GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A general assumption in college football — along the same vein as when the clock hits zero, the game is over (at least in the old days) — is that if your favorite team's head coach can joke on Monday about his punter, then Saturday's game likely went well.
That premise held this week for Gators head coach Jon Sumrall following a rout of FAU in his first game.
"I'd love to never punt. I love Alec Clark. He's a great holder. He might be as good a holder. He's a punter, and he's a pretty good punter," Sumrall said. "I don't care if I ever see him play. We may have to get his scholarship back and NIL money back and all that if he doesn't ever play."
The only way Clark factored into Florida's 66-21 win and 624-yard outburst was as a punch line two days later.
Clark didn't have to punt, and not a soul among the sold-out crowd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium seemed to mind.
"We're going to need him,'' said Sumrall, turning serious. "But yeah, it was fun to not have to punt. That's enjoyable."
The Gators host Campbell on Saturday in Sumrall's second game, and considering they are 50-point favorites, few will be surprised if they don't have to punt for the second consecutive game.
Of course, Clark might have a different opinion. But maybe not. After all, he's got one of the best seats in the house.
Here is our latest edition of The Opening Kickoff for a closer look at the Florida-Campbell game: THREE STORYLINES
Sumrall's debut was a smash hit in front of an electrified, sold-out crowd at The Swamp. With a trip to Auburn next week to open the Southeastern Conference schedule, the Gators seek another sharp performance to pack for the trip.
OK, Sumrall and defensive coordinator Brad White were not exactly thrilled by the way the defense played. The Gators forced three turnovers and stopped FAU on downs four times. But the Owls chewed up nearly 400 yards and produced two long scoring drives to make it a 24-14 ballgame before the Gators pulled away. Campbell is coming off a victory over former UF quarterback Kerwin Bell's Western Carolina team. Camels quarterback Kamden Sixkiller has passed for 673 yards and averaged 29 completions per game and will be throwing plenty on Saturday to test Florida's D.
The Gators exited the opener in relatively good health besides losing receiver Eric Singleton Jr. to an ankle injury on their opening possession. Singleton, a talented playmaker who transferred from Auburn, is questionable for Saturday. The Gators shouldn't need him, which adds intrigue to the possibility of Singleton returning against his former school. Whatever the case, UF has three goals Saturday: win, stay healthy and empty the bench.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
In his first start for the Gators, quarterback Aaron Philo connected on his first seven passes and finished 16 of 21 for 275 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Philo's debut went about as well as offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner could have hoped. He made good decisions, showed a nice touch and played with poise. Philo should have the opportunity to strike for some big plays against Campbell.
The guy Philo handed the ball off to — junior running back Jadan Baugh — was pretty good, too. Baugh needed only 14 rushes to pick up 160 yards and three scores against FAU. Baugh topped the SEC in rushing the first week of the season and could join the Heisman Trophy race if he maintains that pace.
The defense seeks to tighten its coverage after FAU quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw for 396 yards. The Owls converted 11 of 22 third-down opportunities, several coming on short-yardage situations. Sumrall spoke about the need for the Gators to increase their situational awareness, so young cornerbacks Cormani McClain and Ben Hanks IIIcould beplaying closer to the line of scrimmage than we saw in Week 1.
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH … GATORS SAFETY DJ COLEMAN
The transfer from Baylor had an interception on the season's opening drive in his UF debut:
Safety DJ Coleman cradles the football after his interception in the season-opening win over FAU. (Photo: Gabriella Childers/UAA Communications)
Q: What was it like to pick off that pass against FAU?
A: It was an amazing experience. Just having my eyes on the quarterback, following the ball. I mean, we knew that team takes shots; they were going to be a little more aggressive. In the red zone, I was ready for it. Seeing the quarterback drop, I just took my shot.
Q: What are your thoughts on the secondary's player overall?
A: It was pretty underwhelming. I feel like we haven't played our best ball. This week we're going to find some things out, and we'll put a better product on the field.
Q: What about positives on defense?
A: I like the way we flew around. We had some good plays. It wasn't all bad, of course, but it was more bad than we'd like to see.
Q: How do you like your increased role here?
A: That was the most snaps [75] I've ever played. That's great just to see that the coaches trust me that much to have me on the field that long. It's a long season, so I've got to still take care of my body because they want me to do that.
Q: What was your main reason for transferring to UF?
A: The energy that Coach Sumrall brings, the life he can put into a program. I'd probably say that was the main thing, but then just talking to Coach White and Coach Collins and seeing their plan that they have for me, and how they plan on using me around the defense is something I feel like can help prepare me for the next level. THREE DIGITS
11 — Years since a first-year Gators head coach won his first two games. Sumrall is trying to become the first since Jim McElwain (2015). 426 — Yards rushing for Baugh in his last two games. 497 — Games Gators have played at home since Florida Field opened in 1930. The 500th all-time UF game at the current stadium will be Oct. 10 against South Carolina. AVAILABILITY REPORT
This is the first meeting between Florida and Campbell. The Fighting Camels have never faced an SEC opponent.
Florida's 66 points against FAU were its most in a season opener since a 70-21 win over New Mexico State in 1994.
Sophomore Vernell Brown III led the Gators with a career-high 117 receiving yards in the opener. Brown also caught his first career touchdown pass on the 42nd reception of his career.
Campbell is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2018.
The Fighting Camels are 0-14 all-time against FBS opponents, losing 56-10 at N.C. State a season ago in their most recent matchup with an FBS program. Campbell has improved, averaging more than 38 points through two games after averaging 23.4 points during a 2-10 season in 2025.
Florida ranks sixth in the SEC in total offense (624 yards) and 14th in total defense (396 yards allowed) after Week 1.
Gators linebacker Myles Graham had a team-high 10 tackles in the opener and is third in the SEC behind Auburn's Elijah Melendez (12) and Eric Winters (11).
Florida is 25-1 against FCS opponents since 1981, with its only loss at home to Georgia Southern in 2013.
The Gators have gained 450 yards or more in their last five games against FCS schools.
Former MLB pitchers and brothers — Gaylord Perry and Jim Perry — attended Campbell. The Perry brothers combined to win 529 games, second all-time for a set of brothers behind Phil Niekro and Joe Niekro (539).
CHARTING THE GATORS
Florida's 66 points against FAU was its most in a season opener in 32 years — and ninth-most in program history at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium:
Rank
Date
Opponent
Score
1.
Sept. 6, 1997
Central Michigan
Florida 82, Central Michigan 6
2.
Oct. 16, 1982
West Texas State
Florida 77, West Texas State 14
3.
Sept. 10, 1994
Kentucky
Florida 73, Kentucky 7
4.
Nov. 3, 2001
Vanderbilt
Florida 71, Vanderbilt 13
T-5.
Sept. 3, 1994
New Mexico State
Florida 70, New Mexico State 21
T-5.
Nov. 22, 2008
The Citadel
Florida 70, The Citadel 19
T-5.
Nov. 13, 2021
Samford
Florida 70, Samford 52
8.
Sept. 3, 1988
Montana State
Florida 69, Montana State 0
9.
Sept. 5, 2026
FAU
Florida 66, FAU 21
T-10.
Sept. 6, 2014
Eastern Michigan
Florida 65, Eastern Michigan 0
T-10.
Sept. 28, 1996
Kentucky
Florida 65, Kentucky 0
THEY SAID IT
"For a guy his size, his lateral quickness and twitch [are] off the charts. To be a great back, that's probably the No. 1 trait you got to have. It's fun to watch." — Faulkner on Baugh's ability
"I never want to be a specialist kind of off to the side. The team stuff is the most important thing to me." — Gators kicker Patrick Durkin on his involvement outside his position group
"I wouldn't say they've arrived yet or were elite, but I thought they looked like a well-coached, cohesive unit. For the most part, we functioned like a competent football team on the O-line." — Sumrall on the offensive line's performance in the opener
Former Gators defensive coordinator Geoff Collins is a fan of Sumrall and Faulkner, writes Kyle Lander of Yahoo! Sports.
WHY GATORS WILL WIN
The list is long, but for starters, they'll show up. That should be enough against the 49.5-point underdog Fighting Camels. This is a mismatch in proportion to the 2025 opener against Long Island. Florida crushed the Sharks by 55, and this one could go in a similar direction.
WHY CAMPBELL WILL WIN
Lane Kiffin hijacks their bus on the way to The Swamp and replaces all the Fighting Camels with active NFL players. That's all I can come up with.
