On3’s preseason top 25 for 2026 raised a few eyebrows on Tuesday, and Florida’s spot at No. 25 is the one drawing the most debate.
The question is simple enough: after the way the Gators handled their offseason, do they belong in the rankings before the 2026 season even kicks off? There’s a real case for it.
Florida’s new staff alone gives the program a different feel, and Jon Sumrall arrives with a track record that stands well above what Billy Napier produced in four years in Gainesville. Sumrall hasn’t coached a game at the Power Four level yet, but he has already been part of a College Football Playoff appearance and has won everywhere he’s been the head coach.
He also brought in Buster Faulkner to run the offense, and that hire matters. Faulkner helped turn Georgia Tech into a legitimate problem for defenses, and he played a big role in developing Haynes King into a Heisman candidate. In 2025, that offense finished 11th in yards per game at 460, 22nd in rushing yards per game at 197.5 and 27th in points per game at 32.2.
Florida’s skill talent is another reason people are willing to buy in. At receiver, the Gators have Vernell Brown III, Dallas Wilson and Eric Singleton Jr., plus other capable pass catchers. In the backfield, Jadan Baugh leads a group that also includes Evan Pryor, Duke Clark and London Montgomery.
There’s talent on the other side of the ball too. Jayden Woods, Myles Graham and Bryce Thornton are the names at the top of the defense, with Aaron Chiles, Dijon Johnson, Cormani McClain, Kamran James and DJ Coleman also in the mix.
Still, the ranking isn’t without its obvious concerns. Sumrall is stepping into his first Power Four head-coaching job, and that makes his first SEC season a major unknown.
The quarterback situation is also unsettled, with Tramell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo battling for the No. 1 job. Between them, they have one start behind center, and that kind of inexperience is a tough sell in this league.
The offensive line is the other big question mark. Florida added new pieces, but that unit has been under constant scrutiny all offseason.
Former Georgia Tech lineman Harrison Moore is the biggest addition so far, and he’s expected to start at center. Even so, he’s joining returning linemen who struggled badly in 2025, and Sumrall is counting on the Phil Trautwein hire to help get the group to a workable level.
So whether Florida at No. 25 feels justified or premature, that’s the debate hanging over the Gators right now. Only time will tell if On3 got it right or went too far.
In Other News...
Floridas First Full-Pad Practice Exposed One Big Question Up Front
The Gators got into full pads for the first time of fall camp on Aug. 11, a useful checkpoint as they move through their sixth practice and inch toward the Sept. 5 season opener. The first day in full gear usually tells you a lot about where a roster is sturdy and where the coaches are still searching, and Floridas work showed both. The team is still building toward live tackling, which is set to begin Aug. 15 during an intrasquad scrimmage, so this was the stage where the competition started to sharpen without quite turning fully real.
One of the more encouraging signs came with wide receiver Dallas Wilson back in live passing work, giving the offense another piece to evaluate as camp intensity rises. Up front, though, the Gators are still feeling out their best combinations, and that uncertainty extends beyond the obvious starting spots. Theres also a real battle developing behind Jayden Woods at edge rusher, which only adds to the sense that Floridas depth chart is far from settled even as the season start gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Florida QB Battle Reignites Concern Over Aaron Philos Biggest Limitation
The quarterback competition in Gainesville has stayed one of the most watched parts of Floridas offseason, and a recent practice clip involving Aaron Philo brought an old concern right back into focus. Philo arrived with a reputation for being a steady, capable passer, but questions about arm strength have followed him since his Georgia Tech days, and this look only sharpened the conversation around what he can and cannot do in the Gators offense.
None of that means the battle is anywhere close to settled. Tramell Jones Jr. brings a different set of strengths, and Florida still appears to be weighing how each quarterback fits the job rather than simply chasing one trait in a vacuum. Arm strength matters, but it is only one piece of the evaluation, and the open competition suggests the staff is still sorting out which skill set gives the Gators the best path forward. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Receiver Battle Just Got Tougher For One Overlooked Gator
A quiet subplot in Floridas receiver room has been TJ Abrams decision to stick around after the coaching change, a choice that kept the redshirt sophomore in Gainesville even as the roster and depth chart continue to shift. Abrams had every reason to weigh his options, but staying put reflects both his comfort in Florida and the value he places on finishing his degree at the university, which gives his return a different kind of meaning than a typical offseason stay-or-go decision.
Now the work gets more competitive. Abrams is headed into fall camp with a crowded group of receivers around him, and hes using the offseason to sharpen the parts of his game that can separate him from the pack, focusing on his speed and route running with the staff. For a player looking to carve out a bigger role, theres not much margin for error, and this camp will be a first real test of whether that patience turns into opportunity. [Read more 🡒]