In just Zimmerman’s third match as UF coach, the Gators (2-1) ended an eight-match losing streak in the series and defeated the No. 3 Seminoles (3-1) for the first time since Aug. 30, 2015. 

The two-goal margin also marked Florida’s largest victory against its rival since a 2-0 win on Sept. 5, 2003.

“This is a huge, huge win for our program, for our organization,” Zimmerman said. “We’re going to celebrate, we’re going to enjoy it, and then we’re going to get back to work because it’s just the next game.”

The result carried national significance, too. The Gators snapped Florida State’s 36-match unbeaten streak in regular-season nonconference play, a run that dated to the middle of the 2019 season.

Kyra Taylor helped end FSU’s 13-game unbeaten streak by scoring two goals and Montelene Dymond made it 3-0 in the 79th minute. 

Florida established its approach immediately with a high press and quick transitions. Tatum Borman produced the Gators’ first attempt on goal in the sixth minute after a counterattack. 

Four minutes later, Taylor forced Florida State goalkeeper Kate Ockene into an outstanding save.

The opening 15 minutes were physical, with the teams combining for six fouls. Still, Florida continued to find openings. Sophia Sindelar slipped a pass through the Seminoles’ back line to Zoe Main in the 21st minute, but the Seminoles goalie Kate Ockene stopped Main’s shot.

Florida broke through moments later. Freshman Mia Gray delivered a corner into the box, and Taylor headed it home in the 21st minute to put the Gators in front. It was Florida’s first goal against the Seminoles since a 5-2 loss on Sept. 2, 2021.

The lead survived due to Gators goalie Jayden Emmanuel. Less than two minutes after Taylor’s opener, Florida State’s Shaneil Buckley broke behind the defense for a one-on-one chance. Emmanuel held her ground and denied Buckley’s low shot with a reaction save.

“Honestly, I think my mind was kind of blank,” Emmanuel said. “When I saw her take that big touch in the box, I was like, ‘Now.’ … It was just my instinct.”

The Gators entered halftime with a 1-0 lead after outshooting Florida State 7-4. The Seminoles committed eight of the half’s 12 fouls as Florida repeatedly won duels and disrupted their buildup. 

Florida State opened the second half with more possession and a higher press, but the Gators defense absorbed the pressure. 

Emmanuel made another save on Nyanya Touray in the 56th minute before the Gators found space going the other way on the counter.

In the 62nd minute, Main passed to Taylor in the left side of the penalty area. Taylor finished with her left foot into the bottom-right corner to double Florida’s advantage.

The goal completed Taylor’s second consecutive brace after she also scored twice in Florida’s 3-2 win against Coastal Carolina on Thursday.

Her four goals through three matches already equal the total she recorded across 20 appearances for Mississippi State in 2025.

“Obviously, I couldn’t have done it by myself,” Taylor said. “My teammates are a big part of that. Without them, I’m not here.”

Florida put the match away with another counterattack at 78th minute when Borman released Dymond, who calmly rounded the Seminoles goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an open net for her first goal as a Gator.

“She takes the touch, and then it felt like everything was in slow motion,” Zimmerman said. “You see it hit the net, and I think at that moment you’re like, ‘OK.’”

Freshman Ryder Ajeto pulled one back for the Seminoles in the 83rd minute, but Florida closed out the final minutes without allowing last season’s champions any closer. 

The Gators finished with a 14-8 advantage in shots and an 8-5 edge in shots on goal, while Emmanuel made four saves in her first start of the season.

The afternoon also produced a Dizney Stadium soccer attendance record at 1,632, surpassing the previous mark of 1,412 set during Florida’s win vs. Texas on Oct. 4, 2024.

“Hopefully they enjoyed it. Hopefully we continue to pack this place,” Zimmerman said. “This is a special place, and we’re beyond grateful.”

Florida returns to Dizney Stadium at 6 p.m. Thursday to face Jacksonville (1-0-1). Coverage is on SEC Network+ and ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF.

Last October, the Panthers trotted onto Santa Fe’s field, trouncing the Raiders 27-7. This year, the Raiders (1-0) took the 14-mile bus ride and returned the favor, powering past the Panthers (0-1) 30-16 on Friday.

“They got to celebrate the rivalry this whole offseason [and] summer, so it means everything coming over here to their field, beating them [and] getting our get back,” Peterson said. 

The result represented the Raiders’ first win over the Panthers since 2019, but the win’s significance lies in history, not records. Friday’s season opener marked the return of a tradition dating back to the 1970s, with the teams opening against each other for the first time in two years. 

In 2024, Newberry joined Class 2A District 5, turning Santa Fe into a district opponent, which pushed their game to the middle of the season. The Panthers moved into the Class 2A District 4 division ahead of the 2026 season, allowing the schools to return to the typical season opener. 

Newberry athletic director Bryan Roundtree played for the Panthers from 1993 to 1997 and expected the tradition’s return to produce a large turnout. The community met his expectations with over 800 fans piling into Newberry’s stadium, dividing into a sea of blue and red.

“Week one’s where we need to be playing,” Roundtree said. “It was great to be able to bring the excitement back. You talk about it all summer. These communities, we work with each other, we know each other, we grew up around each other, we played against each other [since] a lot of us are alumni, so it’s a fun way to start the season.”

Peterson added another branch to his family’s deep roots at Santa Fe, becoming the third generation of Petersons to play for the Raiders and in the season opener  against Newberry.

Peterson’s dad, former Gators linebacker Mike Peterson, and uncle, Adrian Peterson, each helped lead the Raiders to one of their two state championships — Mike in 1991 and Adrian in 1994. Both went on to play in the NFL but still remember the weight of the rivalry game, making sure to pass their knowledge along to Peterson. 

“All week, [my dad], my grandpa, my uncle said something about how big this game [is and] how special it is to have it as the first game of the season,” Peterson said. “So all week [I] just [had a] little bird in my ear telling me that this game means something else.”

Peterson wasn’t the only one on the field with deeper connections to the rivalry. Eighteen years after graduating from Newberry in 2001, coach Ed Johnson took charge of the team he once played for.

He grew up watching his brothers play alongside Newberry stars Maurice Bell and former Gator Keith Kelsey in the rivalry games against Mike and Adrian.

“We just had a bunch of legends running around trying to beat each other and compete,” Johnson said. 

Newberry alum Antawn Ivey, who played for the Panthers and graduated in 2007, still refuses to miss Friday night lights, supporting his alma mater for the last 15 years. Ivey watched players on both sides grow up playing each other, turning Friday’s game into a full-circle moment as he watched his nephews carry on the same tradition he once took part in. 

“These players grew up watching each other from their uncles, their older brothers and siblings,” Ivey said. “It’s great to see my nephews and my kids being able to play and do the same thing we were doing back in school.”

The rivalry puts Newberry registrar Heather Dampier in a tricky position as she graduated from Santa Fe, where she met her husband and sent her two children. Dampier’s son already graduated from Santa Fe, but her daughter spent her Friday night on the sidelines as a Raiders cheerleader. 

Dampier’s solution to the conundrum proved simple, sporting a T-shirt that represented both schools equally. Regardless of which side succeeded, Dampier appreciated how the game boosted the team’s fundraising efforts while deterring students from trouble. 

“All these kids could be out doing something else that they’re not supposed to be doing, and to see them here at a football game on a Friday night, it warms my heart,” Dampier said.  

Ahead of Johnson’s senior season, his coach, Scott Pritchett, left the Panthers in 2000 to coach the Raiders squad, further intensifying the rivalry. Former Newberry coach Tommy Keeler added another wrinkle in the relationship between the schools when he ended his six-year coaching stint in 2011 to take over the reins at Santa Fe. 

Now that Johnson switched out his helmet for a headset, his perspective on the rivalry evolved.

“When I was playing, [I] didn’t see the big picture,” Johnson said. “You just wanted to play the game and beat them. As a coach, you get to see the rivalry, the history; you also got to try to keep everything in perspective. It’s still just a game, and the sun will rise Saturday morning no matter what.”

Last Saturday against the New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville got out to the same, slow 20-6 start, but rebounded in a late surge to secure a 24-20 victory. Friday, however, the second half resulted in more fizzle than fight. 

Jacksonville allowed another 14 points, continuing to be outscored after adding just 11 to its own efforts.

The night came with upside but exposed plenty of kinks the Jaguars still need to smooth out on both sides of the ball in a 34-17 loss. 

“I thought today was a good step in the right direction in terms of running the football and getting stuff targeted and communicated the right way,” coach Liam Coen said.

Experience against the first string 

Coen decided not to play his starters in Friday night’s matchup, but Panthers’ coach Dave Canales had his own first team suit up. Throughout the night, the Jaguars defense matched up with some of Carolina’s most elite offensive players – including starting quarterback Bryce Young – with the backups.

The experience only helps, but the result left more to be desired for Coen and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile on defense. The Jaguars forced no turnovers, and uncharacteristically failed to stop the Panthers’ run game, allowing 5.3 yards per rush. The secondary also struggled, recording zero pass breakups. 

The Jaguars’ backup offense also faced stiff competition against a Carolina defense with some starters in the mix.

The Panthers starters saw most of their action in the first quarter, but Jacksonville still managed to power through. Though unable to get into the end zone, they put up one of their more impressive drives of the contest, reaching the Carolina 7-yard line and netting more yards (84) than Carolina (69). During the quarter, Coen said he thinks second-string quarterback Nick Mullens was still able to get some positives out of the night. 

“He did some good things,” Coen said. “They had, not all their starters in, but they did have some, and I thought he was on time and rhythm getting the ball out.”

Third down struggles

The Jaguars struggled overall throughout the contest, but third down was specifically brutal for the Jacksonville crew. 

The Jaguars went 4-for-12 on third down, consistently unable to convert at crucial moments. The Panthers didn’t exceed that by much, but at least managed to split their attempts, going 6-for-12. They also converted both times on fourth down, while the Jaguars didn’t attempt and instead – rightfully so – relied on kicker Cam Little. 

The most costly failed third-down attempt came at the end of the first quarter. Following a 12-play drive that pushed the Jaguars to the Carolina 8-yard line, Mullens was sacked by Pat Jones II on third-and-8. Little came in to kick a 34-yard field goal to turn some points out of the long drive and hit his first of the night, but ultimately the Jaguars needed the extra points that would have come from reaching the end zone to start making up some ground. 

Ameer Abdullah sparks the run game

Ameer Abdullah is not a shoo-in to make the 53-man roster with the Jaguars possibly taking just three running backs, but he certainly made a case for them to add a fourth Friday.

Abdullah shined in the matchup, making up the bulk of Jacksonville’s offensive ground in the first half with a team-high 45 yards on six carries, including a 23-yard run in the second quarter, and caught three passes for 37 yards.

“He definitely showed up tonight,” Coen said. “It’s kind of what we’ve all been seeing in a lot of ways in practice.”

Too many penalties

Throughout the first half of Friday’s contest, the Jaguars were bogged down by penalties. In the opening half alone, they racked up nine penalties for 60 yards to Carolina’s three for 25 yards. 

Among the most detrimental was a 12-yard pass interference penalty on linebacker Branson Combs and a 10-yard illegal blocking penalty on linebacker Jahlani Tavai, both in the first quarter. The Jaguars also received a delay of game in the second quarter with Carter Bradley at quarterback. While the issue seemed to be corrected in the second half, the penalties were a major reason for the slow start. 

The nine penalties were on par with Jacksonville’s first preseason contest against the Saints. They racked up eight penalties for 50 yards.

Cam Little is Mr. Reliable

If not for Little, the Jaguars would have finished with one score – rookie Trebor Pena’s 29-yard touchdown with just over three minutes to go in the final frame. 

Similar to last season, when he recorded the longest field goal in NFL history (68 yards) and ranked eighth in the league in field goals made (30), he stepped up to put points on the board for the Jaguars. He went 3-for-3, posting nine of Jacksonville’s 17 points. His longest was a 43-yarder in the fourth quarter.  

Under Heath Farwell, the special teams unit will continue to be one of the team’s strongest and most consistent as Jacksonville hones in on the other areas that faltered Friday night. 

Many of the newcomers had standout days and exuded a level of confidence not all that common for rookies in their first NFL training camp. In a very productive day for the tight end unit as a whole, second-rounder Nate Boerkircher and fifth-rounder Tanner Koziol stood out.

Aside from rookie offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon, Jacksonville’s first-year tight end duo have the biggest opportunity to make an impact in their first seasons. After four limited seasons at Nebraska, Boerkircher comes off a solid year with the Texas A&M Aggies. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end logged 19 receptions – more than triple his grabs in any other season (6) – for 198 yards and three touchdowns.

On Wednesday, quarterback Trevor Lawrence hit the second-rounder in the end zone, and he had another impressive grab later in the morning. He didn’t pick up many yards, but he showcased his physicality, making the catch through tight coverage.

Meanwhile, Koziol’s bread and butter is that, at 6-foot-7, he is easy to find and hard to bring down. His frame is a major advantage, especially as a red-zone target, and he is exceptional at making tough grabs.

“Just seeing those guys make plays is really cool, and I think it comes from as they get more and more comfortable with the system, and they can just go play, and that’s when their talents can show — is when they’re not thinking,” Lawrence said Wednesday.

Koziol is no stranger to getting comfortable quickly and making an immediate impact on a team. In his first collegiate season at Ball State, he recorded 35 receptions for 373 yards and seven touchdowns, and he remained a focal point of its offense for two more seasons before heading to Houston for his last year. There, he led all FBS tight ends with 74 receptions and ranked second among FBS tight ends in receiving yards (727), adding six touchdowns.

“Obviously for Tanner, being a quasi receiver in college was something that we were excited about seeing,” Coen said.

During 11-on-11 drills Wednesday, Koziol grabbed one in the end zone, and he caught another on the sideline, running through two Panthers and refusing to be brought down.

Coen seemed pleased with the work of the tight ends, but also noted where he sees them being able to grow.

“I think we need to clean up a couple things technique-wise and sustaining, getting outside of our frame a little bit, getting a little grabby,” he said.

Boerkircher is now second on the team’s unofficial depth chart and a capable backup for Brenton Strange, who will get the start, and Koziol will come in behind his fellow rookie.

Strange had a standout year in 2025, posting a career-high 46 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns. As he looks to increase his production this season, Boerkircher brings physicality and a strong blocking presence to back him up while Koziol adds another reliable target.

Aside from the tight ends, Pregnon also had a solid day, stepping up after injuries to the offensive line have made his role more important by the day. He played at left guard Wednesday while expected starter at the position Ezra Cleveland moved to right guard to make up for injuries to Patrick Mekari (back) and Wyatt Milum (undisclosed).

Especially with the Jaguars’ acquiring guard Daniel Faalele in a trade with the Giants yesterday, it is not set in stone where Pregnon, the No. 88 pick out of Oregon, will fit along the offensive line, but he held it down Wednesday. The group overall did not seem to be one of much concern during the joint practice despite the injuries, rarely allowing too much pressure on the quarterbacks or forcing them to use their legs.

To round out the key offensive additions, the rookie wide receivers also flashed. Though battling the depth of the wide receiver group for snaps, rookies CJ Williams and Josh Cameron also both showed growth and promise Wednesday.

Cameron pulled in a deep ball on the left sideline, and Williams grabbed one in the end zone while also emerging as a reliable target throughout the day. Both come off collegiate-best campaigns, with Williams logging 59 receptions for 749 yards and six touchdowns at Stanford and Cameron posting a 69-reception, 879-yard, nine-touchdown fifth season at Baylor.

Third-round selection Jalen Huskey also saw a lot of snaps Wednesday. Despite getting beat at safety once in 11-on-11 drills, he rebounded later with a pass breakup downfield.

Huskey spent the last two years with the Maryland Terrapins, where he logged 72 tackles and 58 solo tackles in 2025 with two passes defended. He is too far down the depth chart to expect to see too many snaps during the season, but the year will be a developmental one.

“I think all those guys are getting there every day,” Lawrence said. “It’s not the easiest system to learn, so it takes a little bit of time. But I love where those guys are heading. I think our tight end room is awesome, and really all of our offensive guys that have come in as rookies have done a good job.”

The Gators ran 127 total plays, with 50 going to the first team, 43 to the second and 34 to the third during the scrimmage. While Sumrall spoke positively overall, he also pointed to several improvement areas.

“I liked the flow of what we did,” he said. “Some good, some bad, a lot to clean up.”

With time ticking down, one of the team’s biggest questions remains unanswered. The quarterback competition between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. continues, with Sumrall still not pointing to either player as having a clear advantage.

“I’m not going to sit here and say one guy is way ahead because they are both doing good work, but I do feel like we’re in a position where nobody is going to take the snap game one, snap one, because the other guy has done a poor job,” he said.

Philo took the majority of first-team snaps Saturday. Despite throwing the scrimmage’s only interception, he continued on to throw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Bailey Stockton. Sumrall said his response after the turnover was one of the more impressive aspects of his game.

“[He had a] bad play and then followed it up with really good football afterwards, and that’s the quarterback position,” he said. “You’re going to throw a pick and the whole crowd’s going to boo, and what do you do next? That says a lot about you.”

Jones showed several strong plays, including a touchdown pass to tight end Amir Jackson. Sumrall said he has made significant progress but still needed to improve.

“The biggest growth he’s got to continue to make is operating from the line of scrimmage, with shifts, motions, those kinds of things,” he said. “We can’t have a motion called and not bring a guy in motion. But he’s making plays. He’s very comfortable in the pocket, he’s got great energy, he’s got good touch on the football.”

The quarterback competition was only one area under evaluation. Sumrall said he was discontent with some of the team’s procedural problems during the scrimmage, including two false starts involving wide receivers.

Sumrall also said the defense’s tackling was decent for a first scrimmage but identified tackling in space as an area of improvement.

Additionally, Florida managed several injuries throughout the weekend. Wide receiver Vernell Brown III missed the scrimmage with a bruised foot suffered during Thursday’s practice but returned to full practice Monday. Defensive back Dijon Johnson was also held out as a precaution and returned Monday. Defensive end Kamran James, running back Duke Clark, wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd and defensive back Javion Toombs were among the players who had limited playing time due to injury. Sumrall emphasized the importance of not fighting through injuries during camp.

Defensive back Jordy Lowery was the only player injured during the scrimmage. Sumrall said Lowery suffered a soft-tissue injury after about a dozen plays.

“[It’s] really frustrating because honestly, his arrow was up off of training camp in the spring,” Sumrall said. “He’s been a pleasant surprise, so disappointed for him. It’s not going to be a terribly long-term deal, but a soft-tissue deal that we’ll just have to see how he responds.”

Sumrall also spoke about the offensive line, noting the group’s need for consistency and expressing confidence in the play of the interior.

He pointed to several players when discussing the line’s development, noting strides made by redshirt sophomore Eagan Boyer, sophomore Emeka Ugorji and redshirt freshman TJ Dice Jr., while emphasizing the consistency Bryce Lovett needs to demonstrate his full talent. Redshirt junior Caden Jones was also noted as a veteran the staff wants to see take a bigger step forward.

As Florida continues to evaluate its roster, Sumrall noted that scrimmages can only show so much about a team prior to in-season competition.

“We’ve got to figure out who we are,” he said. “I’m still not completely sure yet. I mean, I have some ideas, but until you go and do it against somebody else wearing a different colored jersey, you don’t ever really know.”

Florida will continue fall practice this week before holding its second scrimmage Saturday at 7:45 p.m.

Redshirt sophomore Aaron Philo and redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. have the next several weeks of camp and preseason scrimmages to try to take an edge in the battle. However, even after the starter gets named, the decision won’t be set in stone.  

“There’s no timeline,” offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said Tuesday. “It’s always an evaluation. Just because you’re the starter, you’ve got to go play good. Coach [Steve] Spurrier used to run them in and out, didn’t he?”

Both would enter the season as first-time starters. Philo spent 2024 and 2025 backing up Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King while Jones spent 2025 behind Florida quarterback DJ Lagway.  

After Faulkner’s hiring Dec. 11 to replace Russ Callaway, Philo followed Faulkner to Florida in the transfer portal, bringing two years of experience under his system. However, Philo doesn’t plan to use his familiarity as an advantage to secure the job. 

“In the quarterback room, it’s an open book,” Philo said Friday. “We don’t keep secrets. We’re all trying to help each other at the end of the day, and it’s not like I’m trying to keep anything in the playbook from anybody. If there’s something out there that I see, I’m going to tell them to help them out as much as I can.”

In the offseason, Jones focused on learning Faulkner’s complex offensive scheme by taking notes and doing mental walkthroughs when home. Faulkner found Jones’ quick adaptability to the system impressive.

“What’s been unique is how well he’s doing this stuff, because it’s not easy to pick up,” Faulkner said. “It’s a lot. He’s done a great job of really getting caught up to speed.”

Florida fans received their first real look at the two quarterbacks at the Orange & Blue April 11. In his Ben Hill Griffin Stadium debut, Philo went 21-of-28 for 193 yards. After a shaky start, throwing two interceptions, Philo found his game, completing two touchdowns, including a 31-yard touchdown to Vernell Brown III. 

As Philo entered his first summer as a Gator, Sumrall emphasized the need to continue developing relationships while fine-tuning his game. 

“Turnovers, not trying to force anything, trying to do a better job of protecting the ball, playing winning football,” Philo said. “Obviously just keep getting reps with those guys out there. Keep building chemistry.”

Jones ended the spring game with two touchdown passes, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown to Micah Mays. After proving his skill, going 13-of-17 for 210 yards, Jones entered the offseason wanting to take a step up both on and off the field. 

“In the spring, you’re kind of setting yourself up because [players] want to see what you can do because they got to get respect for you [by knowing] what you can do on the field before you become a vocal leader,” Jones said Friday. “[Coach Sumrall] wanted to see me become a more vocal leader [and] hold guys more accountable, so in the summer, I pretty much did that.”

The two spent their summer pushing each other in the weight room, lifting on the same squat rack. Both made strides with Philo dropping around 10 pounds of fat while gaining 7 pounds of lean muscle, and Jones nearly hitting 22 mph on the treadmill. 

“I feel like we’re very similar in a lot of ways just about how we approach everything in the building, outside the building, how we handle ourselves,” Philo said. “I feel like we’ve learned a lot from each other, and I feel like competing with each other, it’s easy to build off each other.”

Philo appeared in three games for the Yellow Jackets in 2025, highlighted by one start against Gardner-Webb on Sept 6., throwing for 373 yards with a 75% completion rate during the 59-12 win. 

Jones appeared in two games last season, making his collegiate debut Aug. 30 in the second half of the season opener against LIU, completing 12-of-18 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Philo and Jones know only one can win the starting role, but they hold high praise for each other’s game.

“He’s a really smart player,” Philo said. “He understands the defense really well. He’s got a really strong arm.”

“He knows where to go with the football,” Jones said. “[Has] quick delivery, can make any throw, has a great arm and he’s very decisive.”

Regardless of which guy takes the first snap in the Swamp, Faulkner has full confidence in both. 

“We’re going to find the best quarterback for the University of Florida, and the guy [that is] going to go out there and give us the best chance to win,” Faulkner said. “I like them both. They’ve both come a long way [and] I think you can win with both.”

“The growth has been real,” Sumrall said Tuesday.

While each player proved themselves in the weight room, they’ll need to rise to the occasion again Wednesday morning, when the Gators lace up their cleats and put on the pads for the first day of fall camp. 

Wide receiver Dallas Wilson believes he and his teammates will meet the expectation as the biggest improvement in the offseason wasn’t how many pounds they could lift but how they grew together. 

“We’re going [in as] a real bonded team this year,” Wilson said. “This game can’t be played by yourself, so just depending on the guy next to me and knowing he’s doing the right thing and I’m doing the right thing, that’ll take us wherever we want to go.”

Whitt’s workouts didn’t just center around building strength, but camaraderie as well. To earn the Gators logo on their practice gear, the team had to pass “The Gauntlet” during the spring, where if one player failed, the entire team failed. Whitt’s prioritization of accountability and teamwork allowed leaders to emerge. 

“We just induced a lot of stress on them, and they grew from it, and they grew together,” Whitt said. When you start seeing [Vernell Brown III] say, ‘Hey coach, give me a stopwatch, I’m going to run it,’ or Myles Graham says, ‘Hey, I’m going to take the watch, coach. I got this.’ I’m like, ‘All right, we’ve come somewhere now.’”

Sumrall enters his first camp with a history of finding success in his first year. When he took over at Troy in 2022, he led the team to a 12-2 record after they went 7-5 in 2021. At Tulane, he found similar success, posting a 9-5 record in 2024 to guide the team to their third straight American Athletic Conference Championship Game and a Gasparilla Bowl appearance against Florida.

To repeat the pattern with Florida, he wants to see his players become more reliable in the month leading up to the season opener against FAU on Sept. 5. 

“There were flashes of times in the spring where I was like, ‘Oh this team could be really good,’ but the consistency wasn’t always there,” Sumrall said. “We have to get into a space where we bring it every day. Our guys got to get in a routine of like, ‘Man, every time we go out to practice, it’s a great practice because we’re showing up.’”

Florida’s coaching staff looks completely different after Sumrall hired 12 new assistant coaches, but the roster remained mostly constant, retaining 60 players while bringing in 34 transfers and 24 freshmen. 

However, question marks surrounding the quarterback battle between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr., as well as the inexperienced offensive line, persist, leaving uncertainty about the team’s potential. 

The Gators enter the 2026 season unranked on the Preseason AFCA Coaches Poll, sitting on the outside at No. 27, and last year’s 4-8 record left the new squad working to return the program to its standard.

“It definitely is embarrassing, especially with the logo that we play for, that’s not the standard here,” EDGE Jayden Woods said. “It’s a big chip on our shoulder going into the season.”

Sumrall expects his team to continue building on their growth to prepare for the rigor of the SEC. As he counts down the days until his coaching debut in the Swamp, he has already set the tone for the program. 

“We have a lot of growth that’s needed, but we’re going to bring it every day to get better,” Sumrall said.

WRUF has announced a three-year partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars that brings live coverage of every preseason, regular season and postgame games to WRUF. All games will be heard on 103.7 The Gator. The signal reaches coast to coast across northern Florida and as far south as The Villages, putting Jaguars broadcasts in front of one of the team’s largest regional fan bases. Select games will be heard on 850 AM/98.1 FM/103.7 HD2 (ESPN Gainesville). 

The deal is the first of its kind between an NFL franchise and a major research university, and it goes well beyond the broadcast booth.

Randy Wright, Executive Director of UF’s Division of Media Properties, laid out what student access will actually look like in practice.

“Advanced level sports journalism students at the College of Journalism and Communications, working at ESPN affiliate WRUF, will have the opportunity to serve as beat reporters for the Jacksonville Jaguars — in both print and electronic media,” Wright said. “Students will have access to the same opportunities as professional journalists who cover the Jaguars daily. Weekly access to press conferences and locker room access are incorporated into the partnership, and dedicated positions in the press box with postgame media access and sideline access on game day.”

Photojournalism students will also be part of the mix, with dedicated sideline passes and access to not only games but practices and training camp as well. Student content will air on WRUF-AM and WRUF-FM, publish on WRUF.com, and appear on WUFT-TV.

The access begins when Jacksonville opens training camp later this summer in preparation for the 2026 NFL season.

“We are committed to providing hands-on learning for students, and this partnership will open up countless opportunities for our aspiring sports journalists,” said Hub Brown, dean of UF’s College of Journalism and Communications.

Jaguars VP of Sales and Marketing Chris Gargani, a UF graduate himself, called the arrangement a natural fit. “The Jaguars and the University of Florida are uniquely positioned to partner as the first NFL team and elite research institution to combine gameday broadcast coverage with hands-on career development for emerging talent,” he said. “We are looking forward to expanding our presence to our large fan base and contributing to the professional development of UF journalism students through this one-of-a-kind relationship.”

UF is one of a small number of major research universities in the country that operates commercial media — a distinction that made this kind of partnership possible.+

Episode 5 of The 35 — WRUF 98.1’s summer countdown of the greatest athletes in University of Florida history — aired Wednesday and delivered five names that define what Florida looks like at its absolute best. Grant Holloway, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist who won eight NCAA titles and broke a 40-year-old record at Florida, joined the show alongside Lauren Haeger, the two-time national champion who shares a statistical club with only one other person in the history of baseball — Babe Ruth. Danny Wuerffel, the only Florida player to win the Heisman Trophy outright and the quarterback who delivered the program’s first national championship, also joined the conversation.

Here’s who made the cut at No. 15 through No. 11:

Episode 5 — The Program Pillars June 11, 2026

15

Al Horford

Basketball · Center/Power Forward · 2004–07 • Two-time NCAA champion • 5× NBA All-Star • 2024 NBA champion

14

Grant Holloway

Track & Field · 110M Hurdles · 2017–19 • 8 NCAA titles • Broke 40-year NCAA record (12.98) • 2024 Olympic gold

13

Danny Wuerffel

Football · Quarterback · 1993–96 • 1996 Heisman Trophy • 114 career TDs (Florida record) • 1996 National Champion • CFB Hall of Fame

12

Lauren Haeger

Softball · Pitcher/First Base · 2012–15 • 2× National Champion • 71 HR & 73 wins — only Babe Ruth has done both • 2015 National POY

11

Billy Donovan

Basketball · Head Coach · 1996–2015 • 2× NCAA champion (2006, 2007) • 467 wins (Florida record) • Only coach to repeat with same starting five in modern era

Next Thursday — June 19 at 2 PM

Episode 6 — The Mount Rushmore Conversation

No. 10 through No. 6 revealed live on WRUF 98.1

Listen Live

The Greatest Gators Moments Bracket has reached the Sweet 8. All four matchups are live — 2008 Football Championship vs. 1996 Football Championship, 2006 Football Championship vs. 2017 College World Series, 2006 Men’s Basketball Title vs. Tebow’s Promise Speech, and the Gymnastics Three-Peat vs. the 2007 Men’s Basketball Title (Repeat). Vote before Thursday, June 19 at 1:59 pm. Results announced live on WRUF 98.1.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

Listen live every Thursday 2–3 p.m. on WRUF 98.1

Watch and submit questions live on YouTube

Vote in the bracket each week

Text your takes to 352-325-3777 — best ones go on air live

The 35: Greatest Gators of All Time. Thursdays 2–3 p.m. on WRUF 98.1. May 14 through July 2.

Episode 4 of The 35 — WRUF 98.1’s summer countdown of the greatest athletes in University of Florida history — aired Thursday and delivered five names that belong in any serious conversation about what this program has produced.

Lomas Brown, the first Florida offensive lineman inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and a seven-time Pro Bowler, joined Jeremy St. Louis, Kevin Winter, and Shemar Woods in studio. ESPN host Laura Rutledge — a University of Florida College of Journalism alumna — called in with her takes on the list, the program, and what Florida means to her.

Here’s who made the cut at No. 20 through No. 16:

Episode 4 — The Difference Makers June 5, 2026

20

Lomas Brown

Football · Offensive Tackle · 1981–84 • Consensus All-American • Jacobs Blocking Trophy • College Football Hall of Fame • 7× Pro Bowl

19

Jevon Kearse

Football · Defensive End/Linebacker · 1995–98 • “The Freak” • 1998 SEC Defensive POY • 1999 NFL Defensive ROY (14.5 sacks)

18

Pete Alonso

Baseball · First Base · 2014–16 • MLB rookie HR record (53) • 2019 NL Rookie of the Year • 5× All-Star • Mets all-time HR leader

17

Brad Wilkerson

Baseball · Outfield/Pitcher · 1996–98 • 1998 National POY (Rotary Smith Award) • First in NCAA history: 20 HR, 10 wins, 20 SB in same season

16

Wilber Marshall

Football · Linebacker · 1980–83 • Two-time consensus All-American • Florida career records: 343 tackles, 58 TFL, 23 sacks — all still stand • CFB Hall of Fame

Next Wednesday — June 11 at 2 PM

Episode 5 — The Program Pillars

No. 15 through No. 11 revealed live on WRUF 98.1

Listen Live

The Greatest Gators Moments Bracket is also live. Week 4 voting is open — the Gymnastics Three-Peat (2013–15) vs. Caeleb Dressel’s NCAA Career, and the 2007 Men’s Basketball Title (Repeat) vs. Women’s Tennis Back-to-Back (2011–12). Vote before Thursday, June 11 at 1:59 p.m. Results will be announced live on air.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

Listen live every Thursday 2–3 p.m. on WRUF 98.1

Watch and submit questions live on YouTube

Vote in the bracket each week

Text your takes to 352-325-3777 — best ones go on air live

The 35: Greatest Gators of All Time. Thursdays 2–3 p.m. on WRUF 98.1. May 14 through July 2.