Last year, it was notable when Florida wasn’t given a single noon kickoff for the season. It was symbolic of the hope that many had for the Gators coming off their winning streak to close out the 2024 season, combined with DJ Lagway set to take over as the starting QB on day one.
As it played out, that hope was fool’s gold as Florida went 4-8 and Billy Napier was fired, making way for Jon Sumrall to lead the charge in 2026.
The start times for all of Florida’s games are slowly being released, and one of Sumrall’s massive early tests is going to get the primetime treatment.
Florida’s first three games are set for primetime
The SEC announced kickoff times for the first three weeks of the season. Florida will kick off against FAU on 9/5 at 7 PM, against Campbell on 9/5 at 5:30 PM, and against Auburn on 9/19 at 7 PM.
Given teams like Georiga, Texas A&M, and Alabama are all going to have a noon kickoff within the first three weeks of the season, this feels notable for the Gators that the powers that be in the SEC haven’t totally buried the Gators for 2026 just yet.
It also sets up a fascinating matchup under the lights for week three that will have massive implications.
As much as we can gloss over it, if Florida were to lose against teams like Texas, Georgia, or Oklahoma, the week three game against Auburn is going to be the closest thing to an apples-to-apples game Florida has in 2026. Both programs are coming off a losing season, and both are breaking in a new head coach.
In Auburn’s case, they hired former USF coach Alex Golesh, who was someone Florida fans had on their radar once there was a vacancy in Gainesville. Golesh and Sumrall have had far different approaches to their new home, as Golesh has imported over a dozen players from his old home, as well as bringing over the bulk of his coaching staff.
Sumrall, meanwhile, left most of his players and staff at Tulane.
As it stands right now, Florida has just one other game announced as the Gators will end the regular season against FSU on 11/27, which is Black Friday, at 3:30 PM.s
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