the stat that defined his tenure, and ultimately, ended it.

For Florida, the appeal is clear: a proven leader who could step in tomorrow, stabilize the roster, and recruit at a top-five national level. But optics matter in Gainesville. Hiring a coach fresh off a firing isn’t a move the fan base or boosters are likely to celebrate, even if the résumé justifies it. Franklin’s confidence, media polish, and SEC familiarity would fit the brand, but Florida fans crave offensive firepower and playoff results, not another steady hand.

If Stricklin values experience and immediate credibility, Franklin deserves a phone call. He’s ready to coach again, and few on this list can match his track record. But for a fan base desperate for a spark, this hire might feel more like a stabilizer than a statement.

4. Kenny Dillingham – Arizona State Head Coach

I’ll be honest, this one’s a long shot, but Kenny Dillingham deserves recognition here. The 35-year-old Arizona State head coach has been one of the fastest risers in college football, and he’s earned every bit of the buzz. Dillingham has completely flipped his alma mater from a post-Herm Edwards disaster into a legitimate Big 12 power. After going 3–9 in his first season, he followed that up with an 11–3 campaign, a Big 12 Championship, and national relevance in just year two. That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen by accident. His team is now 5-2 this season and beat a top-10 Texas Tech team this week.

Dillingham’s energy is unmatched. He’s relentless in recruiting, in preparation, and in how he builds culture. Players buy in because he’s genuine, and his staff loves him because he empowers them. Offensively, he’s one of the most creative minds in the game, with roots under Gus Malzahn and time as Florida State’s offensive coordinator before taking the ASU job. His system is quarterback-friendly, aggressive, and fun to watch, precisely what Florida fans have been craving.

Now, the challenge: this is home for him. Arizona State isn’t just his job; it’s his dream job. Leaving his alma mater while the program is trending upward would take something extraordinary. Florida is that kind of job, but Dillingham strikes me as the type of coach who wants to finish what he started in Tempe.

From a risk-reward standpoint, though? This could be a home run. Dillingham brings everything you want in a modern head coach: youth, vision, adaptability, and fire. If Florida could somehow convince him to make the leap, the payoff could be massive. He’s the kind of hire that doesn’t just win games; he redefines your program’s identity.

5. Rhett Lashlee – SMU Head Coach

Rhett Lashlee has quietly built one of the best résumés in college football, and it’s time he starts getting recognition for it. The 42-year-old SMU coach just guided the Mustangs to a College Football Playoff berth in their first season as ACC members, a massive accomplishment for a program that had spent decades outside the national spotlight. Lashlee has gone 33-14 in three-plus seasons at SMU, winning 11 games in each of the past two years and ripping off an 18-0 conference record since 2022.

Offensively, he’s as modern as they come. A former Gus Malzahn protégé, Lashlee has carried that uptempo, creative approach everywhere he’s gone, from Auburn to Miami to Dallas, and it continues to produce results. His background in Florida, where he served as Miami’s offensive coordinator in 2020-21, adds another layer of familiarity that would play well in recruiting battles across the state. Florida wants explosive offense and quarterback development; Lashlee checks both boxes.

The question isn’t whether Lashlee’s ready for the SEC, it’s whether he’d actually leave SMU. The Mustangs have invested heavily in football and can afford to keep their guy, both financially and through NIL support. His alma mater, Arkansas, could also come calling if that job opens, and that connection might pull harder than Gainesville.

Still, Lashlee’s style fits Florida perfectly. He’s young, innovative, and battle-tested through the transfer-portal era. The ceiling in Gainesville is much higher than at SMU, and Florida’s resources could elevate its system to something truly elite. It’s not the splashiest move on the board, but it could quietly be the smartest.

Wildcard: Brian Hartline – Ohio State Offensive Coordinator

If we’re talking about pure upside, Brian Hartline deserves a mention, even if it’s probably too early for a jump like this. The Ohio State offensive coordinator is one of the best recruiters in college football, responsible for building what has arguably been the nation’s top wide receiver room over the last five years. His fingerprints are all over the Buckeyes’ success on offense, developing stars like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Emeka Egbuka.

But here’s the reality: Hartline has just one season of play-calling experience and has never worked anywhere outside of Columbus. That doesn’t disqualify him; everyone has to start somewhere, but it does raise questions about whether Florida, a program in desperate need of proven leadership, would take that kind of risk. After Napier’s struggles managing both play-calling and head-coaching duties, the Gators may not want another inexperienced offensive mind learning on the job.

The other factor is loyalty. Hartline is an Ohio State alum, coaching at his dream school, and could easily be the heir apparent if Ryan Day eventually bolts for the NFL. Leaving that kind of setup for Gainesville would be a bold move. Still, Hartline’s recruiting acumen, player development track record, and offensive philosophy make him one of the brightest young minds in the game.

Would Florida hand him the keys? Probably not. But should he be on the radar? Absolutely. If the Gators wanted to take a massive swing on potential rather than polish, Hartline would be the bet.

Looking Ahead: Devy & C2C Fallout

Unlike Penn State, which leaned heavily on a senior-laden roster, Florida is built differently; this team is loaded with Devy and C2C talent from top to bottom. The Gators have one of the youngest, most athletic depth charts in the SEC, and how this roster responds to the coaching change will ripple across every fantasy format.

Between a freshman quarterback with an elite pedigree, dynamic underclassmen skill players, and a handful of NFL-caliber prospects scattered across both sides of the ball, Florida is a C2C gold mine. But the transfer portal and NIL landscape make everything fluid. The players who stay and those who inevitably leave could trigger a massive power shift across Devy and college fantasy rosters heading into 2026.

In this section, we’ll break down key players to monitor on the current roster and on the recruiting trail, focusing on who could rise, who might transfer, and how this shake-up impacts the program’s long-term outlook.

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