Florida’s 2026 football season will usher in the Jon Sumrall era, and the Gators won’t be short on familiar production when it starts. A strong group of returners stayed put after the move on from Billy Napier, giving Sumrall a foundation that includes a 1,000-yard rusher, a freshman receiving standout and two linebackers who were steady throughout last season.
Jadan Baugh headlines the offense after becoming the team’s first returning 1,000-yard rusher since Errict Rhett in 1992. He now has a chance to become the first Gator to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Vernell Brown III is back after leading Florida in receptions and receiving yards, and he did it as the first true freshman to top the Gators in both categories. On defense, Myles Graham and Jaden Robinson anchor the linebacker group.
Graham finished 10th in the SEC in tackles last season, while Robinson has recorded at least 50 tackles in each of the past two seasons.
At quarterback, Florida is turning to Aaron Philo, the Georgia Tech transfer who brings upside but only one career start.
The Gators open the 2026 schedule at home on Sept. 5 against Florida Atlantic, kicking off a slate that features a mix of early nonconference games, SEC tests and the annual late-season showdown with Florida State. Florida follows the opener with Campbell on Sept. 12 before heading to Auburn on Sept. 19 for an ESPN broadcast.
After that, the schedule turns into a run of dates with times and TV designations still to be determined, including Ole Miss on Sept. 26, a trip to Missouri on Oct. 3, South Carolina at home on Oct. 10, and Texas on the road Oct.
- The rivalry game with Georgia lands on Oct. 31 in Jacksonville and is set for a 3:30 p.m.
ABC window.
The final stretch keeps Florida busy with Oklahoma on Nov. 7, a road trip to Kentucky on Nov. 14, Vanderbilt on Nov. 21 and the season finale at Florida State on Nov.
- If the Gators make it to the SEC title game, that matchup is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. on ABC.
Florida football 2026 TV schedule
Sept. 5: Florida Atlantic, 7:45 p.m., SEC
Sept. 12: Campbell, 5:30 p.m., SEC
Sept. 19: at Auburn, 6:00 p.m., ESPN
Sept.
26: Ole Miss, TBA, TBA
Oct. 3: at Missouri, TBA, TBA
Oct. 10: vs. South Carolina, TBA, TBA
Oct. 17: at Texas, TBA, TBA
Oct.
31: Georgia (at JAX), 3:30 p.m., ABC
Nov.
7: Oklahoma, TBA, TBA
Nov. 14: at Kentucky, TBA, TBA
Nov. 21: Vanderbilt, TBA, TBA
Nov. 27: at Florida State, TBA, TBA
Dec.
5: SEC Championship, 4 p.m., ABC
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The season opener against Louisville gave Ole Miss plenty of drama on the field, but one fans reaction wound up getting nearly as much attention as the game itself. During ESPNs coverage, Sara M. Smith was shown looking understandably stressed after a Louisville touchdown, and the brief moment quickly took on a life of its own once it hit social media.
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Ole Miss Win Comes With One Deuce Alexander Debate
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Alexanders second touchdown also left behind a small bit of sideline debate, thanks to a celebration that came immediately after he crossed the stripe. On the play, he flipped the ball behind him and may have let it go before fully reaching the goal line, but the officials did not stop to review it, allowing the score to stand and Ole Miss to keep control of a game it could not afford to lose. [Read more 🡒]
Trinidad Chambliss Answered Ole Miss Biggest Week 1 Question
The most important thing Ole Miss needed to learn in Week 1 was whether Trinidad Chambliss could steady a game that might have gotten away early, and he answered it in a big way against Louisville. After a shaky start that included turnovers, Chambliss settled in and kept the Rebels on course in a back-and-forth matchup, piling up 386 passing yards and accounting for four touchdowns while helping Ole Miss survive a 41-38 finish.
What stood out most was how the game tightened around him late, when every possession mattered and the Rebels needed someone to handle the pressure instead of adding to it. In a weekend when a lot of SEC teams cruised through lopsided openers, Ole Miss got a real test, and Chambliss final drive gave the Rebels a much clearer idea of what they have under center as the season moves into a tougher stretch. [Read more 🡒]