Florida football vs FAU: Odds, injuries, predictions and key matchups

Florida football will open the Jon Sumrall era with an in-state foe when it hosts Florida Atlantic at The Swamp.

The Florida Gators will play their first game under the 44-year-old Sumrall, who was hired from Tulane on Nov. 30, 2025, after leading the Green Wave to an American Conference title and College Football Playoff Appearance.

Georgia Tech transfer and redshirt sophomore quarterback Aaron Philo will make his starting debut for the Gators. Sumrall named Philo the starter last week after he beat out returning redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. for the starting job in fall camp.

In six career games and one career start at Georgia Tech, Philo has passed for 938 yards with 2 TDs to 3 interceptions, while adding 1 rushing TD.

Florida Atlantic, entering its second season under head coach Zack Kittley, is coming off a 4-8 season. The Owls led the nation in pass offense last season, averaging 340.2 yards per game, but ranked 130th out of 136 FBS teams in total defense last season, surrendering 436.5 yards per game.

FAU is led by quarterback Caden Veltkamp, a Maxwell Award candidate who passed for 3,641 yards last season with 24 TDs to 17 interceptions.

Florida football vs FAU

Over/Under: 59.5

Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

Kickoff: 7:45 ET

TV: SEC Network

Streaming: Fubo, ESPN+

Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier Field (a.k.a The Swamp), Gainesville, capacity 88,548.

Spread: Florida – 27.5 (Per BetMGM)

Florida football vs FAU guarantee

Florida football is playing Florida Atlantic $1.2 million to play the game, per terms of the game contract.

Florida football vs FAU projected depth chart

Here is the projected depth chart for Florida in its season opener vs FAU.

Florida football vs FAU tickets

Tickets for Florida football vs Florida Atlantic can be found here and are going as low as $58 on secondary markets.

Florida football coach Jon Sumrall press conference

Jon Sumrall praises FAU

Sumrall opens press conference mentioning FAU's strengths, including QB Colton Veltkamp, WR Easton Messer and FAU's special teams. "We need to be dialed in on that phase of the game."

Jon Sumrall on his coaching debut at Florida, The Swamp

Sumrall said Monday through Friday is about him, game prep. Saturday is for the players. Sumrall says he will be "amped" coming out of the tunnel.

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football vs FAU: Odds, injuries, predictions and key matchups