Jon Sumrall had just five words to describe his belief in spots earned for the college football playoffs: “We beat the ACC Champion.”
If there’s one thing Florida fans will get to know about Sumrall, it’s that he does not back down from his beliefs. When asked by the media about the push-back by some about two G5 schools making it into this year’s college football playoff, he did not back down from his firm belief in G5 schools being deserving of at least one spot. Many critics were upset that both Tulane and James Madison made it into the top 12 and had a spot in the playoffs this year, but if you ask Sumrall, he believes they earned their spot. Yes, the rules state conference champions move on, but beyond that, Sumrall believed the Green Wave even earned their place over other big conference schools.
“I think you should’ve given the American Champion an opportunity before the ACC Champion this year because we beat the ACC Champion,” he stated. "So like Duke won the ACC Championship, we beat them."
"I do understand the gripe- by how we played tonight we maybe didn't help with the critics of that. But I do think there should be at least one G5 representative."
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 21, 2025
Jon Sumrall on the critics of Tulane and JMU making the CFP ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/lgnJ1TfHcI
Jon Sumrall doesn't back down from Tulane's inclusion
That win came on September 13 when the Duke Blue Devils visited Tulane and were defeated by Sumrall’s team 34-27. Jake Retzlaff was 15-for-23, with 245 passing yards, rushed for 111 yards and had four rushing touchdowns. It was a win that signified that Tulane once again meant business in 2025 and that they were the real deal.
Critics believed because Tulane is a G5 school that they didn’t deserve the college football playoff, but Sumrall felt, and still feels otherwise. Though he said Tulane’s team didn’t exactly prove on Saturday night that they deserved to be amongst the top 12, he said that game doesn’t define it and that G5 schools belong.
“I do think there should be at least one G5 representative,” he stated.
Sumrall concluded that portion of his press conference by stating he has to coach better and you better bet he will continue to fight to at the University of Florida and to find his way back into the playoffs in 2026 as a Gator.