The college football coaching carousel has started turning earlier than it ever has. The regular season is officially over, and big-time programs are beginning to finalize their coaching search.

There have already been 17 openings in the FBS this season. Some of the most prominent schools open or have been open are Florida, LSU, USC, TCU, Virginia Tech and Washington.

Florida, who fired Dan Mullen just a few weeks back, has apparently tabbed Louisiana head coach Billy Napier to be Florida’s next head coach according to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports.

Mullen was 34-15 as head coach of the Gators but had a few down seasons the last couple of years. It sure does not help that Georgia has had a meteoric rise during his tenure.

Napier has made Louisiana into one of the best Group of 5 teams in the country in what has recently become a stacked Sun Belt conference. He is 39-12 with the program also has a win over Power 5 opponent Iowa State last season.

Napier has the Ragin’ Cajuns 11-1 and 8-0 in the Sun Belt. Louisiana is in the 2021 Sun Belt Championship Game against Appalachian State.

Florida is getting a great coach if they have tabbed Napier for the Gators’ future.