The Florida Gators are stepping into a new chapter, and all eyes are on Jon Sumrall as he takes the reins in Gainesville. The former Group of Five head coach is the latest to try and steady a program that’s been searching for stability ever since the Steve Spurrier days. And let’s be honest - that search has felt more like a carousel than a coaching pipeline.
Since Spurrier hung up the visor, only Urban Meyer has lasted more than five seasons in the Swamp, guiding Florida from 2005 to 2010. Since then, it’s been a revolving door: coaches come in with promise, but few leave with lasting success. Billy Napier was the most recent to try his hand, and now he’s moved on to James Madison after his stint in Gainesville didn’t quite pan out.
Enter Sumrall, who inherits a program with talent on the roster but plenty of question marks. And right now, one of those question marks is looming large - star running back Jadan Baugh.
Baugh was the driving force behind the Gators’ emphatic win over rival Florida State in 2025, torching the Seminoles on the road with a jaw-dropping 266 rushing yards. That kind of performance doesn’t just win games - it leaves scars. And for Florida State fans, it’s the kind of game you don’t forget, especially considering it came under the watch of Mike Norvell, who’s already had his share of frustrating losses to interim Gators coaches like Billy Gonzales and Greg Knox.
But now, there’s a twist. Baugh has scrubbed all mentions of Florida from his social media bios - a move that, in today’s college football world, often signals more than just a rebrand. It’s not official, and nothing’s been confirmed beyond the social media changes, but in this era of the portal and player mobility, even a subtle move like that can send fanbases into a frenzy.
And let’s not sugarcoat it - losing Baugh would be a major blow. Over the past two seasons, he’s racked up more than 1,800 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. That kind of production doesn’t grow on trees, and replacing it won’t be easy, especially with the Gators already seeing former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway enter the transfer portal.
So what’s going on in Gainesville? Is this just the usual turbulence that comes with a coaching change, or are we seeing early signs of deeper issues under Sumrall’s watch? It’s too early to make a definitive call, but the smoke is there - and in college football, where there’s smoke, there’s often a transfer announcement not far behind.
For now, Gator Nation will have to hold its breath and hope that Baugh’s social media reset is just that - a reset, not a goodbye. Because if he’s truly on his way out, the new staff better have a Plan B ready. The Swamp is a tough place to rebuild when the stars start walking out the door.