GAINESVILLE — Mario Cristobal of the Miami Hurricanes and Billy Napier of the Florida Gators entered Saturday’s season opener under similar circumstances. Both former Alabama coaching colleagues, hired just eight days apart in 2021, were under pressure after enduring losing records at programs where such performances are quickly scrutinized.
However, after Saturday’s game, the two coaches appeared to be on very different paths.
Cristobal’s Hurricanes (1-0) looked like a playoff contender, addressing the issues that had plagued his 12-13 start. The quarterback position, once a concern, shone with Washington State transfer Cam Ward, who lived up to his ACC preseason player of the year hype by racking up 418 total yards (385 passing, 33 rushing) and three touchdowns.
Miami’s line play was equally impressive, embodying the toughness of a team built by one of its former linemen. The Hurricanes averaged 6.1 yards per rush in the first half and didn’t allow a single sack or tackle for loss. On defense, they recorded eight tackles for loss, three sacks, and knocked Florida’s starting quarterback, Graham Mertz, into the concussion protocol during the second half. This dominant performance came despite losing star lineman Rueben Bain to a soft-tissue injury on the first series, which might sideline him for a week or two.
As the game ended, Cristobal celebrated with the iconic “U” hand sign, receiving chants of “MAR-I-O” from the visiting fans after No. 19 Miami’s 41-17 victory. In stark contrast, Napier faced boos from a frustrated Ben Hill Griffin Stadium crowd of 90,544.
“Obviously a huge game for our program,” Cristobal said, while Ward added, “I think we made more of a statement (on) physicality.”
Miami’s success wasn’t just in flashy plays; it was in the fundamentals. Preseason all-ACC receiver Xavier Restrepo tallied 112 yards and a touchdown, and preseason all-ACC linebacker Francisco Mauigoa ended the first half with a crucial sack. The Hurricanes committed only two penalties and avoided late-game blunders by maintaining a comfortable lead.
“We’re playing Miami football now,” Cristobal declared.
Meanwhile, Florida continued to struggle under Napier, failing to recapture the glory days of Steve Spurrier, Urban Meyer, or even Dan Mullen. The Gators (0-1) added to their growing list of blunders under Napier, including two roughing-the-passer penalties that led directly to Miami touchdowns. Napier also had to burn a timeout immediately after a kickoff due to confusion on the field.
Florida’s offensive line, a unit Napier has prioritized with two position coaches, remained unimpressive. Apart from Montrell Johnson’s 71-yard touchdown run, UF averaged just 1.7 yards per rush heading into the fourth quarter. The defense, despite a complete overhaul of assistant coaches, showed little improvement. The Gators allowed 7.7 yards per play on Saturday, even worse than the 6.4 yards per play they conceded last season, which was their worst since 1946.
“It’s embarrassing, to be quite honest with you,” Napier admitted. “That’s how I feel. That’s how our kids feel.”
Embarrassment was palpable within the program, while the outside world saw a continuation of Florida’s downward spiral, now extending to six consecutive losses. Despite Napier’s assurances that the Gators had improved in fundamentals, situational football, and finishing plays and games, these improvements have yet to translate on the field.
Losing their home opener for the first time since 1989, the Gators are at a critical juncture. While it might be tempting to overreact to one game, it’s essential to keep perspective. Miami’s recent history is filled with false dawns where “The U” was proclaimed to be back. Similarly, if the Gators have the leadership expected at this point in Napier’s tenure, they could still rebound without losing the locker room.
However, Saturday’s lopsided game felt like a potential turning point—not just for the programs, but for the careers of the two coaches leading them. After rough starts at premier programs, Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier seem to be heading in very different directions.