Jon Sumrall 'amped' for Florida Gators football debut vs FAU
Jon Sumrall says he will be "amped" for his Florida Gators football coaching debut when UF opens against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network at The Swamp — but he insists the night belongs to his players, not him. The new Gators head coach enters his first game after a 43-12 run at Troy and Tulane, facing an FAU squad he beat 35-24 last season while leading the Green Wave.
Key Takeaways
- Florida opens its 2026 season vs. FAU on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network at The Swamp.
- Sumrall says he will be "amped" but stresses Saturdays are for players; coaching happens Sunday through Friday.
- FAU led the nation in pass offense last year and returns quarterback Caden Veltkamp and receiver Easton Messer.
- Aaron Philo won the starting quarterback job; UF is largely healthy heading into the opener.
- Sumrall urged Gator Nation to fill every seat as UF pursues its 18th consecutive home sellout.
When and where can you watch Florida vs. FAU?
The Gators host Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at 7:45 p.m. ET at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. The game airs on SEC Network. For more college football viewing schedules and broadcast alerts, check our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Why is Jon Sumrall 'amped' for his coaching debut?
Sumrall told reporters Monday that he will be "amped" but added, "The day's not about me. Never will be." He described Sundays through Fridays as coaching days and Saturdays as player days, saying he wants his team "so trained" that they can "cut loose" on game night.
The 44-year-old said he does not get nervous — "If I see a rattlesnake, I might get nervous" — and that his go-to pregame music includes AC/DC and Chris Stapleton. Sumrall also recalled playing at The Swamp as a Kentucky linebacker in 2004 and called former coach Rich Brooks to thank him for helping launch his career.
How tough is Florida Atlantic as an opener?
Sumrall warned that FAU presents real challenges. Under second-year coach Zack Kittley, the Owls led the nation in pass offense at 340.7 yards per game last season and went for it on fourth down more than any team in college football. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw for 3,641 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025, while receiver Easton Messer posted 104 catches for 1,052 yards.
Sumrall coached against FAU at Tulane on Nov. 15, 2025, winning 35-24 in New Orleans. He said the Owls' tempo is nearly impossible to simulate in practice: "You blinked and they're inside the red zone." FAU hung 472 yards on Tulane in that meeting but lost four turnovers.
Who starts at quarterback for Florida?
Third-year transfer Aaron Philo won the starting job over second-year freshman Tramell Jones III. Philo's familiarity with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner's system — both came from Georgia Tech — gave him the edge, though Sumrall said Jones may still get a look against FAU. Key returners include running back Jadan Baugh, receivers Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III, and defenders Myles Graham and Jayden Woods.
Florida enters the opener fairly healthy. Tight end Evan Chieca (lower body) is questionable, running back Kelvin Jimenez is out for the season, and freshman defensive tackle Kendall Guervil (knee) is back practicing. Sumrall expects mistakes in Game 1 but said his staff ran a mock game week to prepare players for the weekly rhythm.
Sumrall asked fans to turn out in force for an expected sellout as UF chases an elite program standard. "When we play this Saturday night, there shouldn't be an empty seat," he said, per the Gainesville Sun.