‘Nobody’s a Starter’: Jon Sumrall Sets Tone for Gators Spring Game
Gators football will hold its 2026 Orange and Blue spring football game in The Swamp on Saturday at noon.
Admission will be free to all fans, with gates opening at 10:30 a.m. The Gator Walk will take place at 9:20 a.m., and the pregame Gatorland Fan Fest on the west side of the North lawn opens at 9 a.m. The game will not be televised.
The game will be different from past Orange and Blue games. Florida will go offense against defense, as opposed to the traditional two split teams playing against each other. This year will be more of a White and Blue game, as the offense will wear blue, and the defense will be in white. Quarterbacks will be wearing orange, signaling no contact for defenders. Both sides of the ball will be able to score points to see who won the spring game.
Jon Sumrall said Tuesday that the offensive scoring will be traditional to a normal game, but the offense can go for 2 points from the 3-yard line, 3 points from the 5, or 4 points from the 10 after a touchdown. The defense can get 3 points for a 3-and-out, 1 point for every punt forced and 6 points for a turnover or fourth down stop.
“We’re going to celebrate playing tackle American football,” Sumrall said.
Sumrall said the defensive scoring method was what he did for his last four spring games. He said he came up with the idea in his first year at Troy because they did not have enough offensive linemen to split into two teams.
“It came out of my brain,” Sumrall said about where the format came from. “I didn’t want to take the time to split up teams. I did it that way, and then it just kind of made sense. I was like, ‘Yeah, I sort of like this.’”
There will be many different giveaways during the game. One lucky Florida fan at the Orange & Blue football game will win free gas for a year, courtesy of Circle K. A 4 pack of Morgan Wallen concert tickets in the swamp, a $500 UF Bookstore gift card, free Krispy Kreme donuts for a year, $250 in gift cards from Texas Roadhouse, a Raising Cane’s swag bag, a Campus USA prize pack featuring a signed Steve Spurrier helmet and tailgate package, and more will also be given away.
The first 1,000 UF students will receive an exclusive Gators Performance Cap, and one lucky student will also receive a $1,000 Publix gift card.
Sumrall said the depth chart for the spring game will not be the depth chart for the season opener in August. The Gators’ quarterback position is still open, with Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo, Tramell Jones Jr. and Will Griffin competing for the spot. The spring game will present opportunities for them and other position groups to show out in front of coaches and fans.
“When you look into, ‘Who are the ones?’ We aren’t there yet.” Sumrall said. “Yeah, there will be a depth chart. But, right now, who’s the starter? Nobody. Who’s the backup? Everybody.”
Most players who have been practicing throughout spring camp are expected to participate in the spring game, though no availability has been confirmed. Wideout Dallas Wilson’s availability is still up in the air. He began practicing after being in a walking boot for nearly a month, similar to last spring. Wilson then set the spring game record for yards after recording 10 catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the 2025 Orange and Blue Game.
Sumrall said he looks forward to playing in front of the Gators fans for the first time. He said that he expects competitiveness but wants to make sure the players have fun playing in front of a crowd.
“We’re not going to be perfect. There will be some mistakes made. I might make one on Saturday,” Sumrall said. “But I want them to feel that our guys enjoy playing the game, and that they’re going to play with an edge and a chip on their shoulder.”
Category: Feature Sports News, Gators Football
