Florida’s road trip to Kentucky on November 14 already looks like one of the swing games on the 2026 schedule, and the matchup may come down to something simple: can Florida force Kentucky into mistakes?
That’s the shape of the game if new Kentucky coach Will Stein’s first offense in Lexington looks anything like the one he described at SEC Media Days. Stein didn’t exactly hide his confidence when asked why he believed he could win big at Kentucky.
“This is going to sound like really... I think because of me, to be honest.
I think 'cause of me. I think I know what it takes.
I have seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level.”
He then laid out an offense built around efficiency, ball control and avoiding negative plays. Stein talked about first-down success rate, points per possession, turnover margin and explosive plays as the things that decide games. He also said Kentucky would want to “control the line of scrimmage, run the football” and be able to “get four or five yards.”
At the same time, Stein made it clear he expects the Wildcats to be able to do more than just grind. He pointed to the need for explosive plays while also stressing a run-heavy identity, a blend that suggests Kentucky wants defenses guessing and wants steady positive yards every snap.
That’s where Florida’s new coach, Jon Sumrall, enters the picture.
If Stein’s offense is built to stay on schedule and limit damage, Sumrall’s best answer may be the same kind of havoc he leaned on at Tulane. The turnover battle could be the whole story here. Stein’s Oregon offenses were not exactly clean in that area - the Ducks were tied for 49th in turnovers lost last season, and in each of Stein’s three years in Eugene, Oregon committed more turnovers than it had the year before.
Sumrall, meanwhile, has a track record of flipping games with takeaways. Tulane forced 25 turnovers in 2025, good for ninth in the country, after forcing 22 in 2024.
With the Kentucky game coming late enough in the season for both staffs to settle in, Florida will have time to sort out what Stein’s new-look attack really is. But if Sumrall can get turnovers at anything close to the rate he produced at Tulane, he has a clear path to wrecking Kentucky’s plans before they ever get comfortable.
In Other News...
Jadan Baugh Just Sent A Bold Message About Florida's Defense
Jadan Baugh spent his time at SEC Media Days sounding less like a running back and more like a believer in what Florida is trying to build on the other side of the ball. With Jon Sumrall overseeing a roster overhaul and Buster Faulkner stepping in to guide an offense that still has plenty to sort out, Baugh pointed to the Gators defense as the unit that can help steady things early. He described it as fast and electric, the kind of group that should make life difficult for opponents once the season starts.
For Baugh, the message was about more than just praise from the sideline. He also talked about the leadership role he sees for himself on a team filled with transfers and younger players, saying he is trying to become the best leader he can in that setting. If Florida is going to lean on its defense the way it hopes, that kind of voice inside the locker room could matter just as much as the speed and energy Baugh sees on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Jadan Baugh Suddenly Sits At The Center Of Florida's QB Uncertainty
Floridas quarterback picture remains unsettled as the staff works through a competition between transfer Aaron Philo and freshman Tramell Jones Jr., with the expectation that both will have a role. In the middle of that conversation sits Jadan Baugh, who has been lined up for more than the usual running back duties as offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner looks for ways to keep the offense flexible.
Baughs versatility gives Florida another layer to sort out while the quarterback battle plays out, especially with the staff still deciding how it wants to deploy him. The open question is less about whether he will be involved and more about how far the Gators are willing to go with that package as they settle on a starter and build out the rest of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Jon Sumrall Just Raised A Major Red Flag For Florida's Offense
After 15 spring practices, Jon Sumrall left with a clear concern about Floridas offense, and it starts up front. The Gators offensive line did not leave the kind of impression he wanted when he first arrived in Gainesville, and he described that unit as underwhelming before the group had a chance to reset and attack the offseason work ahead.
There is still some optimism built into the roster, though, because Sumrall pointed to Jadan Baugh and a talented group of receivers as players who can help steady the offense while the line sorts itself out. The bigger question now is whether summer training camp can turn that early red flag into something closer to a strength before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]