Jon Sumrall is emphasizing focus as University Athletic Association Florida Gators Football prepares to take its 4-0 record to No. 25 Missouri on Saturday afternoon. Florida is 2-0 in Southeastern Conference play, while Missouri is 3-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The game will be played at Memorial Stadium in Columbia during Missouri’s homecoming game.
Florida is ranked No. 8 after defeating Ole Miss 52-20 in its previous game. The Gators have lost their last two games at Missouri and three of their last four against the Tigers. Saturday’s matchup is the first meeting between the teams since 2023 and the 14th all-time meeting, with Missouri leading the series 7-6.
Sumrall said Florida cannot allow its fast start or national attention to change the team’s approach.
“I’m happy that we won each week so far. It beats the alternative,” Sumrall said. “But I’m not, like, celebrating anything. Nobody in our building should be celebrating anything. If we are, then we’re totally off-base at how you find success over the long term. We have to keep a humble, hungry, gritty blue-collar mindset. You know, tough teams win, selfless teams win. Teams that have an edge about them and hunger about them, they win.
“Complacent, soft, entitled, lazy, selfish teams, they lose.”
Florida offense brings strong numbers
Florida is averaging 53.5 points and 532.8 yards per game through four games. The Gators rank second nationally in scoring and fifth nationally in total offense, while their 214 points rank second in program history through the first four games of a season. Florida has scored 28 touchdowns and more than 40 points in every game.
Florida has scored 14 touchdowns in the red zone, the most in the nation. The Gators will face a Missouri team that has lost nine consecutive games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The matchup will be Missouri’s 23rd consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium, a program record.
Running back Jadan Baugh has 600 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns through four games. His touchdown total matches the most through four games by an SEC player since conference expansion in 1992. Florida is also averaging three sacks per game, giving its defense an opportunity to pressure Missouri’s offense.
Missouri passing game presents challenge
Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons has completed 70 of 107 passes for 947 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. Simmons previously was a Florida commit before signing with Ole Miss and transferring to Missouri after last season. Missouri receivers Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode have combined for 725 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Missouri’s primary offensive linemen are Cayden Green, Dominick Giudice, Tristan Wilson, Curtis Peagler and Luke Work. Sumrall identified the group as the best offensive line Florida has faced this season. Edge rusher Jayden Woods produced a crucial strip-sack in Florida’s victory over Ole Miss.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz praised Sumrall’s work at Florida.
“Coach Sumrall has done an excellent job,” Drinkwitz told reporters this week. “What an awesome job he’s done in his first year at the helm. You can just see the energy that he brings, the passion – his energy is infectious. The way his team plays reflects the passion. If you know Jon at all, [it] just reflects the way he carries himself, the confidence and physicality that he brings.”
Florida availability and matchup details
Florida lists wide receiver Vernell Brown III as questionable with a knee injury. Quarterback Aaron Philo has relied on Brown as a favorite target, while wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. is listed as probable with an ankle injury. Singleton returned for six snaps against Ole Miss and caught a 38-yard pass, his first reception as a Gator.
Florida lists running back Kelvin Jimenez as out with a knee injury and wide receiver Bailey Stockton as questionable with a back injury. Missouri lists running backs Ahmad Hardy and Malae Fonoti, offensive lineman Josh Atkins, tight end Gavin Hoffman and defensive back JaDon Blair as out. Missouri lists defensive linemen Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen, along with linebacker Bobby Washington Jr., as questionable.
Florida offensive lineman Bryce Lovett has started every game at left tackle for the undefeated Gators. Lovett was named Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Ole Miss. He said Florida’s support helped him settle into the position.
“They believed in me kind of before I believed in myself, and I think that kind of helped me get out there when I got on the island. Having them all stand behind me kind of just kind of proving myself, where it showed me that like I have the ability to do it. So once I bought into the process and started believing in myself, it really started working,” Lovett said.
Series history and schedule
Missouri leads the all-time series 7-6, while the schools have split 12 games since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012. Florida’s first four opponents have a combined 12-4 record, with their only losses coming against the Gators. Missouri’s nine-game losing streak against AP Top 25 teams also will be at stake.
Schedule: University Athletic Association Florida Gators Football at Missouri, Saturday afternoon, Memorial Stadium in Columbia. The game is Missouri’s homecoming game.
FSB Take
Florida enters Columbia with a 4-0 record, a No. 8 ranking and a highly productive offense. The Gators will need to maintain their focus, pressure Austin Simmons and account for Missouri’s receiving tandem. Brown’s availability and the matchup between Florida’s pass rush and Missouri’s offensive line also will be important factors.
Source: Original report