Florida opens 2026 season with 66-21 victory against Florida Atlantic

The Florida Gators opened their 2026 season Saturday with a 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic in Gainesville. The victory marked the debut of head coach Jon Sumrall and featured a productive offensive performance, with the Gators scoring on their first six possessions. Quarterback Aaron Philo threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score, and running back Jadan Baugh recorded 160 rushing yards with three touchdowns. Despite the final score, Sumrall expressed concern regarding the team's defensive play, noting that Florida Atlantic converted 11 of 22 third-down attempts and finished with 396 total yards. The 66-point output stands as the highest for the Florida program in 18 years. The team now faces a period of development as coaching staff looks to address defensive inconsistencies identified during the season opener.

• 4:54 AMYahoo Sports — A good 1st impression for the Gators, but don’t get carried away