Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-15 · by Mark Long The Associated Press
Florida aims to break a six-game losing streak away from home as it faces Auburn in SEC play on Saturday night. The Gators, led by quarterback Aaron Philo and defensive captain Myles Graham, seek their first road win against a formidable opponent known for its intimidating atmosphere at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Florida is favored by 2.5 points despite head coach Jon Sumrall's history of losses there as both a player and assistant with Kentucky.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The University of Florida football team, currently at 2-0, aims to break their six-game losing streak away from home when they play against Auburn University in SEC conference action on Saturday night. The game is significant as both teams seek early-season validation; Florida, coached by Jon Sumrall, and Auburn, led by Alex Golesh, are each looking for a signature win. Despite being slight favorites by 2.5 points, Florida faces a daunting challenge at Jordan-Hare Stadium, where Auburn has historically had a strong home-field advantage. Sumrall's previous experiences as both a player and assistant coach with Kentucky against Auburn have not ended well on the road, contributing to his cautionary approach toward this game.
Written for “Florida Football Game Against Auburn” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida linebacker Myles Graham welcomes playing on the road in the unrelenting Southeastern Conference.
asserted
Graham → welcome → Conference
He likes the raucous crowds, the frosty receptions and even the potential of getting pelted by flying objects.
asserted
He → like → objects
“It’s thousands and thousands of people that want to see you fail,” Graham said.
asserted
Graham → ’ → people
”
If you win, anyway.
asserted
you → win → ?
The Gators (2-0) have lost six consecutive games away from the friendly confines of Florida Field, better known as the Swamp.
asserted
Gators → lose → Swamp
It’s a skid they hope to end when they open SEC play at Auburn (2-0) on Saturday night.
asserted
they → ’ → night
It’s a pivotal, early season game for both programs, with Florida’s Jon Sumrall and Auburn’s Alex Golesh looking for a signature win.
asserted
Sumrall → ’ → win
Sumrall, though, is 0-4 against Auburn, including 0-2 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
asserted
Sumrall → include → Stadium
“They’ve had a great home-field advantage there for a long time,” Sumrall said.
asserted
Sumrall → have → time
“We have to handle that challenge.”
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We → have → challenge
He’s thrown for 517 yards, with five touchdowns and an interception.
asserted
He → throw → touchdowns
He also has two rushing scores.
asserted
He → have → scores
But how well will he command the huddle with 88,000 fans screaming around him?
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fans → command → him
“He’s been really, really steady,” Sumrall said.
asserted
Sumrall → say → ?
“He’s made a lot of good decisions.
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He → make → decisions
Doesn’t mean he’s played perfect, but he’s done a lot of things.
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he → mean → things
If he plays like he’s played through the first part of this year, he will give us a chance to win every week, and that’s all you can ask.”
There are several other subplots to the game:
— Sumrall was Auburn’s top choice to replace Hugh Freeze last year, but Florida lured him away after Lane Kiffin chose LSU over the Gators.
asserted
Kiffin → play → Gators
Had Sumrall ended up on the Plains, he likely would have brought offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and Philo with him.
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he → end → him
Does Sumrall have to worry about any of them rooting against the Gators?
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any → have → Gators
“If I do, they’re not family to me,” Sumrall quipped.
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Sumrall → do → me
“There’s ties, but Florida pays my mortgage, so any family that is pulling against us, they ain’t my family.
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they → ’ → us
I don’t care what their last name is.
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name → care → ?
You know what I mean?”
— Golesh, quarterback Byrum Brown and about a dozen other current Auburn players won in the Swamp last year with South Florida, an 18-16 upset that was the beginning of the end for former Gators coach Billy Napier.
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that → know → Napier
“We’re not worried about that game,” Graham said.
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Graham → ’re → game
“That game doesn’t matter to this game now, but it definitely gives us the experience. …
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it → matter → experience
It’s the same kind of system, so we know what to expect going into it.”
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we → ’ → it
— Florida receiver Eric Singleton Jr. returns to Auburn for the first time since transferring to Gainesville in January.
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Jr. → return → January
Singleton missed last week’s game against lower-division Campbell after spraining his left ankle in the season opener and was wearing a walking boot through Saturday night.
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Singleton → miss → night
He was “very, very, very limited” in practice Monday, Sumrall said, calling him questionable for the game.
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Sumrall → say → game
Yes,” he added.
asserted
he → add → ?
Singleton, who spent one season at Auburn after two years at Georgia Tech, caught 58 passes for 534 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.
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who → spend → 2025
He said in April he “most definitely” circled the Auburn game on Florida’s schedule.
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he → say → schedule
“Every game is a big game for me because this is my last season,” Singleton said.
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Singleton → say → me
— And Golesh hasn’t forgotten his lone matchup against Sumrall as head coaches.
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Golesh → forget → coaches
Sumrall and Tulane smoked Golesh, Brown and the Bulls 45-10 two years ago in New Orleans.
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Sumrall → smoke → Orleans
“If you wanted to have a really, really rough morning, you could have sat with me and watched that (Sunday) again — for maybe the 200th time,” Golesh said. “And, again, wanted to throw up.”
___
uncertain
Golesh → want → time
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