Urban Meyer Linked to Struggling College Football Program

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated Sep 14, 2025 5:52 PM ET

The Florida Gators are 1-2 to start Year 4 under Billy Napier, and it already feels like the program could be headed for another coaching search. Florida entered the season riding a four-game winning streak to close 2024 and carrying College Football Playoff hopes.

The Gators opened with a 55-0 win over Long Island but were stunned at home in Week 2 by South Florida, 18-16. Then came the toughest stretch of their schedule, starting with a trip to Baton Rouge before heading to Miami and hosting Texas. They ended up losing 20-10 to LSU as the offense struggled badly and DJ Lagway threw five interceptions.

Florida fans have had enough of Napier, who has now fallen to 20-21 in his time in Gainesville. If athletic director Scott Stricklin opts to fire him ahead of next season, who could be the next head coach at the University of Florida?

Bill Bender of The Sporting News listed several candidates, which included Oregon's Dan Lanning, Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin, Washington's Jedd Fisch, Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz, Kansas' Lance Leipold, USF's Alex Golesh and the former Florida coach himself, Urban Meyer.

Is Meyer a realistic candidate? Bender thinks "a reunion would be complicated, but there is no question Meyer was an elite college football coach with Florida and Ohio State."

Meyer won two national championships with the Gators, one in 2006 and the other in 2008. He also won another at Ohio State in 2014.

The 61-year-old is currently an analyst on Fox Sports' "Big Noon Kickoff," and a return to coaching is unlikely but as Bender said, "at least a conversation might be worth a try."

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

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