Fall camp is underway across the SEC, so it’s time to get some overreactions and observations in. Your team is healthy, the schedule is manageable, and the amount of hope floating around the program is absolutely off the charts. Still, every team has some questions.
Here are three burning questions for every SEC team. Next up, Florida.
1. Is Jon Sumrall serious or is this all a show?
Jon Sumrall stole the show in Tampa at SEC Media Days. He was assertive and convincing, even going viral after threatening violence against some poor cameraman whose phone went off while he was at the podium.
All in all, he knocked it out of the park. So much so that he got a round of applause upon entering and exiting the stage.
Now, he has to coach. Sumrall is such an interesting piece in the 2026 landscape of SEC football. He was the favorite to be hired at Auburn and Florida with some mild buzz around LSU for their job opening.
He ultimately landed in Gainesville. Sumrall is charming, and has a proven track record. It feels like the Gators got their guy. Finally. The biggest question that remains is whether or not his biggest wins will come on the field or at the podium.
2. Who will win the quarterback job?
The Gators are one of several teams in the conference with a quarterback battle going into the season. Trammell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo will compete for the starting job for 2026.
It feels like an overwhelming amount of people expect this to be Philo’s job to lose. That’s primarily because of his familiarity with newly hired offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech.
Both quarterbacks are very talented and will have one of the best running backs in the country in the backfield to help ease into the starting role. Still, Philo not pulling away with the competition yet says a lot about how talented Jones is.
The Gators don’t necessarily need to name a starter as they enter into the season. They kick-off the year with Florida Atlantic and FCS Campbell before going to Auburn in Week 3.
3. What will the defensive line rotation look like?
We talked to Brandon Olsen from LockedOn Gators about his thoughts on the unit. Here’s what he had to say.
“I really like the talent in the room but we only really know Jayden Woods will start at JACK and Brendan Bett will start somewhere but not sure yet if that’s NT or 3T, will depend on who the other best IDL is and we don’t know who’s starting at F (strongside end), although that’s another spot I feel really good about two of them, optimistic about the third option.”
