‘These Games Count Twice’: Jon Sumrall Previews First SEC Test at Auburn – WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM

Despite Florida’s 52-3 win over Campbell Saturday night time, the overwhelming sentiment from Florida coach Jon Sumrall after the clock hit zero was a concentrate on what to repair earlier than SEC play wins. That theme recurred Monday, with the first-year head man taking intention on what Auburn does nicely earlier than the Gators make the journey Saturday to Alabama.

The most evident problem that UF’s matchup with Auburn presents is one which gave the Gators matches final 12 months. Now helmed by former South Florida coach Alex Golesh, Auburn runs an offensive scheme that tends to depart a risk obtainable. The Tigers typically go away the backfield empty and cut up 5 receivers out, a technique that Sumrall is maintaining a tally of in Week 3.

“They have good players and they try to put some guys in space. You can’t hide guys,” Sumrall stated. “They do good stuff schematically, but they have good people too, which means we have to win our one-on-one battles.”

Just as harmful because the scheme for Auburn is the participant main cost. In 2025, senior quarterback Byrum Brown turned considered one of solely 12 quarterbacks in FBS historical past to throw for over 3,000 yards and run for over 1,000 yards in the identical season. The USF switch’s potential to interrupt open a recreation is one which Sumrall doesn’t take calmly heading into the matchup.

“He’s a physical guy and I think he’s just playing with confidence because he’s got a lot of time in this system,” Sumrall stated. “There’s no substitute for the experience he has and he’s a poised player where there’s not a lot that he hasn’t seen.”

Another wrinkle that makes the sport fascinating is Sumrall’s oblique relationship with Auburn. His spouse, Ginny Sumrall, is an AU alum, with a big portion of her household having a rooting curiosity within the Tigers for that cause. Although the home could also be divided, Sumrall didn’t mince phrases about the place allegiances ought to lie come Saturday.

“Yeah, there’s ties, but Florida pays my mortgage,” Sumrall stated. “Any family that is pulling against us, they’re not my family. I don’t care what their last name is.”

As for what the Gators carry to the desk, the first-year coach was blunt about what Florida wants to repair. After the Week 2 victory, Sumrall talked about he was “uneasy” of the staff’s standing heading into convention play. That feeling improved from Saturday to Monday, however was not resolved altogether.

One of the emphases postgame was about Florida’s shortcomings within the second half, solely placing collectively seven factors mixed with sloppy play on the penalty entrance. Those elements nonetheless caught with Sumrall Monday, affecting his total evaluation of the 49-point win.

“I think when we rolled the depth of our roster into the game, we did not play clean football,” Sumrall stated. “We have to finish on the quarterback. I’d like for us to get a lot of sacks.”

Everything was not all doom and gloom from Saturday, as a focus of the offseason continued to shine. Georgia Tech switch quarterback Aaron Philo added one other constant efficiency within the win over the Fighting Camels, finishing 16 of 21 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

Sumrall, who made the quarterback determination slightly below two weeks earlier than the season opener, backed up Philo and what he has contributed thus far.

“He’s just the kind of guy that you like having on your side because he’s confident in nature, not easily rattled,” Sumrall stated. “If he plays like he’s played through the first part of this year, he will give us a chance to win every week, and that’s all you can ask.”

Florida will want one other environment friendly efficiency from the redshirt sophomore in his first effort in an SEC-on-SEC matchup. Philo is just not the one one making his debut of the type, with Sumrall additionally main an SEC staff into battle in opposition to a fellow member college for the primary time. The significance and pleasure of what the start of convention play brings is just not misplaced on him.

“These games count twice. I tell our team all the time: when you turn to conference play, they count on your overall record and your conference record,” Sumrall stated. “If there’s a whole lot that needs to be said to get anybody ready to go play SEC football games, we got the wrong thing going on here.”

The battle in itself additionally brings an fascinating twist, because the rivalry runs deep between the 2 southern foes. Florida and Auburn had performed one another yearly between 1927 and 2002, however have solely performed 4 instances within the 24 years since. Despite the break in frequency, there’s actually no love misplaced heading into the Week 3 tilt. Even extra sure, there is no such thing as a doubt that Sumrall is just not deterred by the problem of touring for the street SEC contest.

“I like playing football. On the road, in a parking lot. It doesn’t matter,” Sumrall stated. “It’s a hostile environment where nobody is for you really. But to me, you’re just playing a football game.”

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