So sad: Georgia Bulldogs head coach announces the death of his wife after giving birth to……..

If Georgia is Florida’s measuring stick, then Napier’s Gators came up short — again. He joins Will Muschamp as the only Florida coaches in the past 35 years to start 0-3 against the Bulldogs.

Though there are no moral victories at a program like Florida, that doesn’t mean every loss is the same. The Gators were competitive into the fourth quarter against a national championship contender. That was not true in either of Napier’s first two games against Georgia (a pair of three-touchdown defeats), and it’s a sign of progress.

Saturday’s circumstances made the performance more encouraging. Florida’s secondary was down two key players entering the game then watched three more get hurt during it. Standout running back Montrell Johnson Jr. and receiver Eugene Wilson III didn’t play, either. And Florida was still competitive.

The Gators continued to have unacceptable blunders (too many men on the field, a false start on third-and-short, a botched field goal and an illegal formation). Florida did its part to lose the game. But playing the Bulldogs closely was about all the Gators could reasonably hope for. Florida passed that test.

The tougher question to answer is this: How should this affect whether Napier gets another season? Bowl eligibility seemed like a necessity for Napier’s job security, but Lagway’s injury complicates matters. Is it fair to judge a third-year coach’s tenure if he’s stuck with a third-string quarterback? That’s something Florida’s powerbrokers may have to answer in the coming weeks.

Florida QB situation looks grim

Any optimism about the Gators’ short-term and long-term future starts with DJ Lagway, a five-star recruit ranked No. 7 in the 247Sports Composite in the Class of 2024. He was Gatorade’s national high school player of the year and Florida’s most important recruit since Tim Tebow. He entered Saturday ranked among the nation’s leaders with 11 completions of at least 40 yards, including a first-half touchdown pass Saturday.

Lagway’s status is uncertain after the hamstring injury sustained while rushing in the first half. Florida’s Week 1 starter, Mertz, is already out with a torn ACL, which means the Gators are down to Warner, a walk-on transfer from Yale. Warner managed the game well enough to avoid a blowout until a late interception but ultimately completed just 7 of 22 passes for 66 yards. Florida was out-gained 445 to 228.

If Lagway’s injury sidelines him next week and beyond, maybe Napier and his staff can find some magic in Warner, who had FBS scholarship offers from the likes of UConn and Coastal Carolina coming out of high school. But it’s a steep hill, especially given the upcoming schedule of Texas, LSU and Ole Miss before the finale against Florida State.

Florida’s best hopes of salvaging a bowl rest on an improved defense and strong backfield. Both units played well in spurts Saturday before Georgia’s talent finally won out.