A look at new UF coach Jon Sumrall’s first Gators’ schedule in 2026
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GAINESVILLE — The first schedule for Jon Sumrall at Florida offers a chance to quickly see how he stacks up against fellow first-year SEC coaches at schools interested in Sumrall’s services to fill their job openings.
Following a soft opening with visits from Florida Atlantic Sept. 5 and Campbell University Sept. 12, Florida heads to Auburn Sept. 19 to face former USF coach Alex Golesh and the Tigers as the first game of the new nine-game SEC schedule. The trip will be the Gators’ first to iconic Jordan-Hare Stadium since a 17-6 loss in 2011.
On Sept. 26, Ole Miss will visit the Swamp with new coach Pete Golding, who stepped in for one-time UF top target Lane Kiffin after he left for LSU.
The Auburn visit is one of six games away from Gainesville.
The Gators will visit Missouri Oct. 3 and Texas Oct. 17 followed by an open date before squaring off with Georgia Oct. 31 in Atlanta. The longtime rivals will play away from Jacksonville, the home to the series since 1933, because of stadium renovations at EverBank Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2027, Gators and Bulldogs will meet in Tampa.
UF has a Nov. 14 visit to Kentucky, where the Gators have lost three straight games, including a 38-7 blowout loss Nov. 8. On Nov. 28, Florida will visit Florida State — 40-21 losers last month in the Swamp.
Besides the visits from FAU, Campbell and Ole Miss, Florida will host South Carolina Oct. 10, Oklahoma Nov. 7 and Vanderbilt Nov. 21. Oklahoma and Florida never have met in the Swamp, with their two meetings in the 2008 national title game, a 24-14 Gators’ win, and a Sooners 55-20 rout in the 2020 Cotton Bowl.
Winning outside of Gainesville will be key to Sumrall’s long-term success in Gainesville.
Former coach Billy Napier’s were 5-18 away from the Swamp in four seasons.
Entering No. 11 Tulane’s Dec. 20 visit to No. 6 Ole Miss, Sumrall is 17-9 in away games during four seasons as a head coach, two with the Green Wave (2024-25) and two at Troy (2022-23).
The trip to Auburn and visit from Ole Miss in consecutive weeks are especially intriguing.
Sumrall was in Auburn’s sights after the school fired Huge Freeze, but once Florida shifted its focus from Kiffin, the Tigers were forced to change direction and hire Golesh. Golesh led USF to an 18-16 upset against UF Sept. 6 in Gainesville.
Sumrall’s ties to Ole Miss, where he coached linebackers in 2018, and his 43-11 record as a head coach made the Rebels another potential suitor for the 43-year-old Gators’ coach.
UF’s new coordinators will each have their own storylines.
Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner will face Georgia, where he worked from 2020-22, in Atlanta, where he oversaw Georgia Tech’s attack the past three seasons. Defensive coordinator Brad White will return to Kentucky, where he coached since 2018, including as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator since 2019.
UF’s 2026 schedule
Sept. 5 FAU
Sept. 12 CAMPBELL
Sept. 19 at Auburn
Sept. 26 OLE MISS
Oct. 3 at Missouri
Oct. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 17 at Texas
Oct. 24 OPEN
Oct. 31 vs. Georgia (Atlanta)
Nov. 7 OKLAHOMA
Nov. 14 at Kentucky
Nov. 21 VANDERBILT
Nov. 28 at Florida State
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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