Jadan Baugh keeps the good times rolling in Florida football's season opening win vs FAU

The last nine months have seen massive change for Florida football.

Athletic Director Scott Stricklin hired Jon Sumrall, who brought in a completely new staff. The Gators overhauled their roster, including a new quarterback in Aaron Philo.

Heck, even the Gator Bait cheer returned to The Swamp for the first time since the 2019 season.

One constant remained from the Gators’ last game on November 29:

The dominance of Jadan Baugh.

The Gators running back began the 2026 season right where he left off in 2025 with 14 carries for 160 yards and three touchdowns – despite not playing much of the second half.

Saturday’s performance in the 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic follows his career day vs. Florida State when Baugh ran for 266 yards in the 40-21 win.

The 59 score was the most by UF since a memorable 70-52 win over Samford on November 13, 2021.

That score, plus Baugh’s rushing total, proves what most Florida fans thought the entire offseason….the Georgia native is the key to success for Buster Faulkner’s offense.

“I tell Bust all the time what to do…just hand it to #13. That’ll usually work,” Sumrall said. “Every bit as good as I thought he would be. I told him, the night before the game ‘Hey, I’m glad you’re still here. Thanks for staying.’ Very glad he’s a Florida Gator.”

Baugh, who was pursued hard by every top program in the offseason, said the crowd helped remind him why he decided to stay in Gainesville.

“Hearing how loud it got. I looked back in the stands like wow that’s crazy,” Baugh said. “I’m proud of the guys. We came out here and put full effort into it.”

Although Aaron Philo ended the first drive with a 49-yard touchdown to Vernell Brown III, it was Baugh who established the momentum with rushes of nine and eight yards to start. On the next drive, Baugh ran for 18 yards before a Philo touchdown to Bailey Stockton.

The junior understands that Philo himself can also make a splash with his deep ball.

“I feel like any of our guys can pop one and score touchdowns,” Baugh said.

Baugh finally scored a touchdown of his own from 12 yards out in the second quarter. It was the first of three consecutive scores. The last set up by a 61-yard run early in the third quarter, a carry where Baugh fought for more yards and nearly scored. That impressed his coach.

“We challenged him with that,” Sumrall said. “Sometimes those long explosive runs, I tell the guys…the receivers and the guys in the perimeter. An 8-to-10-yard run becomes a 40-to-50-yard run because they block better.”

Baugh confirmed that Sumrall and Faulkner preached the message of explosiveness all offseason.

“They gave me a lot more confidence to go into the season and ready to play,” Baugh said.

After that drive, which made the score 45-14, Baugh’s day was over. Sumrall, though, enjoyed his energy even on the bench.

“Seeing his enthusiasm for his teammates to have opportunities and success,” Sumrall said. “When he saw Duke (Clark) and Bryon (Louis) and some other guys in the room get carries. Rubio got in there.”

The offseason did see Baugh’s role in the locker room change. He went from an underclassman to one of the few returners and a veteran of the offense. That’s forced the quiet Baugh into a more vocal leadership role.

“I just want to get guys to understand that we can be one of the best offenses in the country, and with me being able to use my voice and get my guys to do what they need to do,” Baugh said.

Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1, Instagram @Ramreporter and Facebook Noah Ram – Reporter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Jadan Baugh keeps the good times rolling in Florida football's season opening win vs FAU