Jon Sumrall’s Florida team kept rolling in Week 2, and the Gators did it in emphatic fashion with a 52-3 win over Campbell to move to 2-0 in the 2026 season.
The performance had a little bit of everything for Florida: efficient quarterback play, a runaway rushing attack, big-time special teams fireworks and a defense that barely let Campbell breathe.
Aaron Philo handled the offense cleanly and confidently. The starting quarterback finished 16 of 21 for 242 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and he added 13 rushing yards plus another score on three carries. Florida didn’t need him to carry the whole load, but he made the most of his chances when the Gators opened things up.
Jadan Baugh was the engine, though. The running back put together the kind of day that grabs attention fast, piling up 136 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries. Through the first two weeks, Baugh has already separated himself as one of the top backs in college football, and his stock keeps climbing.
The passing game had its own standouts. Dallas Wilson led Florida with five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown, while Vernell Brown III chipped in with three receptions for 43 yards and a score.
Brown’s biggest impact, though, came after the catch - and after the punt. He ripped off four punt returns for 173 yards and two touchdowns, giving Florida a special teams weapon that can tilt games in a hurry.
On the other side of the ball, the Gators were just as overwhelming. Campbell managed only a field goal and finished with 148 passing yards and 62 rushing yards on 25 carries, good for 2.5 yards per carry.
Florida’s defense also forced mistakes, with Aaron Chiles and Myles Johnson each recovering a fumble. LJ McCray recorded a sack, and Jayden Woods and Jeramiah McCloud combined on another.
Sumrall has Florida looking sharp early, and the roster overhaul he brought in during the offseason is already showing up on the field. The Gators now turn their attention to a Week 3 matchup with Auburn, with a chance to move to 3-0.
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Floridas SEC Opener Just Got More Concerning For This Gators Playmaker
Eric Singletons status is giving Florida another issue to sort through as it heads into its SEC opener against Auburn. The Gators receiver has been limited in practice while working back from an ankle injury, and coach Jon Sumrall said he is not yet guaranteed to play. Singleton has already missed games because of the injury, leaving Florida without one of its pass-catching options as the league schedule begins to tighten.
A return for Auburn would obviously help, but the more realistic question is whether Singleton can be ready to contribute without being rushed. Florida is at least keeping alive the possibility that he could be back for the Ole Miss game on Sept. 26, which gives the Gators a little more time to manage the situation. For now, though, his availability is one of the more notable injury watch items hanging over the weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Eric Singleton Jr Brings Major Suspense To Floridas Auburn Test
Floridas preparation for Auburn has come with a dose of uncertainty, and it starts with Eric Singleton Jr. The receiver, who transferred to Gainesville from Auburn, has been sidelined by an ankle injury sustained in Week 1, and head coach Jon Sumrall said both Singleton and defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo were limited in practice this week. The encouraging part for Florida is that both players are out of their walking boots, a sign they are moving in the right direction as the Gators get closer to kickoff.
Still, the bigger question is whether either will actually be available when Florida lines up against Auburn. Sumrall called both questionable, which leaves the Gators waiting on two players who could affect the game in very different ways, especially Singleton against the school he just left. For a Florida team trying to sort out its lineup late in the week, the uncertainty is enough to keep this matchup feeling a little more tense than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Vernell Brown III Is Giving Florida A Dangerous New Weapon
Vernell Brown III gave Florida a jolt in Week 2 against Campbell, and not just because the Gators were able to cash in on a lopsided win. The freshman showed up in every phase he touched, turning two punt returns into touchdowns while also adding three catches for 43 yards and another score, a reminder that his value goes well beyond the return game.
What makes the performance more intriguing for Florida is the process behind it. Special teams coach Jon Sumrall pointed to analyst Greg McMahons new punt return strategy as part of the setup that helped Brown break loose, and Browns arrival in Gainesville already carried a bigger meaning, tied to his family legacy and the staffs vision for how he could be used. If this was the first glimpse of what that plan can look like, the Gators may have found a dangerous new weapon. [Read more 🡒]