Florida hasn’t played Texas since 1940. But coaches Billy Napier and Steve Sarkisian have seen their careers crisscross enough in recent times there’s some familiarity.

Napier was the receivers coach at Alabama in 2016 when Sarkisian was hired as an offensive analyst after leaving USC. The two worked together to help the Crimson Tide finish 14-1 and reach the national championship game.

Napier now leads the Gators, and Sarkisian guides the fifth-ranked Longhorns. They’ll meet again on opposite sidelines at 11 a.m. Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

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“Sark was outstanding,” Napier said on Wednesday’s SEC conference call. “Got there around the summertime, if I’m not mistaken. Just observing him, he was a guy that was a very accomplished coordinator, play-caller, been at the highest level in the NFL. I just think, in general, I had a ton of respect for the knowledge and experience there. And I do think that he was a great staff guy and did a good job with his role that year.

“Sark, really enjoyed being around him. I think he just got a good heart and certainly proud of what he’s been able to accomplish there at Texas so far.”

Napier left Alabama in 2017 to become the offensive coordinator at Arizona State. Then, he would get the head coaching job at Louisiana in 2018. Sarkisian stayed with the Tide and became the offensive coordinator before joining the Longhorns in 2021 as head coach.

Napier and Sarkisian met again in the 2021 debut, which was Sarkisian’s first game in burnt orange. Both teams were ranked, but Texas prevailed 38-18.

“I loved it, man,” Sarkisian said after UT had a solid, all-around victory. “There’s nothing like winning, I’ll tell you that much.”

This time around, Texas (7-1, 3-1 SEC) is a three-touchdown favorite over Florida (4-4, 2-3) as Napier is struggling to keep his job.

“DKR is an incredible venue,” Napier said. “It’s one of those that’s on the bucket list if you’re an aspiring coach. I’ve been there once before and really excited about coming back.”

Napier either isn’t sure who he will start at quarterback this week or isn’t tipping his hand. DJ Lagway’s hamstring injury against Georgia wasn’t as bad as first thought. The Gators will have to play someone who “isn’t 100%,” Napier said, or start Aidan Warner, who started the year as the third-stringer.

“Ultimately, the good thing is I do think that our special teams and our defenses are performing at a high level,” Napier said. “We’ve played some of our best football as of late. We have really good specialists, and I think defensively, we have the ability to keep ourselves in the game.

As for the quarterback situation, Napier said, “I think there’s some challenges there. But in general, much like every week in the NFL and the SEC, you’re going to have a mixture of players available, and I think you have to do the best job with the group that you have.”