Florida football enters its first season under Jon Sumrall with a goal of moving up in the SEC standings.
Last season, the Florida Gators finished tied with Kentucky for 12th in the conference, going 4-8 overall and 2-6 in league play.
Florida hasn’t posted a winning record in the SEC since 2020, when the Kyle Trask-Kyle Pitts led Gators went 8-3 in league play and reached the SEC title game before falling to Alabama.
With the SEC expanding to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026, Surmall faces an even more daunting challege, given the physicality of the league. UF will play four of its conference games at home, four on the road and its annual rivarly game against Georgia at a neutral site, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Florida has re-tooled its roster under Sumrall, adding 20 new freshmen and 30 new transfers while keeping key core players such as running back Jadan Baugh, wide receiver Vernell Brown III, linebacker Myles Graham and edge rusher Jayden Woods,
Here’s a look at where preseason magazines predict Florida will finish in the SEC in the 2026 season:
Where Athlon Magazine predicts Florida football will finish in the SEC
Athlon Magazine picks Florida to finish ninth in the SEC.
Of Florida, an opposing SEC assistant coach is quoted as saying, “(Jon Sumrall) has hired extremely well. It feels like they’ve really opened up the checkbook … the question marks would still be along the offensive line and at quarterback. They got (Aaron Philo) from Georgia Tech, who knows the system, but in this league, it’s about making critical throws on third down and in the red zone, and that’s yet to be seen … Hiring (offensive coordinator) Buster Faulkner was a home run move. Then getting Philo to come with him and getting (Auburn transfer receiver) Eric Singleton, too … Faulkner can coach offensive football. It is such a departure from what anybody in the SEC does offensively, and they’re gonna have a couple of games where they have an advantage because everything is so new schematically.”
Where Lindy’s Magazine predicts Florida football will finish in SEC
Lindy’s Magazine picks Florida to finish eighth in the SEC.
Of Florida, an anonymous SEC coach is quoted in Lindy’s as saying, “There is a lot of work to do and we have to wait on an answer at quarterback. Someone (Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones Jr.) has to grab it in camp. Getting that settled is 1A. Eric Singleton is fun to watch. He makes plays all over the field. He’s nice … O-Line made huge strides in the spring and has to continue. They work hard and (offensive line coach) Phil (Trautwein) is great, but that is the key for the offense .. D-line has guys but may have to be creative to get the best guys on the field. Lots of versatility but not sure about a true get-the-QB guy. Need to create turnovers. Curious to see if someone steps up and can do that.”
Where Phil Steele predicts Florida football will finish in SEC
Phil Steele magazine picks Florida to finish tied for 11th in the SEC with Vanderbilt and Missouri.
Of Florida, Steele writes, “Billy Napier took over a Gator squad that had below average recruiting class prior to him and faced a Top 10 schedule in all four of his years. After going 8-5 in 2024, they did upset Texas in ’25 but he went 4-8 and was fired mid-year. Jon Sumrall has been to four conference title games in each of his four years as HC (Troy, Tulane). Napier did a solid job recruiting and Sumrall hit the portal hard and brings a new attitude and inherits a more manageable schedule. Florida makes my Most Improved List!”
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: Can Florida football climb SEC preseason pics under Jon Sumrall? What mags say.
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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By Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
