This week on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ podcast, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule and Penn State’s James Franklin were mentioned as possible candidates for the Florida coaching job if the Gators decide to part ways with Billy Napier this season. Although no changes are expected in Gainesville at the moment—Napier stated on Monday that he hasn’t discussed his future with the athletic department—the team’s performance is concerning.
Napier has struggled through two consecutive losing seasons and failed to secure a bowl game last year. The current 1-2 start to the 2024 season, coupled with a challenging schedule ahead, has led to significant discontent among Florida fans, who voiced their frustration with boos during Saturday’s SEC opener, prompting speculation about Napier’s job security.
Rhule, in his second season with Nebraska, could improve to 4-0 with a win over Illinois on Friday in a ranked Big Ten matchup. Franklin, who previously achieved success at Vanderbilt, is one of the longest-serving coaches in the Big Ten and has led the Nittany Lions to multiple 11-win seasons.
‘College GameDay’ host Rece Davis believes that Ole Miss is currently a more attractive job than Florida and suggests that Lane Kiffin wouldn’t leave for the Gators.
“I’m going to say something that might be hard for Florida fans to hear and could benefit Lane,” Davis stated this week. “You can’t ignore the obvious. While it’s clear Florida would pursue Lane Kiffin, at this moment, Kiffin has a better situation at Ole Miss. It’s not necessarily that Ole Miss is superior to Florida, but they have better access to recruits and are aligned with their NIL initiatives. Lane is in control there, which makes it a better job for him.”
