Head coach Jon Sumrall runs out with the Gators during Saturday's Orange & Blue Game (Photo: Anthony Garro/UAA Communications)
FINAL: Blue 45, Orange 42
Saturday, April 11, 2026 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jon Sumrall called the spring-game format he came up with a few years ago "extremely unique football."
Those at the first Orange & Blue Game for the Gators since Sumrall took over the program got a good idea of what he meant Saturday.
The final score: Blue 45, Orange 42.
The game ended when the Blue Team, which was the offense, missed a field goal as time expired. In a normal game, the Blue would have had freshman quarterback Will Griffin take a knee and run out the clock. Instead, Patrick Durkin trotted out for a 49-yard field goal that missed wide left.
Of course, no one remembers who won the spring game for long anyway, and for Sumrall and his coaching staff, Saturday was all about evaluation, execution and watching how the players responded in front of an announced crowd of 47,100 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Oh, and how quarterbacks Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. fared in their continuing battle for the starting job.
"One thing about what we did today is we were going to throw it around a bunch,'' offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said. "We were putting them in tough situations all day, and that was by design."
The final stats resembled those of a team wanting to take an extended look at the quarterbacks. The Gators passed 77 times and ran 45 times.
Philo finished 21 of 28 for 193 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Jones completed 13 of 17 for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Jones struck first when he connected with Auburn transfer Eric Singleton Jr. for a 38-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Philo hit Vernell Brown III for a 31-yard score later in the second quarter, and Jones responded with a 75-yard scoring pass to Micah Mays Jr. seconds later. Philo wasn't done, throwing a 23-yard touchdown to Mays right before halftime as the Blue (offense) lit up the scoreboard in the second quarter after the Orange (defense) led 8-0 after the first quarter.
While Philo and Jones had starring roles, Durkin kicked field goals from 48, 29 and 26 yards before his miss to end the game.
Sumrall was pleased overall at what he saw Saturday. He said the Gators still have a long way to go before they are the team he envisions.
As he departed his postgame press conference, his message was straightforward.
"We're going to wake up tomorrow, and we've got to get our ass back to work," he said.
Those at the first Orange & Blue Game for the Gators since Sumrall took over the program got a good idea of what he meant Saturday.
The final score: Blue 45, Orange 42.
The game ended when the Blue Team, which was the offense, missed a field goal as time expired. In a normal game, the Blue would have had freshman quarterback Will Griffin take a knee and run out the clock. Instead, Patrick Durkin trotted out for a 49-yard field goal that missed wide left.
Of course, no one remembers who won the spring game for long anyway, and for Sumrall and his coaching staff, Saturday was all about evaluation, execution and watching how the players responded in front of an announced crowd of 47,100 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Oh, and how quarterbacks Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. fared in their continuing battle for the starting job.
"One thing about what we did today is we were going to throw it around a bunch,'' offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said. "We were putting them in tough situations all day, and that was by design."
The final stats resembled those of a team wanting to take an extended look at the quarterbacks. The Gators passed 77 times and ran 45 times.
Philo finished 21 of 28 for 193 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Jones completed 13 of 17 for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Jones struck first when he connected with Auburn transfer Eric Singleton Jr. for a 38-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Philo hit Vernell Brown III for a 31-yard score later in the second quarter, and Jones responded with a 75-yard scoring pass to Micah Mays Jr. seconds later. Philo wasn't done, throwing a 23-yard touchdown to Mays right before halftime as the Blue (offense) lit up the scoreboard in the second quarter after the Orange (defense) led 8-0 after the first quarter.
While Philo and Jones had starring roles, Durkin kicked field goals from 48, 29 and 26 yards before his miss to end the game.
Sumrall was pleased overall at what he saw Saturday. He said the Gators still have a long way to go before they are the team he envisions.
As he departed his postgame press conference, his message was straightforward.
"We're going to wake up tomorrow, and we've got to get our ass back to work," he said.
What It Means
Sumrall introduced the Gators to his methods and expectations over the past four months, and over the next four months, he and his staff will determine where some of the pieces best fit and push the players to improve in the weight room, especially the offensive line.In the Spotlight
Since we covered the quarterbacks already, let's go with Sumrall, who made his Swamp debut in front of fans on Saturday. Sumrall spent the afternoon standing 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage underneath a white ballcap and decked in a dark-striped Gators polo and shorts. He wore a headset to communicate with his staff as he watched every snap from the field. While he has been a fan-friendly presence off the field, you could see Sumrall locked in on the task at hand once kickoff arrived Saturday.Staggering Statistic
Wake Forest transfer Mays knows how to make an introduction. Mays caught four passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 46 yards after the catch, highlighted by his 75-yard touchdown from Jones.Up Next
The next phase of offseason and summer workouts will eventually give way to fall camp in August and the run-up to the 2026 season opener on Sept. 5 against Florida Atlantic. Sumrall has recharged a UF program that opened last season ranked in the AP Top 25 and finished 4-8. The preseason hype will have a different tone this year, with the goal to be ranked at the end of the season.
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/ FootballJon Sumrall Postgame Press Conference 4-11-26
Saturday, April 11
Buster Faulkner Postgame Press Conference 4-11-26
Saturday, April 11
Brad White Postgame Press Conference 4-11-26
Saturday, April 11
Tramell Jones Jr. Postgame Press Conference 4-11-26
Saturday, April 11
