Has Florida finally turned a corner after Ole Miss upset?

Has Florida finally turned a corner after Ole Miss upset?

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Has Florida finally turned a corner after Ole Miss upset?

Has Florida finally turned a corner after Ole Miss upset? originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the first time in years, the question surrounding Florida football isn't whether the Gators can compete. It's whether they've finally turned the corner.

The Gators came into the season unranked, and now they are 4-0 and rank No. 8, up 13 spots from their previous ranking at No. 21. They are coming off a convincing 52-28 win over Ole Miss. A team that was once at the helm of college football may have finally turned the corner.

Florida finished 4-8 last season and has already matched their win total this year. Billy Napier was fired after seven games. Jon Sumrall was hired and is undefeated in his new campaign. The team is showing signs of dominance early after a 24-point win against a team considered to be one of the best in the SEC.

Under Napier, the Gators struggled to contend in the SEC. He was the first Florida head coach to finish his tenure with a losing record since the 1940s. The Gators were 5-17 against ranked opponents with Napier and did not win a single game on the road with a 0-14 record. Despite an obviously struggling offense, he refused to surrender his play calling duties. With backlash from fans and below-standard results, Florida looked the other way.

Sumrall comes in with some success under his belt during his time at Tulane. He finished with a 20-8 overall record and a CFP first round appearance. In his two seasons, Tulane appeared in the AAC Championship game both years. They finished second place in 2024 and tied for first in 2025. He's proven he can win and is setting the tone in Gainesville.

With Sumrall calling the shots, Florida is already 1-0 against ranked opponents and 2-0 in SEC games. The Sumrall hire is proving to be a good one, so far. Florida still has plenty to prove, but the conversation around the Gators has already changed.

The program that finished 4-8 last season is now 4-0, ranked eighth in the country and coming off a 52-point performance against a top five SEC opponent. Whether this is the beginning of a sustained resurgence remains to be seen. For now, though, Florida has given college football a reason to start paying attention again.

The Gators face another ranked opponent on Saturday, October 3, against No. 25 Missouri (3:30 p.m. ET).

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos