FAU at Florida: Five things to watch in Gators' season opener

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A new chapter begins for Florida football and first-year head coach Jon Sumrall as the Gators take on Florida Atlantic Saturday. Florida's offseason was filled with turnover. The program welcomed two new coordinators, 50 roster additions and a new identity under Sumrall and his staff.

Many of the spring headlines around Florida centered on the culture Sumrall plans to establish at UF. Both players and recruits have raved about the team's direction. The opener should provide an early look at how quickly Sumrall has reshaped the program.

Florida is expected to handle the Owls, but Week 1 is about more than the final score. Here are five things to watch as the Gators kick off the 2026 season.

1. Aaron Philo's debut

The Georgia Tech transfer makes his first start for the Gators after beating out redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. Philo's command of Buster Faulkner's offense, along with his accuracy, ultimately separated him during fall camp. Can he now use Weeks 1 and 2 to slam the door on any controversy?

2. Jadan Baugh & Co.

Baugh enters 2026 as the clear centerpiece of Florida's offense after rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2025. The junior's success will depend heavily on a retooled offensive line that lost two longtime starters to the NFL in April. Can this unit consistently create running lanes for the preseason First-Team All-American?

3. Secondary vs. Caden Veltkamp

The Gators' secondary gets an immediate test against Veltkamp, who helped FAU lead the nation with 340.2 passing yards per game last season. While he threw for more than 3,600 yards last year, he also tossed 17 interceptions. It would be encouraging to see the group grab a few picks on Saturday. Reinforcements from the transfer portal add experience at safety with senior DJ Coleman from Baylor and at nickelback with Kanye Clark from UCLA, joining senior strong safety Bryce Thornton.

4. First impressions of Jon Sumrall

Saturday represents the first real look at what Sumrall's version of Florida football will evolve into. I will be keeping a close eye on the overall demeanor of the team as well as Sumrall's presence on the sideline. I expect to see more discipline and cleaner execution under this new regime. Most importantly, how the Gators respond to any early adversity will be key to affirming this new identity.

5. Impact underclassmen (Wilson, Hanks III)

Florida will lean on a few young players as key contributors on Saturday. Redshirt freshman receiver Dallas Wilson and cornerback Ben Hanks III have been impressive during camp and are both listed as starters. Both former blue-chip prospects have SEC-level talent and athleticism — it will be interesting to see how quickly they can translate their potential into production.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: FAU at Florida: Five things to watch in Gators' season opener

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