Florida Gators' 2026 Schedule Preview: Texas Longhorns
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We are finally less than a month away from the Florida Gators taking the field for the first time under newly hired head coach Jon Sumrall, which means it's time to look at the program's upcoming schedule.
Unfortunately for Sumrall, the former Tulane Green Waves' head coach will have an uphill battle in his first year at Gainesville. The Gators must take on some of the best teams within the SEC, including one of the preseason favorites to win the National Championship, the Texas Longhorns.
Here's everything you need to know about head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns for the 2026 college football season.
Other Previews:
Game Information
- Week Seven
- Oct 17 at Texas
- Betting Lines: TBD
History
Last year, the Gators pulled off the upset over the Longhorns at home, winning 29-21.
Former starting quarterback DJ Lagway had an impressive performance, throwing for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns. However, it was Florida's defense that stepped up hugely, as the unit forced star quarterback Arch Manning to throw two interceptions. The Gators' offensive line also played a key role in the upset by not allowing a single sack for the entire contest.
Offense
While Florida's defense was able to withstand Manning and the Longhorns' offense in 2025, this year will be completely different due to numerous changes on offense this offseason.
One of the most important additions to Texas this year is former Auburn wideout Cam Coleman, who is considered to be a top receiver in all of college football. Coleman's numbers throughout his time with the Tigers may have been subpar (93 catches, 1,306 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns in two seasons), but at 6-foot-3, 204 lbs., the junior pass catcher should thrive with Manning at the helm in 2026.
In addition to Coleman, Sarkisian also revamped his running back room with two transfers in former NC State standout Hollywood Smothers and former Arizona State rusher Raleek Brown. Smothers was nothing short of impressive during his time with the Wolfpack, recording 1,510 rushing yards in two seasons, while Brown posted over 1,000 rushing yards for the Sun Devils in 2025. Together, the dynamic one-two punch on the ground will give the Longhorns much-needed stability in the run game this season.
The main catalyst on offense this year will once again be Manning, who is coming off a terrific end of the season in 2025. The former five-star quarterback threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first year as a starting quarterback, while also tallying 399 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Manning finally has the weapons around him to take the next step, which could cause the Gators trouble in their mid-season matchup.
Defense
On defense, the Longhorns are set to return multiple starters from the previous season, including star EDGE Colin Simmons.
As one of the top-ranked defensive ends in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Simmons has quickly lived up to the high expectations. In 2025, the Texas native finished with 43 tackles, 15 quarterback hits, and 12 sacks. His ability to consistently apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks will cause plenty of issues for Florida's offensive line.
Simmons will have plenty of help alongside him in the trenches with defensive tackle Hero Kanu returning for his senior season. The 6-foot-5, 299 lbs. interior monster ended his 2025 season with 30 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. While Kanu often gets overshadowed by Simmons on the defensive line, it's clear that he is the perfect complementary piece to assist in both the pass and run game.
Texas' secondary unit heading into this season will feature a blend of returning starters and some new pieces from the transfer portal, such as free safety Jelani McDonald and former Rutgers cornerback Bo Mascoe. McDonald led the Longhorns in tackles last year with 80, while also finishing with four tackles for loss and three interceptions. Mascoe, on the other hand, was a lockdown corner for the Scarlet Knights, recording 102 tackles, eight pass deflections, and two interceptions in his last two seasons with the program.
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