An ESPN insider details the reasons behind Florida’s decision

Billy Napier prepares to return to Florida AD Scott Stricklin confirms decision on Thursday. This is a surprising decision to many considering he was under .500 at the end of his third season leading the program.

It’s true that the Gators looked much better in the second half of this season, but that hasn’t translated into many wins for the program. Florida is still 4-4 on the season overall and its bowl game chances are still uncertain.

So how did Florida come to the decision to keep Napier for at least one more season? ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on some of the economics behind the move, which points to the high price tag the Gators will face moving forward and starting from scratch.

According to Thamel, Napier’s acquisition alone would eclipse $26 million, making it the second-largest acquisition in the history of the sport. Only Texas A&M’s acquisition of Jimbo Fisher last season eclipses that figure, and the entire pass for Napier and his staff would be around $40 million.

The problem with this cost, especially this year, is that it supports the expectation that programs will pass on revenue sharing for the 2025 season. The additional cost of this move makes acquisitions in 2024 particularly difficult.

The decision comes against the backdrop of the expected transition of revenue sharing for the 2025 season, which heralds a quieter-than-usual year for college coaching changes. Schools need to come up with an extra $20 million at the highest levels, making buyouts difficult.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 7, 2024

Thamel also reports that 70% of Florida’s NIL money is invested in freshmen and sophomores, leading to a sense within the program that Napier can develop the young talent on the roster. Star quarterback DJ Lagway, a former 5-star prospect, is believed to be a “good fit” with Napier, giving the Gators significant talent to improve on offense.

A few notes on Florida bringing back Napier.
According to ESPN sources, 70 percent of Florida’s NIL money goes to freshmen and sophomores. There’s a feeling around the program that star freshman QB DJ Lagway aligns with Napier and that Napier can develop this young core of players. pic.twitter.com/SwKdmNSbKd

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 7, 2024

It would be a big boost for Florida to benefit from extra practice during bowl season, but it’s a tall order. The Gators have to face Texas, LSU and Ole Miss (a trio of ranked opponents) before finishing the season against Florida State.

Napier’s team needs at least 2 wins to qualify for the cup using the traditional 6 wins method. This means the Gators need at least one marquee to get there.