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Billy Napier Reveals 'What Keeps Him Up At Night' As He Discusses NIL’s Impact

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated May 16, 2025 3:52 PM ET

Billy Napier and the Florida Gators came off a decent 2024-25 NCAA season (8-5, including a Gasparilla Bowl win), improving from the 5-7 record they posted in 2023 and the 6-6 record they put on in 2022. 2024 was the best season of Napier's three-year tenure with the Gators, but they are all aiming higher, as they try to emulate what the basketball team did and win a national championship.

As the Gators try to remain competitive, the changes that college sports have gone through since the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals became legal.

Many athletes have found a way to make money even before going to the pros, opening the door to programs to offer attractive deals to land stars.

During a conversation with the "Pate State Speaker Series" of the "Josh Pate College Football Show," Napier discussed the challenges he and the Gators have to face to remain competitive and keep the finances healthy.

When Pate brought up the topic of having a person who takes care of college football and doesn't try to get benefits from a position or a deal, especially with NILs in place, Napier shared his perspective, saying that the game needs collaboration to keep evolving and reach new levels.

"I'm hopeful that we are getting closer," Napier said. "We live in a here-and-now dynamic and we're always evaluating and recruiting. And how we acquire talent is directly affected by this settlement. We have shared the NIL space and how that's going to be evaluated by Deloitte.

"That's what keeps me up at night. It's like, 'What are the parameters around this settlement and how is that going to affect my ability to keep bringing talent to the University of Florida, knowing we're going to run between the lines and we're going to be expected to be competitive."

This has been a challenge for many programs, but a blessing for many players. The NIL deals are here to stay and now the ball is on universities to adapt to the new times. The Gators have an intriguing project, led by sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, the one who led them to four straight wins to end the 2024 season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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