Things have gotten pretty ugly for Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier in Gainesville, but it’s hard to say he doesn’t bear the brunt of the fan outrage.

A lot has gone wrong during his time as head coach of the Gators. The fact that he still believes he can compete as an SEC offensive lineman despite too many moments of uninspired football and that recruits are suing him over NIL-related issues is just the tip of the iceberg.

However, would a win against Texas A&M get Napier out of the hole he dug himself into? No, but it would be a start.

First, Napier has too many losses on his record to make up for that with an SEC win against a team in transition. With losses to teams like Vanderbilt and Kentucky on his resume, he’ll need a winning streak to get rid of the Crusaders.

Luckily for him, that run can begin now. The hardest part of the schedule is still to come, meaning he can build momentum with the “easier” part ahead. Sure, he most likely won’t be considered a favorite in the upcoming games, but there are still a lot of home games to come and every home game is winnable.

Aside from the schedule, he also needs to improve his player management against the Aggies and for the rest of the year. It’s simple. The better players need to play.

While it wouldn’t be fair if starter Graham Mertz lost his job due to injury, how much longer can Napier limit the damage that rookie DJ Lagway can do to opponents? Lagway could be the answer so Napier can keep his job in Gainesville a little longer.

Lagway has been making waves on campus since he’s been in Gainesville, and that was even more evident in last weekend’s win over Samford. Samford may not be the best team in the country, but throwing for over 400 yards in a single game is no easy feat. And when the crowd is chanting your name, it’s even more special.

Plus, fans and supporters want him to get as many games as possible before the season ends, but Napier hasn’t fully embraced that idea yet, which may have to change if he wants to stay with the Orange and Blue for any length of time. Napier can’t afford to build for the future. He needs to win now. He believes Mertz as a starter gives him the best chance. How he handles the game after the opening series remains to be seen.

It’s also a little surprising that a player like defensive lineman Kelby Collins has significantly fewer snaps than his teammates around him. Against Samford last weekend, he logged seven snaps. Funnily enough, that’s the same number he logged against Miami.

That’s too little for a player as talented as Collins. The decision is even more puzzling considering this defensive line has been subpar and needs a burst of energy, which Collins could provide if given the chance.

So if Napier can start an SEC game 1-0, that’s a step in the right direction. However, that won’t make everyone forget the last few years he spent as coach. He’ll need to win a number of games to prove to fans and supporters alike that he’s the right man for the job.