Oct 18, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin reacts during the second half of the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls head coach Alex Golesh reacts to a replay during the second quarter against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Billy Napier was working on borrowed time. The moment his Florida Gators lost to South Florida in Week 2 and fell from 13th in the coaches' poll to unranked, it was clear 2025 would be his last season at the helm in Gainesville.

The embattled head coach oversaw an offense that scored just 17 points in two games against then-top five opponents that followed. While an upset win over Texas kept him employed a bit longer, a listless win over Mississippi State that saw his own fans boo him set the stage for Napier's dismissal Sunday.

This in-season firing will cost Florida more than $21 million in buyouts and set the stage for a coaching search at a blue blood program that hasn't won double-digit games since 2019. The Gators have the prestige, facility and resources to rule again -- Napier was able to scratch out top-13 recruiting classes each of the last three seasons despite Florida's layover in mediocrity. Whomever succeeds him will have a pile of assets at his disposal -- and a bright spotlight to go with lofty expectations.

Who might fit the bill?

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin

Kiffin has thrived in his second go-round in the SEC. Mississippi has won 10-plus games in three of its last four seasons and was ranked fifth in the nation before squandering a nine-point fourth quarter lead in Saturday's loss to Georgia. He's made Ole Miss a constant contender. While that hasn't been enough to qualify for a playoff berth -- though his 11-win 2023 campaign would have been close had the field been expanded to 12 teams that winter -- it's clear he's been a rising tide at a program that doesn't have the same kind of backing the Gators do.

Former Penn State head coach James Franklin

Franklin knows how to win in the SEC; he engineered back-to-back nine-win seasons at Vanderbilt in 2012 and 2013, something the program had never done before or had done since his 2014 departure to Happy Valley. He was ultimately undone by his inability to win big games and a sudden, shocking lapse in the little ones. His proven track record of success and strength as a recruiter would help raise the floor of a program that's had losing records in three of the last four seasons and is trending toward making it four of five.

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz

Drinkwitz seemed like an odd fit for the SEC after a single season as an FBS head coach. But that 12-win campaign at Appalachian State portended things to come. After a slow start -- the Tigers went 17-19 from 2020 to 2022 -- he's developed his team into a top 25 constant. The 42-year-old is 27-6 since 2023 with wins over Tennessee, Ohio State and, yep, Florida in that span. In the process, he's turned Mizzou into a regular top-20 presence in recruiting rankings.

Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall

Sumrall has the Group of 5 success that lured Florida to Napier four years ago. Will that be a benefit or detriment in their 2025 search? Sumrall is 38-10 as an FBS head coach, guiding Troy and Tulane to big seasons in the process. While that only includes a 2-5 record against Power 4 opponents, both those wins came in 2025. If he's able to sustain this rising tide without the NIL money or recruiting power of a college football blueblood, he could be able to rise to the occasion for the Gators.

South Florida head coach Alex Golesh

Golesh's star has dimmed a bit after the Bulls' 2-0 start evaporated in a 49-12 loss to Miami in Week 3. However, he's got his team back in the top 20 behind a 6-1 record and is in the midst of a breakthrough after a pair of solid seasons in Tampa. South Florida had gone 4-29 in the three years before hiring Golesh. It's 20-13 with two bowl wins and another invitation on the way since making the 41-year-old its top dog. And, as a bonus, he's got SEC experience after spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons as an assistant at Tennessee

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 potential Florida head coach candidates, from Lane Kiffin to James Franklin

Reporting by Christian D'Andrea, For The Win / For The Win

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