The Gators play at Auburn for the first time since 2011 on Saturday. (Photo: UAA Communications)
Game Day: Florida at Auburn (Saturday, 7 pm)
Saturday, September 19, 2026 | Football
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AUBURN, Ala. – The last time Florida played Auburn on the road there were 12 teams in the Southeastern Conference.
That was 15 years and Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma ago.
Given their history, it's both remarkable and a little sad the series went away. The Gators and Tigers played every year from 1945 to 2002 – that's 57 consecutive years – before the NCAA approved a 12th regular-season game and the schools broke off the series in exchange for non-league opponents.
UF and Auburn have met three times since, with the Tigers capturing the first three (in '06, '07 and '11) before the Gators snapped what was a run of four losses over the previous five with a memorable 24-19 victory at "The Swamp" in 2019 (see Perine, La'Mical).
The teams have combined for three winning season in the seven years since.
Along the way, Auburn has had four coaches and Florida three, with both of their current ones in Year 1. The coach that leads either the Gators (2-0, 0-0) or Tigers (2-0, 0-0) – be it Jon Sumrall or Alex Golesh, respectively – to victory in Saturday night's high-stakes, early SEC showdown at sold-out Jordan-Hare will have a leg up in the Who-Got-It-Right and Which-Once-Proud-Program-Is-On-The-Way-Back sweepstakes.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
The timelines from last year's coaching cycle, relative to this matchup, have been the dominant storyline this week. When UF fired Billy Napier last October and Auburn followed suit with Hugh Freeze a week later, two blueblood, charter SEC franchises the market. Sumrall, in the midst of guiding Tulane to an American Athletic Conference title and berth in the College Football Playoff, was in the mix at both places.
The Gators eventually won the Sumrall sweepstakes, but both hires were announced Nov. 30. Sumrall spent the next month basically running two programs, while Golesh, by way of South Florida (and the AAC), got right to it.
Now, here they are, with a lot on the line.
They've faced off before, with Sumrall's Green Wave pummeling he Bulls 45-10 in 2024. Golesh, though, has a leg up against the Gators, courtesy of USF's shocking 18-16 upset in Gainesville last September that, coming in Week 2, basically teed up Napier for a Gator Nation revolt. That night, Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown riddled UF for 263 yards and a touchdown passing, with another 66 rushing.
USF's Byrum Brown after beating the Gators at the "Swamp" last September.
[Associated Press photo]
Auburn QB Byrum Brown
[USA Today photo]
Golesh, who plays a fast-break offense, brought Brown to Auburn, so therein lies another sub-plot. Brown has passed for 485 yards, two touchdowns and been intercepted three times thus far, while also pacing the Tigers in rushing with 115 yards and a score in wins over Baylor (at Atlanta) and Southern Mississippi here last week.
Brown will face a UF defense that hasn't really been tested, what with lopsided wins over Florida Atlantic and FCS-classed Campbell. The Gators are surrendering 303.3 yards per game, most through the air, but have forced five turnovers. They have just one sack, though, and Brown is very elusive back there.
What UF hardcores really want to see is whether one of the most promising offenses in years (since pre-Napier, to be sure) can travel. The Gators, with Georgia Tech third-year transfer Aaron Philo (517 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT, plus 33 yards, 2 TD rushing) at the controls, are averaging 569 yards through two games, with 321.5 through the air and 247.5 on the ground, thanks to a couple huge performances from tailback Jadan Baugh (296 yards, 5 TD).
Auburn has defended at 328.5 yards per game, allowing only 76.5 on the ground, and figures to put big-time pressure on Philo to see how he handles his first career start on the road and in a stadium renowned for its noise.
It should not have taken this long for these two teams to get back here again, but much about college football has changed over the last few years.
Or did you notice?
Broadcast coverage starts at 7 p.m. on ESPN, with Tom Hart on play-by-play, Fozzy Whitaker providing analysis and Quint Kessenich reporting from the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network broadcast will air with pregame coverage beginning at 3:45 p.m. and eventually give way to Sean Kelly, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey on the call. For GSN stations, click here.
Replays will air on Wednesday at noon and Sept. 26 at midnight.
Follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage late Saturday night and follow-up content Sunday as well.
