Florida coach Jon Sumrall hasn’t even coached a game in Gainesville yet, but he’s already drawing a hard line across college football.
Speaking Wednesday on Day 3 of SEC Media Days in Tampa, Sumrall said the sport’s gap between the top and everyone else feels wider than the usual Power Four-versus-Group of Six conversation.
“There is a clear delineation,” Sumrall said Wednesday during Day 3 of SEC Media Days in Tampa.
“I’m not trying to be a jerk, but I think there’s clearly the ‘Power Two.’ I’m not knocking any league.”
Sumrall, who spent two years each at Troy and Tulane before taking over for Billy Napier at Florida, said the SEC and Big Ten sit at the top, with the Big 12 and ACC trailing behind them. He added that the American Conference is “right there” as well.
That perspective comes from both sides of the aisle. Sumrall is stepping into his first job in what he views as the Power Two SEC, but he’s also spent plenty of time coaching in the other tier.
He’s not alone in making the jump from the American to the SEC this season. Former USF coach Alex Golesh is now at Auburn, former Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield is now at Oklahoma, and former North Texas coach Eric Morris is taking over at Oklahoma State.
Florida’s 2026 season opens at home Sept. 5 against FAU at 7:45 pm ET on SEC Network. The Gators then begin SEC play at Auburn on Sept. 19 at 7 pm ET on ESPN.
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