By: Joseph Stuckey

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Swamp in Gainesville is buzzing as the Billy Napier era ends and the Jon Sumerall era has begun.

Coach Sumerall comes to the Gators from Tulane, where he was head coach for 2 years; prior to that, he was head coach at Troy for 2 years. He has a record of 43-12 and led Tulane to a CFP berth last season.

The Gators have also been hot on the recruiting trail this summer, and according to 24/7Sports, they are number 11 in the country and number 6 in the SEC; their class is currently headlined by 5-star O-Lineman Maxwell Hiller.

But the focus is starting to turn to their 2026 campaign as the Gators look to turn this recharged energy into wins on the field.

To start, the Gators are moving forward Lagway-less; their quarterback of the future is now a Baylor Bear. So, at the quarterback position, the Gators will look to either Tramell Jones Jr., who was a 3-star recruit for the Gators in the 2025 class, or Aaron Philo, who many Georgia Tech fans thought would replace Haynes King in Atlanta.

The new Offensive Coordinator for the Gators also came from Georgia Tech, as Buster Faulkner will be calling plays, and if I had to bet who was going to start game number 1 against Florida Atlantic, it would be Philo.

It’s also worth noting from a local perspective that former Portal Panther and Redshirt Sophomore Amir Jackson has a lot of signs pointing his way towards being an impact player this season at Tight End.

According to ESPN, the Gators have the 7th toughest strength of schedule in the country; as a side note, 14 of the top 15 are all SEC teams.

To start off the season, the Gators will host Zach Kittley’s Florida Atlantic Owls and their high-octane offense. He is currently the youngest coach at the FBS level at age 34. I am putting the Gators on upset watch for this game.

Next, they will host FCS opponent Campbell University Camels before a trip to The Plains of Auburn for their first SEC matchup of the season.

Then they will get deep into SEC play as they will host Ole Miss, who is fresh off a trip to the CFP. This will be followed by a trip to take on Eli Drinkwitz’s Missouri Tigers squad in Columbia, Missouri.

Then Shane Beamer’s squad will come to town in what will probably be a must-win game for both squads.

This will be followed by a trip to Austin, Texas to take on the Longhorns.

Next is what is slated to be a “neutral site” game against the Georgia Bulldogs at The Benz in Atlanta.

Following that game, the Sooners of Oklahoma will visit The Swamp, also fresh off a CFP appearance.

The Gators will then travel to Lexington, Kentucky for what will most likely be another must-win game for both squads. Then, for the final home game of the season, they will host the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Then, for rivalry weekend, they will travel up the road to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles.

With a first-year head coach, there is always a big unknown, and anything can happen.

The Gators return a lot of talent and have good coaches in place, so I set the ceiling at 9 wins and the floor at 6-6, which would put the Gators headed to a bowl game in the first season under Coach Sumerall.