Florida’s preseason buzz is loud, but the pollsters still aren’t buying all the way in.
Even with Jon Sumrall taking over and expectations climbing, the Gators were left out of the Associated Press preseason top 25 for 2026. Florida did land second in the “receiving votes” category with 51 votes, trailing only Clemson, but that still wasn’t enough to crack the rankings.
The snub comes after Florida also missed the coaches poll earlier in August, though the Gators were No. 2 in the “receiving votes” section there as well. The message from the voters is pretty clear: plenty of people are watching, but not enough are ready to put Florida in the mix just yet.
That skepticism isn’t hard to understand when you look at what Sumrall is walking into. The Gators lost quarterback DJ Lagway to Baylor in the transfer portal, and the position is now headed for a summer battle between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. Florida also has real questions up front after losing three starters on the offensive line.
There’s talent on defense, but the unit will have to be more consistent under Sumrall than it was under former head coach Billy Napier.
The schedule only adds to the challenge. Florida’s nine-game SEC slate includes Auburn, No.
9 Ole Miss, No. 25 Missouri, No.
5 Texas, No. 3 Georgia, and No.
10 Oklahoma. Ole Miss, Georgia, and Oklahoma all reached the College Football Playoff last season, and Texas poured serious money into its roster this offseason and could be the most complete team in the country.
That’s a brutal setup for any team, let alone one entering a new era. In that kind of gauntlet, Florida could still call the year a success even with four or five losses, given everything Sumrall is dealing with in his first season.
The finish, though, does offer a chance to build some momentum. After the Nov. 7 game against Oklahoma, the Gators close with Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Florida State. Florida should be favored in all three, giving Sumrall a potential late-season push heading into the offseason.
Before any of that happens, though, the Gators have work to do just to turn preseason attention into real national respect.
In Other News...
Floridas QB Battle Just Got Harder For Fans To Trust
Floridas first fall camp scrimmage did little to settle the biggest conversation around the team, and maybe made it harder for anyone outside the building to feel good about where things stand. With media access limited and information release restricted, the quarterback competition has stayed mostly in the realm of guarded coachspeak, even as the staff continues to frame the battle as even.
Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones remain the names everyone is watching, and the lack of transparency has only added to the unease around a job that usually demands clarity. Fans and reporters alike are waiting for a cleaner read on the competition, because until the program opens up more, the best anyone can do is piece together hints and hope the picture gets less murky soon. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Top 2028 QB Target Just Showed Why Gators Want Him
Hudson West picked a good stage to keep building his buzz, turning in a strong showing in Sarasota Highs Kickoff Classic that gave Florida plenty to notice. The 2028 quarterback prospect has already picked up a scholarship offer from the Gators, and the early recruiting profile fits the kind of quarterback chase the program has been willing to invest in, with West already drawing three-star status from recruiting services.
For Florida, the appeal is easy to see because the local ties and the arm talent both matter when the staff starts tracking younger quarterbacks this far out. Wests performance only adds to the momentum around his recruitment, and while the process is still in its early stages, some projections already have the Gators in a favorable spot as he continues to emerge. [Read more 🡒]
Florida's Receiver Crowd Just Added More Pressure On Billy Napier
Micah Mays arrived at Florida with the sort of profile that usually gets attention before the first snap even comes. He was one of five wide receivers profiled as a potential breakout transfer for the 2026 season, and the move gives the Gators another interesting name in a pass-catching room that is already drawing plenty of scrutiny as Billy Napier tries to keep the offense moving in the right direction.
For Florida, the appeal is obvious: add more talent, raise the competition level, and see who can separate from the pack once camp arrives. Mays is expected to have a role to chase at his new school, but with so many receivers now fighting for recognition, the larger question is how quickly he can carve out a place in a group that will be judged not just by potential, but by production. [Read more 🡒]