Dodd Trophy Names Sumrall Coach of the Month
Friday, October 2, 2026 | Football
Sumrall has led to Gators to a 4-0 start, their best start since 2019
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gators Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Month following the Gators 4-0 start, officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Peach Bowl Inc announced on Friday.
The Gators have had a historic start under Sumrall, scoring the most points (214) and having the second largest scoring differential (+123) by a UF head coach through their first four games. The Gators 4-0 start is their best start since 2019 and Sumrall is the seventh UF head coach to start 4-0.
Florida is coming off two SEC wins, a 44-39 win at Auburn, and a 52-28 win over No. 4 Ole Miss. The win over Auburn was the Gators first win at Auburn since 1999 and the win over Ole Miss was the highest-ranked victory since beating No. 3 Ole Miss in The Swamp in 2015. Following the win, the Gators jumped 13 spots in the AP Poll to No. 8, their highest ranking since being No. 6 in the Dec. 6, 2020 poll. The last first-year head coaches to have Florida ranked higher in the poll were Urban Meyer (2205: No. 5) and Steve Spurrier (1990: No. 6).
Sumrall and Florida currently grade as the No. 4 team in the FBS (96.5), while currently sitting at No. 2 in rushing and tackling, No. 4 in run defense, No. 5 in offense, No. 7 in receiving, No. 10 in run blocking, No. 14 in in defense and No. 15 in pass blocking.
The No. 8 Florida Gators (4-0, 2-0 SEC) travel to Columbia, Mo. where they look to stay undefeated, as they take on the No. 25 Missouri Tigers (3-1, 0-1 SEC) on Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
About the Dodd Trophy
The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field. The award honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, as did Coach Dodd's teams during his 22 years as head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Coach Dodd remains one of college football's legendary figures, both as a coach and a player. Coach Dodd was a native of Galax, Virginia, and played his college ball at the University of Tennessee where his team had 27 wins, one loss and two ties during the three years he played. Coach Dodd was selected to the National College Football Hall of Fame both as a coach and as a player.
About Peach Bowl, Inc.
Peach Bowl, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization that operates the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the Aflac Kickoff Game, the Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, and manages and operates The Dodd Trophy national coach of the year award. It is the ninth-oldest bowl game in the country and is recognized as college football's most charitable bowl organization, having donated more than $71.2 million to organizations in need since 2002.
2026 Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets are on sale for the 2026 Florida Football season under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. Fans can purchase single-game tickets for home contests against South Carolina (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 7), and Vanderbilt (Nov. 21). Fans can also purchase tickets for the game against Georgia in Atlanta on Oct. 31.
The Gators have had a historic start under Sumrall, scoring the most points (214) and having the second largest scoring differential (+123) by a UF head coach through their first four games. The Gators 4-0 start is their best start since 2019 and Sumrall is the seventh UF head coach to start 4-0.
Florida is coming off two SEC wins, a 44-39 win at Auburn, and a 52-28 win over No. 4 Ole Miss. The win over Auburn was the Gators first win at Auburn since 1999 and the win over Ole Miss was the highest-ranked victory since beating No. 3 Ole Miss in The Swamp in 2015. Following the win, the Gators jumped 13 spots in the AP Poll to No. 8, their highest ranking since being No. 6 in the Dec. 6, 2020 poll. The last first-year head coaches to have Florida ranked higher in the poll were Urban Meyer (2205: No. 5) and Steve Spurrier (1990: No. 6).
Sumrall and Florida currently grade as the No. 4 team in the FBS (96.5), while currently sitting at No. 2 in rushing and tackling, No. 4 in run defense, No. 5 in offense, No. 7 in receiving, No. 10 in run blocking, No. 14 in in defense and No. 15 in pass blocking.
The No. 8 Florida Gators (4-0, 2-0 SEC) travel to Columbia, Mo. where they look to stay undefeated, as they take on the No. 25 Missouri Tigers (3-1, 0-1 SEC) on Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
About the Dodd Trophy
The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field. The award honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, as did Coach Dodd's teams during his 22 years as head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Coach Dodd remains one of college football's legendary figures, both as a coach and a player. Coach Dodd was a native of Galax, Virginia, and played his college ball at the University of Tennessee where his team had 27 wins, one loss and two ties during the three years he played. Coach Dodd was selected to the National College Football Hall of Fame both as a coach and as a player.
About Peach Bowl, Inc.
Peach Bowl, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization that operates the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the Aflac Kickoff Game, the Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, and manages and operates The Dodd Trophy national coach of the year award. It is the ninth-oldest bowl game in the country and is recognized as college football's most charitable bowl organization, having donated more than $71.2 million to organizations in need since 2002.
2026 Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets are on sale for the 2026 Florida Football season under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. Fans can purchase single-game tickets for home contests against South Carolina (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 7), and Vanderbilt (Nov. 21). Fans can also purchase tickets for the game against Georgia in Atlanta on Oct. 31.
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