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. On Sept. 26, Ole Miss will visit the Swamp with new coach Pete Golding, who stepped in for 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 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 Nov. 29 in the Swamp.

Besides visit from FAU, Campbell and Ole Miss, Florida will host South Carolina Oct. 10, Oklahoma Nov. 7 and Vanderbilt Nov. 21. Oklahoma and Florida have never 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 was 5-18 away from the Swamp.

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 trips 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 force 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 make the Rebels another potential suitor for the 43-year-old Gators’ coach.

UF’s new coordinators will each have his 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 season. 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

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/11/florida-gators-football-2026-schedule-jon-sumrall/