Florida routs Campbell, but does it prepare the Gators for SEC play?

University of Florida admin September 13, 2026 0 Comments

Florida routs Campbell, but does it prepare the Gators for SEC play?

GAINESVILLE

Florida football (2-0) welcomed an FCS team, Campbell (2-1), that only mustered two wins a year ago. The result: Florida, a lot; Campbell, a little. (For reporting purposes, this is required to mention that the score was actually 52-3.) A win, surely, is quite nice. Whether it meant anything is debatable.

“We’re 1-0 this week,” coach Jon Sumrall forced out, “which I’m pleased with.”

Of late, though, this type of lovey-dovey fantasia is all Power 4 schools want. In 2026, a single pair of ranked teams from different conferences will play in September (applause, Ohio State and Texas). In the sport’s modern era, there has never been a year with so few ranked nonconference games. This drag is the result of an expanded CFP, which proved the benefit of a strong nonconference win was no longer worth the gamble of an otherwise avoidable loss.

To Florida’s credit, it played a more challenging nonconference schedule than most SEC teams each of the previous four years, scheduling Miami and Utah. Annually, Florida State marks its final regular-season slot. Under a new coach and implementing a new offense and defense, the Campbells of the world, not to be undersold, don’t provide much of a push before SEC play. Not all points are created equal, and the exchange rate of the 53 someone put up against Campbell is steep when visiting, say, Auburn in a week.

“If we play like we did in the second half, we’re about to have a real rude awakening,” Sumrall said.

“What we’re about to walk into in conference play?” he continued. “We’ll get embarrassed.”

“Every time you felt we had an explosive play, well, there’s another penalty flag,” he mused. “The Gators can’t beat the Gators.”

To measure a game, though, is ultimately difficult business.

Take Florida’s first drive of the afternoon. Nine plays, 56 hard-earned yards, before quarterback Aaron Philo rushed for a 3-yard touchdown. The Gators even needed a fourth-and-1 conversion around midfield to get there. Those reps, as ugly as they may have been, carried worth. Florida’s new starter, Philo, found himself in a few new situations before opening up for 242 yards, two touchdowns and only five incompletions.

Similarly, in the second quarter, receiver Vernell Brown III buzzed to the left, then the right on a 64-yard sprint, which marked the school’s first punt return touchdown since 2020. Under Florida’s last coach, Billy Napier, special teams became so porous that students developed bar games around counting if he had the correct number of players on the field. Then Brown scored on a punt once more. When debating if anyone touched him: “Almost don’t count,” he said. Did he get touched? “Good question.” A third touchdown, through the air, this time, for a man who led Florida in receiving a year ago but never once scored — valuable reps.

Less so: running back Jadan Baugh, who finished with 136 yards after inexplicably coming back out in the second half, scoring a second touchdown from 75 yards while already leading by … 42. Worse, but meaningful: Campbell assembling a 63-yard opening drive for a field goal against Florida’s starters.

“The coaches, they lead us. But the team’s always player-led,” receiver Dallas Wilson explained, who finished with 106 yards and six, somewhat valuable, points on a 40-yard score. “We had too many mental mistakes out there. As good as a team we are, we got to keep those things out of the way.”

While surveying the damage, Sumrall was approached.

“Coach, I’m sorry,” a player, who committed one of Florida’s eight penalties, told him in the locker room postgame.

“Yeah. Good. You should be,” he responded, no matter the 49-point rout. “We have to get better,” he explained. “I’m a little uneasy with where we are.”

This game, in the grand image of Florida’s past and future, could prove worthless.