The Florida Gators opened the Jon Sumrall era with a statement win in Gainesville, rolling past Florida Atlantic 66–21 inside a sold-out Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The 66-point outburst marked Florida’s highest-scoring season opener since 1994, with the Gators finding the end zone on 10 of their 11 total offensive possessions.
Key Performers
- Jadan Baugh (RB): Dominated on the ground with 160 yards and 3 touchdowns. Baugh surpassed the 2,000-yard career rushing mark, highlighted by a 61-yard run in the third quarter.
- Aaron Philo (QB): Earned the start and delivered an efficient performance, completing 16-of-21 passes for 275 yards and 3 passing touchdowns, plus a rushing score.
- Vernell Brown III (WR): Led the receiving corps with 6 catches for 117 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass to open the scoring.
Game Highlights
| Score | Florida 66, FAU 21 |
| Offensive Output | Touchdowns on first 6 possessions; 60+ points scored for the first time since 2021 |
| Defensive Takeaways | 3 turnovers forced (Interceptions by DJ Coleman & Dijon Johnson, forced fumble by Brendan Bett) |
| Special Teams | Tulane transfer Patrick Durkin booted a 53-yard field goal and went perfect on PATs |
Sumrall’s debut lived up to the hype as Florida dominated from start to finish. The Gators stay at home next week to take on the Campbell Camels before opening SEC play on the road against Auburn.
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