Jon Sumrall and the Florida Gators are on fire to start the 2026 season. After blowing out the Ole Miss Rebels 52-28, they have made a big surge up in the rankings of the latest AP Top 25 poll.
Sumrall is going through his first year as the Gators’ head coach. He looks to bring them back to serious postseason contention, aiming for the College Football Playoffs.
So far, his start with the program has been remarkable. They boast a perfect 4-0 record after four games, recently taking down No. 4 Ole Miss at home on Saturday afternoon.
And with their efforts continuing to be successful, Florida made a jump from their 21st spot in the AP Top 25. The latest poll that came out on Sunday showed that the Gators have entered the top 10, sitting at the eighth spot. Meanwhile, Ole Miss dropped down to the ninth spot, right behind Florida.
How Jon Sumrall, Florida performed against Ole Miss
Jon Sumrall and the No. 8 Florida Gators have emerged as a team to watch out for. Ole Miss had several players absent due to injury, including star rusher Kewan Lacy, but Florida took care of business at home with the 52-28 win.
Article Continues BelowThe hosts controlled the game from start to finish. Even as Ole Miss tried to fight back in the second and third quarters, the Gators' offense proved to be too much for the Rebels defense to handle down the stretch.
Aaron Philo delivered a balanced performance for Florida. He completed 16 out of 23 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed six times for 14 yards and a touchdown.
Jaden Baugh torched Ole Miss defenders with 29 rushes for 142 yards and a hat trick of three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Duke Clark joined him with an excellent display of 12 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown.
The No. 8 Gators will look forward to their next ranked matchup, being on the road. They take on the No. 19 Missouri Tigers in Week 5 as kickoff commences on Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET.