2026 College Football Preview: Florida Gators

Skill-position talent leads the roster: Florida boasts PFF’s No. 4 running back unit and a receiving corps that ranks inside the top 15 nationally.

The trenches remain the biggest concern: The Gators lost their three highest-graded starting offensive linemen, while the defensive line also enters 2026 with questions.

Jadan Baugh headlines the offense: Baugh earned an 89.5 PFF rushing grade in 2025 and forced 65 missed tackles, the eighth-most in the nation.

Following an encouraging 2024 season, Florida came crashing back down to earth with a 4-8 record in 2025. It marked the Gators’ fourth losing season in five years and led to Billy Napier’s firing after four seasons as head coach.

Florida hired former Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall, one of college football’s fastest-rising coaches, as his replacement. Sumrall led the Green Wave to the College Football Playoff in 2025 after winning the American Conference. Before that, he led Troy to two of the three best seasons in program history during his two years as head coach.

Notable Transfer Portal Additions

QB Aaron Philo (Georgia Tech)
WR Eric Singleton Jr. (Auburn)
RB Evan Pryor (Cincinnati)
C Harrison Moore (Georgia Tech)
S DJ Coleman (Baylor)

Notable Transfer Portal Losses

QB DJ Lagway (Baylor)
WR Eugene Wilson III (LSU)
RB Ja’Kobi Jackson (Ohio State)
WR Aidan Mizell (UCLA)
DT Michai Boireau (Ole Miss)

Biggest strength: Skill-position players

While Florida will be breaking in a new quarterback in 2026, there is plenty of talent around him. The Gators boast our No. 4 running back unit in the country, led by projected first-round pick Jadan Baugh.

The receiving corps also ranks inside the top 15 nationally, thanks to a talented trio of Eric Singleton Jr., Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson.

Biggest question mark: Trenches

The Gators lost their three highest-graded starting offensive linemen this offseason, including draft picks Austin Barber and Jake Slaughter. Guard Knijeah Harris and tackle Caden Jones return, while transfers Harrison Moore (Georgia Tech) and TJ Shanahan Jr. (Penn State) should play key roles. However, none of those players earned a PFF grade of at least 66.0 last season.

Florida also has questions along the defensive line, where Jacksonville State transfer Emmanuel Oyebadejo is the only player on the roster who recorded at least 20 pressures last season. The Gators have enough athleticism on the perimeter on both sides of the ball to compete with any team in the SEC, but they need their play in the trenches to match that potential.

Quarterback: Aaron Philo

The Gators are holding one of the nation’s most intriguing quarterback battles between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and incumbent redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. Philo is familiar with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s system and played well across five appearances in two seasons at Georgia Tech. Jones was a top-25 quarterback recruit in the 2025 class and took 42 dropbacks across two appearances last season.

Whichever quarterback can take full advantage of Florida’s loaded group of skill-position players could be in for a big season.

Offensive Player Spotlight: RB Jadan Baugh

Baugh impressed as a true freshman at Florida in 2024, earning an 82.1 PFF rushing grade. He was even better as a sophomore last season, ranking 16th in the FBS with an 89.5 PFF rushing grade.

According to PFF’s wins above average metric, no returning Power Four running back has been more valuable over the past two seasons. Baugh also forced 65 missed tackles in 2025, the eighth-most in the nation.

Defensive Player Spotlight: S Bryce Thornton

Thornton is a seasoned veteran who has played nearly 1,500 snaps over the past three seasons at Florida. He enters 2026 as the Gators’ highest-graded returning defensive player.

While he is slightly undersized and doesn’t offer much in run defense, Thornton has recorded four interceptions and 10 pass breakups over his career. He compensates for his lack of size with quick feet and good long speed, particularly against vertical routes. He is the unquestioned leader of a talented Florida secondary.

Bottom Line

With a talented roster and a rising star at head coach, Florida could have a winning season in 2026.