Florida vs. Florida Atlantic: Live updates

The time has finally come.

Jon Sumrall's Florida Gators kick off their 2026 season against the Florida Atlantic Owls. Kickoff is set for approximately 7:55 p.m. Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. Follow along for live updates.

FINAL: FLORIDA 66, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 21.

The first game of the Jon Sumrall era is a roaring success, as Florida dominates FAU. The Gators scored at least two touchdowns in every quarter of the game.

Aaron Philo impressed in his UF debut, hitting 16 of 21 throws for 275 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, which was a drop by a receiver. He also added 20 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on the ground.

Jadan Baugh dominated, recording 14 carries for 160 yards and 3 touchdowns. Duke Clark was impressive in relief for Baugh, recording 65 yards and a touchdown, as well as a receiving touchdown.

Vernell Brown III was UF's leading receiver with 6 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Bailey Stockton scored UF's other touchdown in the game.

On defense, DJ Coleman had an interception and a pass-deflection that caused a Dijon Johnson interception in his UF debut. Brendan Bett also forced a fumble that was recovered by Myles Johnson.

TOUCHDOWN | Q4 | 0:25: After a solid drive, Jones Jr. hits TE Micah Jones for a 6-yard score. Kicker Liam Padron hits the PAT.

That was an 11-play, 89-yard drive by UF that spanned over 6 minutes.

Florida 66, Florida Atlantic 21.

Q4 | 3:41: On 3rd and 4, Jones hits Louis on a route, and he impresses after the catch, gaining 32 yards. UF is down to the FAU 23.

Q4 | 4:39: RB Byron Louis is getting work here for Florida. Anthony Rubio also gets a carry. 12 Gators have touched the ball now.

Q4 | 6:39: On 4th and goal from the 1-yard line, Veltkamp runs a speed option concept, and it does not work whatsoever. Bett is in there to break it up; he causes a fumble, and LB Myles Johnson recovers. Gator ball at their own 11.

Q4 | 8:00: On a 4th and 8, Veltkamp airs left and connects with WR Branden Hoch for a 1st. Goal to go for FAU.

Q4 | 10:04: The Owls have picked up two 1st downs and are across midfield. The majority of Florida's defense is backup players right now.

TOUCHDOWN | Q4 | 12:24: Clark gets the carry and goes untouched into the end zone. It's his second score of the day and his first on the ground. He's up to 65 rushing yards on the day. Durkin hits the PAT. 

That drive was 8 plays, 75 yards, and just under 4 minutes.

Florida 59, Florida Atlantic 21.

Q4 | 13:47: Jones hands to Clark, and he runs right for a big gain of 28. Good gain there by the sophomore.

OT Bryce Lovett has returned on this drive.

Q4 | 14:54: Jones drops back on 2nd and 8 and finds TE Amir Jackson, who hurdles a defender and gets a 1st down. 14-yard gain.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: FLORIDA 52, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 21.

Tom Petty time in Gainesville, with the result here more than likely out of doubt.

Q3 | 0:17: Tramell Jones Jr. enters the game for Florida. That ends Philo's day after he hit 16-of-21 passes for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. He also ran for 20 yards and a touchdown.

He airs it out on 3rd down to RB London Montgomery, who is interfered with. 1st down, UF.

TOUCHDOWN | Q3 | 1:15: On 1st and 10, Veltkamp fires deep in the end zone for Valsin, who goes up over J'Vari Flowers and grabs it. Flowers goes down on that play and cannot put much weight on his left leg. Not a good sign for the Gator secondary if they lose him. PAT is good.

9-play, 75-yard drive that took just over 3 minutes.

Florida 52, Florida Atlantic 21.

Q3 | 1:33: On 3rd and 1 from the UF 27, Veltkamp once again hits Messer for a 1st down. FAU is driving here.

Q3 | 2:55: On 4th down near midfield, Veltkamp connects with Messer for a 16-yard gain. That moves the chains.

Q3 | 4:08: On 1st and 10, Veltkamp hands to RB Kaden Shields-Dutton, who is taken down by his facemask by Jaden Robinson. That's a personal foul on UF.

TOUCHDOWN | Q3 | 4:29: Philo runs in the pocket, rolls left and hits Clark, who breaks a tackle and the plane. Nice play for his first collegiate TD. Durkin hits the PAT.

That drive was 8 plays, 79 yards and was 4 minutes, 47 seconds long. 

Florida 52, Florida Atlantic 14.

Q3 | 5:11: On 3rd and 11, Philo drops back and finds Brown, his favorite target today. That's another gain of 18. UF up to the FAU 10.

Q3 | 7:08: On 1st and 10, Philo airs it out for Brown, and its right on the money. Big gain of 33. Brown is up to 5 grabs for 99 yards.

A notable injury update: starting LT Bryce Lovett is injured. True freshman TJ Dice Jr. is in the game in his place.

Q3 | 7:53: On 3rd and 4, Philo connects with Wilson for a gain of 15. UF up to its own 40.

Q3 | 9:08: On 3rd and 13, Jamari Lyons and Graham sack Veltkamp. It's a loss of 1. Chandley comes out to punt. He boots it to the UF 21, where Brown fair-catches it. Solid punt there to flip the field.

Q3 | 10:41: James hits Veltkamp on 1st down and forces a fumble, but it's recovered by an Owl offensive lineman.

Q3 | 11:24: On 3rd and 3, Ervin takes the carry but is swallowed up by Graham and McCloud. FAU then goes for it on 4th down and inches, and Ervin barely gets the line to gain. 1st down.

Q3 | 12:42: Veltkamp hits Valsin, who is back after the big hit in the 1st half. He gains 11.

TOUCHDOWN | Q3 | 13:08: On 3rd and 2, Baugh takes a carry left, and there goes that man! He is barely taken down after gaining 61 yards.

On the next play, Baugh gets the carry back and powers in for a 6-yard score. Its his third rushing touchdown of the night. That was a 4-play, 75-yard drive that took just under 2 minutes. Durkin hits the PAT.

Florida 45, Florida Atlantic 14.

Q3 | 14:54: To kick off the second half, Baugh gets a carry. It's only a gain of 1. Philo then hits Stockton to near the 1st down marker.

HALFTIME: Florida 38, Florida Atlantic 14.

Florida's offense has been impressive thus far, recording 302 yards. The Gators have also moved the chains 16 times. UF, however, is 0-4 on 3rd down. FAU is 10-16 on the "money down".

DJ Coleman has been the star defensively, recording an interception and deflecting another ball that was then picked off by Dijon Johnson. On offense, Jadan Baugh has 11 carries for 93 yards and 2 scores

The halftime festivities included a drone show. The highlights of the show included projections of Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Tim Tebow and Sumrall, as well as the Gator logo.

Q2 | 0:00: FAU runs the ball to end the half. The Gator faithful give UF a standing ovation.

Q2 | 0:20: On 3rd and 6 from the FAU 36, Veltkamp throws for Messer, and he moves the chains. Gain of 7.

INTERCEPTION | Q2 | 0:34: On 3rd and 8, Philo fires to Micah Mays Jr., but it hits his hands and is intercepted by Micah Sweeney. FAU takes over at its own 27.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS | Q2 | 1:08: On 3rd and 7 from the FAU 42, Veltkamp hands it to Farrow, and he's tackled a few yards short of the line.

The Owls keep their offense on the field. Veltkamp takes a shotgun snap and throws, but McCloud breaks it up. That's a turnover on downs. UF takes over at the FAU 46.

Q2 | 1:57: On 1st and 10, Veltkamp fires towards Valsin, who is demolished by Thornton. That was a massive hit. Valsin is down and in a lot of pain, while Thornton ran to the sideline grabbing his chest.

Q2 | 2:00: On 3rd and 5 from the FAU 30, Veltkamp fires and hits Valsin, who moves the chains. Good play call there. We reach the 2 minute timeout.

TOUCHDOWN | Q2 | 2:50: On 2nd and 3, its a wildcat snap to Baugh, who runs it in from 7 yards out. Shades of 2008 Ronnie Brown there.

That drive was 3 plays, 29 yards and was just over a minute.

Florida 38, Florida Atlantic 14.

Q2 | 3:34: On 1st and 10, Philo hands it to RB Duke Clark, who runs right for a gain of 15. Nice run there. 

INTERCEPTION | Q2 | 4:00: On 1st and 10, Veltkamp fires quickly towards a receiver, but Coleman deflects it and it's right into the hands of Johnson! Big defensive play there. UF takes over at the FAU 29.

TOUCHDOWN | Q2 | 4:05: Jadan Baugh. He makes it look easy, sidestepping defenders and powering into the end zone for a 12-yard score.

7 plays, 75 yards, 2 minutes and 45 seconds on that drive.

Florida 31, Florida Atlantic 14.

Q2 | 4:21: On 2nd and 7 from the FAU 43, Philo finds another former Yellow Jacket, TE Luke Harpring. There's a penalty flag for roughing the passer, so that adds more to the already big gain. Florida moves up all the way to the 12 yard line.

Q2 | 5:09: On a 3rd and 10 from the UF 39, Philo looks deep, doesn't see it, and runs. He gets just near the line to gain, but it's just short by inches. 

On the ensuing 4th and 1, Philo takes it himself and gets enough and more for a gain of 5. Good push there from the UF offensive line. An FAU defender is down after that play, and we head into an official timeout.

Q2 | 6:30: On 1st and 10, Philo takes a shotgun snap in the empty formation and hits Wilson. He does some solid running after the catch and gains 15 yards.

TOUCHDOWN | Q2 | 6:50: On 3rd and goal, Veltkamp takes it himself on a QB draw, and nobody picks him up. Touchdown, Owls. PAT is good.

12 play, 78 yard drive that took just over 4 minutes.

Florida 24, Florida Atlantic 14.

Q2 | 6:55: After a tackle-for-loss by DL Kamran James on 2nd down, Velkamp looks for a snap, but UF calls a timeout. A 3rd-and-goal from the 7 is incoming.

Q2 | 7:43: After Chiles almost forces a turnover on 2nd down, Velkamp hands it to RB Leonard Farrow for a 1st down. Farrow then gets another carry and gets inside the 5.

Q2 | 8:41: On 3rd and 6 from midfield, Veltkamp fires up a prayer, and Messer delivers. Great catch, especially since Clark interfered with him there. FAU declines the call, and the Owls are in the red zone. Gain of 29.

Q2 | 8:49: On 1st and 10, Veltkamp delivers a pass to Valsin for a big gain. He got hit hard by Bett but still delivered a good throw. It's a gain of 25 yards, but it's under review to see if he held on to the ball. The call is ultimately reversed. "Gator Bait" chant after that.

Q2 | 9:24: On 1st and 10, Veltkamp fires for Valsin, but Hanks got a bit too handsy there. It's a pass-interference call and an automatic 1st. First penalty of the season on UF.

Q2 | 9:44: On 3rd and 1 from the FAU 31, Veltkamp hands it to Ervin, who gets the 1st and some more. FAU looking to move fast.

TOUCHDOWN | Q2 | 11:02: On 3rd and goal all the way from the 28-yard-line, Philo hands it to Baugh, who does some excellent running. He gets all the way back to the 3-yard-line.

Florida keeps the offense out there on 4th and goal. Philo fakes the handoff to Baugh but keeps it himself and waltzes into the end zone! Well-executed play there. Durkin hits the PAT. 6 plays, 75 yards, and took just under 3 minutes. 

Florida 24, Florida Atlantic 7.

Q2 | 11:45: On 1st and goal, Baugh lines up in the wildcat, but C Harrison Moore skies the snap. Baugh recovers, but that's a loss of 20 yards. It will be credited as a "team" loss.

Q2 | 12:34: On 2nd and 6, Philo airs it out DEEP for WR TJ Abrams, who brings it in. A great throw there by the new UF starter. Gain of 63 yards, and UF is now on the FAU 8.

TOUCHDOWN | Q2 | 13:54: On 1st and 10, Veltkamp hands it to Ervin, who breaks the plane for a 1-yard score. FAU kicker Collin Rogers hits the PAT.

That drive was 13 plays, 75 yards and took 3 minutes and 12 seconds.

Florida 17, Florida Atlantic 7.

Q2 | 14:13: On 3rd and 6 from the UF 8, Veltkamp takes off and runs, nearing the goal line. Clark and Johnson tackle him just short.

Q2 | 14:54: On 1st and 10, Veltkamp looks for Messer in the end zone, but Dijon Johnson is there. DL Brendan Bett was near the QB there.

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Florida 17, Florida Atlantic 0.

Q1 | 0:00: FAU keeps the offense on the field on 4th and 3. Veltkamp takes the shotgun snap and finds Branden Hoch for a gain of 9.

Q1 | 0:10: On 3rd and 3 from the 20-yard line, Veltkamp fires toward Messer, but STAR Kanye Clark breaks it up.

Q1 | 0:33: On 3rd and 3, FAU's Ethan Ervin gains enough to move the chains. On the ensuing play, Veltkamp connects with Messer for a big gain of 18. He then hits Henry for another 1st down. The Owls are down to the UF 27 yard-line.

Florida defensive lineman Jeramiah McCloud is down on the field and is being walked off the field alongside the training staff. He seems to have avoided anything major.

FIELD GOAL | Q1 | 2:06: On 3rd and 6 from the FAU 36-yard-line, Philo keeps the ball on an RPO and doesn't go far.

Durkin trots out to attempt a 53-yard field goal. The kick is right down the middle. A great way for Durkin to start his UF career. That drive was 7 plays, 42 yards and took 3 minutes and 24 seconds.

Florida 17, Florida Atlantic 0.

Q1 | 4:17: On 2nd and 4, Philo hands to Brown on an end-around play. He goes for 14 yards and a first down. So far, Baugh and Brown have been the focal points of the Gator attack.

Q1 | 4:56: On a 2nd and 9, Philo drops back and airs deep for Wilson. It's incomplete, but a flag is called on FAU's Wilky Denaud for a defensive hands-to-the-face infraction. UF up to its own 39-yard-line.

Q1 | 5:29: On 3rd and 3, Veltkamp looks for Henry, but it's well short of him. McCloud had the hurry on that one. After a delay of game, Chandley punts, and it takes a friendly bounce back to the UF 23-yard line. That one went 50 yards.

TOUCHDOWN | Q1 | 6:28: On 1st and 10, Philo fakes the handoff to Baugh and finds his high school teammate, WR Bailey Stockton. He runs it into the end zone from there.

Durkin's PAT is good. That drive was 3 plays, 48 yards and took only 50 seconds.

Florida 14, Florida Atlantic 0.

Q1 | 6:46: On 1st and 5 after an FAU offside penalty, Baugh takes a carry for a gain of 18. Florida is up to the 25. On the next play, Baugh is brought down by his facemask. That's a personal foul on FAU. UF moves up to the 12-yard line.

Q1 | 7:18: On a 3rd and 15, Velkamp hands it off to RB Brady Tillman III, but Chiles and DL Jeramiah McCloud bring him down well before the line.

The following punt is almost fumbled after the snap and is not well delivered by FAU's Reed Chandley. UF will begin its next drive at the FAU 47-yard line after an 18-yard punt.

Q1 | 8:36: On 1st and 15, Veltkamp looks for Valsin, but CB Ben Hanks III breaks it up. Nice play there.

Q1 | 8:39: FAU opens its drive with a delay-of-game penalty. This crowd is ROWDY here.

TOUCHDOWN | Q1 | 8:41: On 1st and 10 from the 49, Philo hits Brown on a screen pass, and he does the rest. It's Brown's first-ever receiving touchdown as a Gator, and it comes on a huge play. Durkin hits the PAT.

That drive was 7 plays, 94 yards, and took 3 minutes and 20 seconds.

Florida 7, Florida Atlantic 0.

Q1 | 9:14: On 2nd and 12, Philo drops back and connects with Wilson for a gain of 19. Big throw there.

Q1 | 11:09: On 1st and 10, Baugh gets the handoff and gains 9. Almost broke it out for a massive gain. On the next play, Baugh gets the 1st down and a gain of 8.

Q1 | 10:09: On 1st and 10, Philo completes a screen pass to Brown. Gain of 8 on a well-designed play. That's the QBs first completion as a Gator. Baugh then gains 3 on a run for another 1st.

Q1 | 11:09: On 1st and 10, Baugh gets the handoff and gains 9. Almost broke it out for a massive gain. On the next play, Baugh gets the 1st down and a gain of 8.

INTERCEPTION | Q1 | 12:01: On 3rd and 10 from the Florida 35 yard line, Veltkamp barely gets the snap off and throws an interception to SAF DJ Coleman. The Gators get out of the first FAU drive with a forced turnover. UF begins its next drive at its own 6-yard line.

Notably, the Owls attempted a pass on all 11 of their offensive plays.

Q1 | 12:09: On 2nd and 10, Veltkamp tries to find Messer, but LB Aaron Chiles breaks it up. 3rd and long incoming.

Q1 | 12:12: On the following 1st and 10, Veltkamp looks for Henry, but fires over him beyond the end zone.

Q1 | 12:21: On 2nd and 7, Veltkamp once again finds Valsin to move the chains. He got the better of CB Dijon Johnson there.

Q1 | 13:20: On 3rd and 1 near midfield, Veltkamp hits WR Kelby Valsin for a gain of 7.

Q1 | 14:15: On 3rd and 7, Veltkamp looks for WR Dominique Henry, who gets the first down. Gain of 10.

Q1 | 14:54: On 1st and 10, FAU QB Caden Veltkamp tosses it to WR Easton Messer, who then attempts a double-pass. It's incomplete.

KICKOFF: UF's Patrick Durkin kicks off the season with a boot that lands in the end zone. FAU will begin its drive from the 25 yard-line.

COIN-TOSS: Florida Atlantic calls heads on the toss, and it lands on heads. FAU will receive to start the game.

MOMENTS BEFORE KICKOFF: This week's honorary Mr. Two-Bits is former first-team All-SEC RB Ciatrick Fason. Now, here come the Gators, led by an introduction video narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Florida Atlantic comes out to a loud chorus of jeers from the crowd.

WARM-UPS: Florida's starting lineup is being announced over the loudspeakers. The biggest ovations were for QB Aaron Philo, RB Jadan Baugh, WRs Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson, JACK Jayden Woods and LB Myles Graham.

Just over an hour before kickoff, a majority of the Florida roster is out on the field in uniform doing drills. UF Director of Football Performance Rusty Whitt and Sumrall are leading the drills. At the end, the entire Florida team came together in a large huddle, where Sumrall hyped up the team.

True freshman wide receiver Davian Groce is not in uniform, likely signaling he will be out tonight.

PREGAME: While Florida was not required to release a full availability report before this non-conference bout, Sumrall provided injury updates earlier this week. Notably, no player listed as a starter or direct backup on UF's first official depth chart is out of action today.

After a little bit of rain in Gainesville in the early afternoon, the forecast projects as cloudy skies with wind blowing 4 mph. The temperature throughout the game should remain in the high-70s or low-80s degrees Fahrenheit.

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