Florida football is entering its first season under head coach Jon Sumrall, a staff that inherited a 4‑8 record and a 12th‑place tie in the SEC last year.
The roster has been reshaped with 20 freshmen and 30 transfers, adding depth at skill positions while retaining core players such as Jadan Baugh, Vernell Brown III, Myles Graham and Jayden Woods.
Among the newcomers are transfers like Buster Faulkner, who arrives as offensive coordinator, and a group of newcomers hoping to fill the void left by the departure of former coach Billy Napier.
Preseason Forecasts
Preseason publications have offered divergent outlooks: Athlon Magazine projects the Gators ninth in the SEC, Lindy's Magazine places them eighth, while Phil Steele predicts a tie for 11th with Vanderbilt and Missouri.
An anonymous SEC assistant coach recently praised Sumrall’s strategic moves, noting the importance of stabilizing the quarterback position after a season that saw limited production under Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts.
The schedule will feature four home games, four away contests and a neutral‑site matchup against Georgia, a slate that could test the team’s progress early in the nine‑game conference format set to begin in 2026.
Sumrall’s track record includes four conference title games in as many years as a head coach, a pedigree that fuels optimism that the Gators can finally post a winning SEC record for the first time since 2020.