FLORIDA GATORS PROJECTED TO RETURN TO AP TOP 25 UNDER JON SUMRALL

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The Florida Gators are projected to open the 2026 season ranked inside the AP Top 25, giving Jon Sumrall an early indication of the expectations surrounding his first season in Gainesville.

CBS Sports projects Florida at No. 22 in the preseason AP poll, with Iowa at No. 21 and Missouri at No. 23.

The official AP preseason rankings are set to be released Monday, but the projection already places Florida among a crowded group of nationally ranked SEC programs.

For a program aiming to return to championship contention, the bigger story is not simply the number next to Florida’s name. It is whether the Gators can finally turn preseason expectations into sustained success.

Jon Sumrall gives Florida a new reason for optimism

Florida’s projected ranking reflects the belief that Sumrall can make an immediate impact.

The Gators hired Sumrall after he established himself as one of the nation’s rising coaches, winning championships at both Troy and Tulane. Now, he takes over a Florida program with significantly higher expectations and a much tougher weekly schedule.

CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson pointed to Sumrall’s coaching résumé as one reason Florida could receive preseason support from AP voters.

The Gators also retained important pieces from last year’s roster and added talent through the transfer portal.

That combination gives Florida a foundation that looks more promising than its final standing from last season might suggest.

Florida learned how quickly a ranking can disappear

There is a clear warning from the Gators’ 2025 season.

Florida entered last season ranked No. 15 in the AP Top 25 and moved up to No. 13 after opening with a dominant 55-0 victory over LIU.

Then came the setback that changed everything.

The Gators lost 18-16 to USF at home in Week 2 and subsequently fell out of the AP Top 25. Florida never returned to the rankings for the rest of the season.

That makes the beginning of the 2026 campaign especially important.

A preseason ranking can create excitement, but it can also increase pressure. Florida will need to avoid another early stumble if it wants to establish itself as a legitimate SEC contender.

The opening schedule creates a chance to build momentum

Florida’s first two games are at home against FAU and Campbell before the Gators travel to Auburn for their SEC opener.

On paper, that gives Sumrall an opportunity to establish his team before entering conference play.

The priority should be more than simply winning those games. Florida needs to use them to develop consistency, establish its identity and determine which players can handle larger roles.

A clean opening could set up a much more meaningful test against Auburn.

If Florida enters that SEC matchup undefeated and playing with confidence, the Gators could have an opportunity to climb from their projected No. 22 position.

But another early upset would create familiar questions about whether Florida can handle expectations.

Florida would be one of 10 SEC teams in the projected Top 25

The SEC’s depth makes Florida’s projected ranking significant.

CBS Sports projects 10 SEC teams to appear in the preseason AP Top 25:

Team| Projected Ranking
Texas| No. 3
Georgia| No. 6
Oklahoma| No. 8
Ole Miss| No. 9
Texas A&M| No. 10
LSU| No. 12
Alabama| No. 13
Tennessee| No. 18
Florida| No. 22
Missouri| No. 23

Florida would therefore enter the season ranked nationally while still sitting behind several SEC programs.

That illustrates the challenge facing Sumrall.

Being ranked is one thing. Moving into the conference’s upper tier is another.

The Gators will have to prove they can consistently compete with ranked SEC opponents if they want their national standing to become more than preseason recognition.

The No. 22 projection could be only the starting point

Florida’s projected position creates an interesting question heading into the season: How high can the Gators climb if Sumrall’s team starts fast?

A strong opening could quickly change the national perception of the program.

The first two games should give Florida an opportunity to build confidence before the Auburn matchup provides a more meaningful test. If the Gators handle that progression well, the No. 22 projection could eventually look conservative.

The opposite is also possible.

Florida’s 2025 experience showed how quickly one loss can change the trajectory of a season. With the Gators entering 2026 under a new head coach, early results will likely shape the national conversation around Sumrall and the program.

The real test begins when expectations meet SEC competition

The projected ranking is encouraging, but Florida’s ultimate objective cannot be simply making the AP Top 25.

The Gators need to become a team that remains there.

That requires consistency on a weekly basis, particularly once SEC play begins. Sumrall will have to establish an identity quickly and get the most out of a roster that has been reshaped through retention and the transfer portal.

If Florida can do that, a preseason ranking around No. 22 could mark the beginning of a larger climb rather than the peak of preseason optimism.

For now, Florida fans have a reason to be encouraged. The official AP poll will determine where the Gators actually begin, but the latest projection suggests national voters are willing to give the new-look program another chance.

The challenge for Sumrall is turning that belief into results, and the Florida Gators projected No. 22 AP Top 25 ranking could be the first step in that process.

Alternative Headlines

• JON SUMRALL’S FLORIDA GATORS PROJECTED TO LAND AT NO. 22 IN PRESEASON AP TOP 25
• FLORIDA GATORS RECEIVE TOP-25 PROJECTION AHEAD OF JON SUMRALL’S FIRST SEASON