Dissecting Billy Napier’s record in Florida Gators rivalry games

In college football, rivalry games are ultra-important to every fan base. Unfortunately for Billy Napier, his record in those matchups as Florida coach hasn’t been great. Napier, 15–17 overall in his third season with the Gators, is only 1-9 vs the school’s main five rivals — Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Tennessee.

Saturday afternoon, Napier and Co. get another crack at a big rival.

That’s when Florida, 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the SEC, plays No. 2 Georgia, which is 6-1 and 4-1, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Napier has yet to beat the Bulldogs, but it should be pointed out Georgia was ranked No. 1 entering each of the two previous meetings between the teams. All told, Florida’s opponents have been ranked in nine of the 10 rivalry games in which Napier has coached.

Below is a detailed look at Florida in rivalry games during the Napier regime.

Recent Florida coaches vs. the Gators’ rivals

–Billy Napier (2022-present): 1-9 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Tennessee)
–Dan Mullen (2018-21): 9-6 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Tennessee)
–Jim McElwain (2015–17): 5-6 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee)
–Will Muschamp (2011–2014): 7-10 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Tennessee)
–Urban Meyer (2005–10): 20-5 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Tennessee)

Billy Napier in rivalry games as Florida coach

Sept. 24, 2022: No. 11 Tennessee (L) 33–38
Oct. 15, 2022: LSU (L) 35–45
Oct. 29, 2022: No. 1 Georgia (L)  20–42
Nov. 25, 2022: No. 16 FSU (L) 38–45
Sept. 16, 2023: No. 11 Tennessee (W) 29–16
Oct. 28, 2023: No. 1 Georgia (L) 20–43
Nov. 11, 2023: No. 19 LSU (L) 35–52
Nov. 25, 2023: No. 5 FSU (L) 15–24
Aug. 31, 2024: No. 19 Miami (L) 17–41
Oct. 12, 2024: No. 8 Tennessee (L) 17–23 OT

Napier’s Florida teams in rivalry games: By the numbers

AT HOME: 1-3
AWAY: 0-4
NEUTRAL 0-2
RANKED OPPONENTS: 9
TOP-10 OPPONENTS: 4
AVERAGE POINTS FOR UF: 25.9
AVERAGE POINTS FOR OPPONENT: 36.9
AVERAGE TOTAL YARDS FOR UF: 385.0
AVERAGE TOTAL YARDS FOR OPPONENT: 479.5
AVERAGE PASSING YARDS FOR UF: 224.5
AVERAGE PASSING YARDS FOR OPPONENT: 294.6
AVERAGE RUSHING YARDS FOR UF: 160.5
AVERAGE RUSHING YARDS FOR OPPONENT: 184.9
AVERAGE FIRST DOWNS FOR UF: 20.4
AVERAGE FIRST DOWNS FOR OPPONENT: 23.1
TIMES LEADING AFTER 1ST QUARTER: 2
AVERAGE SCORE AFTER 1ST QUARTER: 5.4-6.9
TIMES LEADING AT THE HALF: 4
AVERAGE SCORE AT THE HALF: 13.4-17.5
TIMES LEADING AFTER 3RD QUARTER: 2
AVERAGE SCORE AFTER 3RD QUARTER: 18.2-28.5

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