Loading summary
Transcript1 lines
- [00:00]
A
Year one of the John Sumrall era down in Gainesville is quickly approaching. There's a new level of hype and excitement around Sumrall's Gators, and there's a lot of talent as well on this roster. Could Florida do the unthinkable and sneak into the college football playoffs? Certainly, they have been one of the sexy picks of the offseason. And guys, we start, what do our friends at Cali have to say about that? Well, they give Florida a 25% chance to go to the College Football Playoff and and they give the Gators a 2% chance to win the national title. So if you're feeling frisky, head over to Koshi and place some coin on it. But with that being said, guys, these are my game by game predictions for the Florida Gators entering year one of John Sumrall. And you look at this schedule, it sets up really well out of the gate, right, because there's a lot of talent, but certainly there's a lot of question marks, specifically at the quarterback position. Is it Aaron Filo? Is it it Tramell Jones Jr. I mean, outside of that, guys, you got Jaden Ball at running back, Dallas Wilson, Vernell Brown, Eric Singleton at the wide receiver position. Offensive line is that able to gel and come together, but John Sumrall seems really confident about it. I think the O line will be solid. I think it will be good enough defensively. I think your front seven is vastly underrated. And again, I think Florida should be strong on the defensive side. And really, guys, about year one, I know y' all would agree it's about a cultural shift. It's about a cultural change. It's about Florida no longer being a stupid football team like they were on a billion ap. It's about Florida doing the little things right. It's about Florida putting themselves in much better positions to win things I don't think they did a great job of under Billy Napier. So that being said, it should start out on a high note. You're going to have a few weeks to get the get, get everything ironed out, get the kinks ironed out, get, if you will. You open up, of course, your home opener and your season opener there at the Swamp against Florida Atlantic. Guys, I don't think this should be closed. I think Florida, it'll be a field day. I'm more curious in the big storyline going in this one. Do we see both quarterbacks play? Is the quarterback battle settled by now or is it a mix of Philo and T.R. jones Jr. I mean John Sumral again at SEC Media's. Guys, he very clearly stated, listen, we'll play both if we have to. Like we, we've, we've had seasons where we played both guys. Not because we believe in some two quarterback system but we felt like both guys could help us win. And, and we turned to both at times. So I'm curious, do we see both of them in this football game or is it somebody has established themselves at QB1? And I think even if that's the case, you're probably still going to see both in the standpoint of I think this is a game where it kind of feels like a name. Your score game for Florida out of the gate. So you start the John Sumrall era one and oh, you got Campbell the following week. I think it is a very, very similar story guys. Very similar story. I mean this one might even be more of a lopsided victory for Florida than week one. Again, continuing to build everything, especially on the offensive side. So whoever's playing quarterback, you're going to get two weeks to get your feet wet. You're going to get two weeks to get comfortable, to build confidence. This football team is going to get two weeks to build confidence. It's going to be a really fun start of the season for Florida fans. Then the week three matchup gets real really, really quickly. John Sumrall's SEC opener and it comes on the road at Auburn. John Sumrall against Alex Goldish. Guys, I am so excited to see this game back on the schedule. I mean how many of us can recall the mid to late 2000s when these two would match up against each other? Chris Leak teams and Jason Campbell and, and Kenny Irons and you had late game dramatics and I just feel like these games were always thrillers when these two teams played each other. So really glad to see this back on the schedule. And I think it's a pivotal game for both guys. I think this is one of the most underrated SEC games of the 2026 season. Just when you think about what it means for both programs, the way I think it's a tone setter for both sides. I mean we're talking about teams that could surprise and sneak into the College Football Playoff. I think if you're an Auburn fan or a Florida fan, if you have those dreams, it starts by winning this football game night game at Jordan Hare, one of the most difficult places to play in all of college football. I think Florida gets it done though. I think Florida goes on the road, gets the Win, you're going to notice. Guys, I like this Florida team. I like this roster. I think by week three, I trust that whoever is playing quarterback will have the confidence necessary and by then again, plenty of reps. Right. Confidence built in the first two weeks and I think leaning on Jaden Ball as well. That's the good news. Whoever's playing quarterback, they ain't got to do it themselves. John Sumrall's made it very clear he'll hand the football off 40, 45 times if he has to to Jaden Ball. I think you lean on Jaden Ball. I would not be surprised if this is a defensive battle because Auburn's got their own questions on the offensive side, obviously and they've got DJ Durkin and a fantastic defense. But I do think it is the Florida Gators in a coin flip game to go on the road and get the win at Jordan Hare to start the season three and oh, the following week the old Miss Rebels come to town. The SEC home opener for John Sumrall. This is where I think you suffer your first loss of the season. I do. I think Ole Miss comes into your house very well. Listen, this one is one I've wrestled with back and forth because it very well could be a night game at the Swamp. That being said, Trinidad, Chambliss, Kwan, Lacey, I'm putting my trust in essentially those two guys to out duel the Florida Gators come in the Swamp. I do not think they will be intimidated or phased. I do think it is Ole Miss who gets the win. I think Ole Miss is a really good team in year one of Pete Golding. I think they are a team truly a college football playoff contender if not a college football playoff participant at this point. I do think this is your first loss of the season and I think the Gators fall to three and one the following week. You get the month of October going at Mizzou. I think Florida bounces back the right way. I think you go into Como. Is Ahmad Hardy going to be available at this point? Honestly guys, we do not know. We do not know what his status is going to be. I think the Gators, I think by this point the offense is really clicking a lot of talent on this football team. I think the Gators will get it done. I think they take down Mizzou, guys. I think Mizzou actually takes a pretty big step back this year. I do. They were one of the teams. I was really surprised how low I was on them as I went through my game by game prediction. So I like Florida to get this win, you bounce back in the right way and you move to four and one the following week. You take on South Carolina, you come back home in a homecoming matchup. This one is really interesting and this one's really tricky. This is, and there's a couple on here you could indicate. But this is an upsert alert game for Florida. This absolutely is. I think South Carolina at this point could very well be desperate. South Carolina could also have a lot of momentum when you look at their early part of their schedule, could come into this game undefeated potentially certainly with one loss. But I think Florida gets it done. I think they hold off the Gamecocks. You know, it's, it's interesting. Even with the success Shane Beavers had at South Carolina, he could not even beat Billy Napier. And if you look at South Carolina's history as well in the swamp, they have not fared well. It has been a house of horrors for South Carolina. I think this is one of these games if you're Florida, if you're going to have a successful year, one of John Sumrall. This is a game you need to win. I mean this is a game I think you have to have and I think they will get. It could be a tight game, could get a little bit squirrely, but I think the Florida Gators find a way to eke it out against an upset minded Gamecock team. They get the W to advance to five and one through six games. So you'll already have eclipsed last season's win total. And we're only about halfway through the season where essentially we are at the halfway point of the season. Then the following week, these next two games, it gets very real. If you won one of them, I think you would take it. You're at Texas October 17th, a five and one Gators team heading on the road to Austin. Could it be college game day? Could, could be the game of the weekend. When you look at what Texas might be as well at that point, I do think you dropped that one to Texas. I think you fall to 5 and 2. Listen, I like this Gators team a lot. I like John Sumrall. I just don't think you're quite there yet. I, I don't. And this is a game being in Austin, not going to have the, the challenge of a night game, if you will, at dkr. And I don't think it's certainly one of the toughest places to play in the conference admittedly. But Texas is extremely talented. I, I do think they're going to be legit this year. I think Arch Manning will look much more like the end of season Arch Manning from a season ago. I mean, guys, they're loaded across the board. They're absolutely loaded across where they also have Will Muschamp. If there's anybody knows how to stop Florida's offense, it is Will Muschamp from his days at Georgia. So I listen, I like you a lot. I, I think Florida, if you can't tell, I think Florida is going to be one of the surprises of the sec. Have a big season. I just don't think you're there from a roster standpoint, especially if this game. Of course. We all recall what happened last year, by the way. How dare I just leave that till now. We all recall what happened last year. I just think there's no way. If Texas wins one game this season, it'll be this one. They will have revenge on the mind. I think Texas will get it and they beat the Gators, drop you to five and two on the season, then the bye week, then the world's largest outdoor cocktail party or whatever you want to call it. Apparently it's the Invesco. Invesco Atlanta Gridiron Classic. That's awful. That's terrible. Either way, it's Georgia, it's Florida, it's Florida, it's Georgia in Atlanta this year at Mercedes Benz because of the construction being done on the Jag stadium. I mean, you might as well just call it a home game for Georgia at this point with it being in Atlanta. Guys, I'm going Georgia. I, you know, I have gone out on a limb the past couple years and picked Florida to beat the Georgia Bulldogs. I gotta see it before I can believe it. I don't think in year one of John Sumrall, it's happening. I, I just don't. I, I'm a believer in Kirby Smart in this Georgia team. I do think they're going to be in Atlanta. I think they're going to make a deep run in the College Football Playoff. I think Georgia is legit. Will John Sumrall beat Georgia at some point his tenure? I think so. I think at some point he'll get them. I just don't think it's this year. So all of a sudden after a 51 start, you lose back to back games to fall back to 5 and 3. What direction does the season go from here? I think this is an inflection point game upcoming as you host the Oklahoma Sooners again, an Oklahoma team that I've got high hopes for and believe is going to be a really good team and I think going to be a factor in the college Football playoff race. That being said, I do believe this is the signature win of year one of John Sumrall. I think you get Oklahoma on your home field very well. Can be a night game at the Swamp. I think the Swamp is as raucous as we've seen it. I know Gator fans will show up, show out on that night. It will be one of the, if not the toughest place to play in all of college football. I think Florida gets it done. I think Florida gets it done. I think they edge out the Oklahoma Sooners get the win again. I think it's the signature win in year one of Johnson run. I think after back to back losses and sitting at 5 and 3 it's one you need to have. I absolutely just for a momentum standpoint because you look at the back end of the schedule guys in your final three games, you win this Oklahoma game, you could really ride into the end of the season momentum with you. Think about where the Gators will be sitting and the fact they'll be favored in all three of these games. I think Florida wins this one. I gotta move into six and three bull eligibility in year one of John Sumrall. I know the expectations and games will are higher but you know take the small wins where you can get them. You're going to a bowl game. Here's the good news again. You close out the season with this. You're at Kentucky the following week. Now I like Will Stein a lot. I, I thought what he said at SEC many days was impressive. Where we're going to win because of me, it's about me. I thought that was really cool and you love to see a guy who's got that much confidence in himself. That being said, it is an unforgivable sin as the head coach of the Florida Gators or just for Florida in general. It's an unforgivable sin to lose to Kentucky and I think John Sumrall understands that. I think he gets that and I think the Gators take down the Cats. I, I just, I, I do not see Kentucky pulling this up. Said I think Florida, I think John Summerall very well understands how important this game is to the fan base. Again, it's not one you're going to brag about or hang a banner for, but you cannot make a very long career down in Gainesville losing this football game. So I think John Sumrall Co. I think this football team, I think clicking on all cylinders. I think they follow up success the right way and I think you get the win. And I think Florida moves to 7 and 3 on the season. Then the Vanderbilt Commodores coming to the Swamp. Bandy by this point could be a really tricky team. Jared Curtis, he's going to have taken a lot of lumps I think for the better though. And Bandy, we all know what they did last year, but I think the loss of Diego Pavia for the Doors is real. I think Florida again riding the momentum of back to back wins. I think you beat Vandy as well guys to move to 8 and 3 on the season. So the rivalry game against Florida State very well could be and I think will be a game for hey, we win this, we are putting ourselves squarely in the College Football Playoff conversation. Here's the good news for Florida and I know it's a rivalry game. Anything can happen. Florida State's a complete mess. I think it is more likely Mike Norvell is fired before this game happens than Florida State is worth a darn this season. So I do think even being in Tallahassee again, I know things can get squirrely. Rivalry game on the road. I think the Gators, I think Florida gets it done. And I think with that being said, Florida sits at 9 and 3, 6 and 3 when the dust settles. Now, guys, I will admit to you, I'm a little nervous making this pick. I'm a little nervous making this prediction because I have picked Florida to do well and been burned before. I had the Gators in the playoff last year and I looked like a fool. That being said, here is why I have confidence in Florida because to me it was never a talent issue. Now does that mean this is a perfect roster? Not by any means. Right. There's still questions to be answered. But that being said, it was never a talent issue for me. It was all a leadership issue. It was a coaching issue. It was a culture issue. And I am a believer. Chalk me up as a believer in John Sumrall that I think he can fix those things very, very, very quickly. Now again, Florida feels very boomer bust to me. If you told me Florida went 6 and 6, I wouldn't be shocked. I really wouldn't. I would not be shocked. But I think the way the schedule sets up early to build some momentum and I think the way it sets up late to close out strong, I think favors Florida greatly. It'll really be about guys, what you do in the middle, right? The games against Texas and Georgia, Oklahoma, the Mizzou South Carolina games, right. Not losing games that you feel like you're supposed to win, if you will. And I think this would be, I know Gator fans would agree this would be a wildly successful year, one of the John Sumrall era. So I got Florida at 9 and 3, 6 and 3. They are my or at least one of my surprise teams of the SEC. Although at this point, guys, I don't know that I'd call Florida a sleeper. I think a lot of people are high on this Gators team and I think for good reason. I think as soon as the quarterback clicks, I think this Florida team is going to be a lot of fun to watch and I think they're going to be a team that contends right there for the College Football Playoff. Admittedly, I do have Florida as a 9 and 3 team that is just on the outside looking in. But I mean I think it's a great year one for John Sumrall laying the foundation for what's to come in his tenure down there in Gainesville. So guys, would love to hear your thoughts. Do you agree with me? Do you disagree? How are you predicting Florida affair in the upcoming college football season? Guys, it's going to do off me really appreciate each every single one of you tuning in. Before we get out of here really quickly, I do want to tell you about our friends over at Cali because as always we are brought to you by our friends at Cali. Before the season even kicks off, everyone is making prediction who wins the division, who makes the playoffs, who's lifting the trophy at seasons end. On cow, America's number one prediction market platform, you can trade those predictions in a live market guys. Everything from individual games, Florida's percentage chance to make the playoff win, the natty and much much more. On couch you're trading experience in a live market meaning there's no house and as the probability changes you can buy in and out of your position, trade the draft, pick the game and more on Kalshi Download the Kalshi app. Use promo code secu to get 500 in bonus credits when you trade 25. That's K A L S H I kalshi trade on anything 18 and up. Only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk. It may not be suitable. All investors Cali products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see cow.com regulatory guys once again can't say thank you enough. Appreciate each and every single one of you tuning in. As always make sure you hit that like and subscribe button on YouTube. Check us out where we get your podcast all across your favorite social media platforms as well as our website. SEC unfiltered. Follow me at C Philly 19 and stay tuned. All our content. It's content bleeding out of the eyeballs guys. Once again, thank you all so much. Have a great rest of your day. We'll talk to you all on the other side. Sa. Sam.