London Montgomery does a Gator Chomp after a 74-yard kickoff return on Saturday. (Photo: Rachel Rusch/UAA Communications)
The Beast Is Stirring: Florida Rises To No. 8
Sunday, September 27, 2026 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators have returned to a place they once lived but have not visited in five years.
They are ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25, moving up 13 spots to No. 8 in this week's poll.
Florida (4-0, 2-0 in the Southeastern Conference) impressed voters by beating No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28 on Saturday afternoon at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The victory was Florida's first over a top-five opponent since beating No. 5 Georgia in 2020. Meanwhile, Florida moved up 14 spots in the latest LBM Coaches Poll, where coaches ranked the Gators eighth.
The Gators' rise in the AP Top 25 is the biggest since LSU leaped 14 spots, from No. 25 to No. 11, on Sept. 4, 2018. Florida had not been ranked in the top 10 since the 2021 season.
First-year Gators coach Jon Sumrall had no interest in pats on the back when the Gators re-entered the national rankings a week ago, checking in at No. 21 heading into the home game against the Rebels. He said rankings meant very little early in the season.
Gators fans can relate.
Florida opened the 2022 season unranked, but after beating No. 7 Utah in the season opener in the debut of head coach Billy Napier, Florida was ranked 12th the following week. How did that work out? The Gators finished 6-7 and have been on the outside looking in at the rankings much of the previous four seasons.
However, the program's first 4-0 start in seven years has people paying attention. Many are starting to heap praise on Sumrall and his staff for the work they have done in a short time to turn the program around.
The Gators have already matched last season's win total heading into this week's game at Missouri.
Sumrall, who called the Gators a sleeping beast when he took over, was asked after Saturday's 24-point win over the Rebels whether the beast has awakened.
"It's not asleep. But it ain't fully awake yet," he said. "It's being kind of stirred up a little bit. We're gonna get there. But yeah, it's coming. Like, I promise you, I didn't come here for us to be average. We're gonna work tirelessly — coaches, players, everybody — to put a product on the field that we can be proud of."
They are ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25, moving up 13 spots to No. 8 in this week's poll.
Florida (4-0, 2-0 in the Southeastern Conference) impressed voters by beating No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28 on Saturday afternoon at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The victory was Florida's first over a top-five opponent since beating No. 5 Georgia in 2020. Meanwhile, Florida moved up 14 spots in the latest LBM Coaches Poll, where coaches ranked the Gators eighth.
The Gators' rise in the AP Top 25 is the biggest since LSU leaped 14 spots, from No. 25 to No. 11, on Sept. 4, 2018. Florida had not been ranked in the top 10 since the 2021 season.
Victory Sunday highlights 🐊 pic.twitter.com/uoGBfz4g1q
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 27, 2026
First-year Gators coach Jon Sumrall had no interest in pats on the back when the Gators re-entered the national rankings a week ago, checking in at No. 21 heading into the home game against the Rebels. He said rankings meant very little early in the season.
Gators fans can relate.
Florida opened the 2022 season unranked, but after beating No. 7 Utah in the season opener in the debut of head coach Billy Napier, Florida was ranked 12th the following week. How did that work out? The Gators finished 6-7 and have been on the outside looking in at the rankings much of the previous four seasons.
However, the program's first 4-0 start in seven years has people paying attention. Many are starting to heap praise on Sumrall and his staff for the work they have done in a short time to turn the program around.
The Gators have already matched last season's win total heading into this week's game at Missouri.
Sumrall, who called the Gators a sleeping beast when he took over, was asked after Saturday's 24-point win over the Rebels whether the beast has awakened.
"It's not asleep. But it ain't fully awake yet," he said. "It's being kind of stirred up a little bit. We're gonna get there. But yeah, it's coming. Like, I promise you, I didn't come here for us to be average. We're gonna work tirelessly — coaches, players, everybody — to put a product on the field that we can be proud of."
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
