Florida won at Auburn on Saturday night to improve to 3-0. (Photo: Anthony Garro/UAA Communications)
Gators Crack National Rankings After Auburn Win
Sunday, September 20, 2026 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida's first Southeastern Conference road win since 2024 gave the Gators a strong start in conference play.
Their 44-39 victory at Auburn on Saturday night also put the Gators back into the national polls.
Florida is ranked 21st in the AP Top 25 released Sunday afternoon and No. 22 in the LBM Coaches Poll. The Gators (3-0, 1-0) face No. 4 Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0) on Saturday afternoon at The Swamp.
Shortly after the Gators and first-year head coach Jon Sumrall walked off Pat Dye Field with their first win at Auburn since 1999, the Rebels finished off LSU at home in their much-anticipated matchup with former head coach Lane Kiffin. Ole Miss moved up four spots in the AP Top 25 after its 32-24 win.
"I think our guys were mentally prepared to come on the road, take the challenge, hostile environment, great crowd, backs against the wall a little bit," Sumrall said.
The Gators are off to their first 3-0 start in seven years and are back in the national polls for the first time since being ranked 13th heading into last season's upset loss to USF at home.
Before Saturday, Florida had not won an SEC road game since beating Mississippi State in the fourth game of the 2024 season. Next, the Gators will try to do something they haven't done since 2015: beat a team ranked No. 4 or higher at home.
Florida last did so in 2015, when the 25th-ranked Gators battered No. 4 Ole Miss 38-10.
Their 44-39 victory at Auburn on Saturday night also put the Gators back into the national polls.
Florida is ranked 21st in the AP Top 25 released Sunday afternoon and No. 22 in the LBM Coaches Poll. The Gators (3-0, 1-0) face No. 4 Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0) on Saturday afternoon at The Swamp.
Victory Sunday 🐊 pic.twitter.com/kuWQDgX3ng
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 20, 2026
Shortly after the Gators and first-year head coach Jon Sumrall walked off Pat Dye Field with their first win at Auburn since 1999, the Rebels finished off LSU at home in their much-anticipated matchup with former head coach Lane Kiffin. Ole Miss moved up four spots in the AP Top 25 after its 32-24 win.
"I think our guys were mentally prepared to come on the road, take the challenge, hostile environment, great crowd, backs against the wall a little bit," Sumrall said.
The Gators are off to their first 3-0 start in seven years and are back in the national polls for the first time since being ranked 13th heading into last season's upset loss to USF at home.
Before Saturday, Florida had not won an SEC road game since beating Mississippi State in the fourth game of the 2024 season. Next, the Gators will try to do something they haven't done since 2015: beat a team ranked No. 4 or higher at home.
Florida last did so in 2015, when the 25th-ranked Gators battered No. 4 Ole Miss 38-10.
Monday, September 21
Monday, September 21
Monday, September 21
Monday, September 21
