Billy Napier probably heaved the biggest sigh of relief after that glorious Texas win in Week 6. But the heat under the HC’s seat is still enough to keep him uncomfortable. The list of college football head coaches being fired continues to grow, and Napier is still very likely to be an addition.

‘Fire Napier’ chants have become a common thing at the Swamp this season. But the Florida HC pulled out his best tricks against Texas on Saturday and, for once, was able to land them right as well. But that doesn’t mean that UF has pulled Napier back from the exit doors. According to The Athletic’s Matt Baker, he is still very much there, despite a win over the ranked Texas. “I think it quieted things for a little bit,” he said in an October 7 episode of 3 Man Front on Jox 94.5. “But they still got Texas A&M this weekend, right, at College Station?”

There’s no reason to think Billy Napier will not fail against the Aggies. The schedule has already taken a toll on the Gators this season. South Florida, LSU, and Miami have wreaked havoc. The Texas offense collapsing against the surprisingly good defensive show from Florida helped Napier walk away with a win. But Texas A&M is miles ahead of its in-state rival, and it’ll not be as easy. And that’s not all, of course. Florida also has matchups with Georgia, Tennessee, and FSU later on. He will also have to get past Mississippi State.

“There’s still a bunch of potential hang-ups here,” Baker said. “[The Texas win] changed things in that for this week, the Gators feel very good about themselves. But in terms of the long-term stuff, look, if Billy loses to A&M on Saturday, which is certainly possible—the Aggies are good—then we’re still going to have the same conversation in a couple of days, right? Like that’s just the way it is,” he noted further.

The calls to fire Napier still ring clearly within the community. They are quiet for now, but one more slip-up from the HC will bring it all back up. That $51.8 million contract of his is still on rocky ground.

Florida boosters were keen on getting done with Napier last season. But the top brass still held on to Napier for this season. But now, that buyout gets more real with every loss he registers. Napier needed DJ Lagway to perform, which happened for the first time this season against Texas. The defense came out to do its job, pressuring Arch Manning for a whopping 35 times. That’s the highest a Texas QB has ever been pressured since the Steve Sarkisian era.

But this win cannot be a one-hit wonder from Florida. Now that Billy Napier is 2-3, he depends on more than just the absolute best from his players for him to keep his job. The folks with the money are calling it once again.

Florida booster still not impressed with Billy Napier after Texas win

The mood in Gainesville right now is more of relief than celebration. Florida has just brought its second win of the season. They have only 7 more to go. For Billy Napier and fans to celebrate, he needs to pull off those 7 wins. On3’s Brett McMurphy echoed this notion as well, saying that the HC needs nothing short of a “magical run” and “miracle finish” to come back to his office next year.

Napier was already on a lifebuoy this season. But after being beaten down so brutally this season, Florida boosters have now sounded their verdict. “The administration would love for Billy to win and be successful, but the people that pay the bills—the big money boosters—they know he’s not the guy. They’re over him,” a source told McMurphy. In short, the exit door is still open for Billy Napier, and he hasn’t backed away from it despite defeating Texas.

Billy Napier hasn’t got it easy this year. What is now demanded of him is far more difficult than the demands that were before the season. The Texas win was major for Napier and Florida to survive. Unfortunately, the rest of the schedule has also become must-wins for the HC to keep his job at Gainesville.