Florida vs. Ole Miss Preview

The Florida Gators return home this weekend for one of the biggest early-season tests of the 2026 campaign. No. 21 Florida will welcome No. 4 Ole Miss to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26, in a matchup featuring two undefeated teams that already have an SEC victory on their résumés. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Both teams enter at 3-0. Florida is coming off an impressive 44-39 road victory over Auburn, while Ole Miss enters Gainesville after defeating then-No. 7 LSU 32-24 in Oxford. The result is a matchup that should provide an early measuring stick for Florida under head coach Jon Sumrall.

Gators’ Offense Faces Major Test

Florida’s offense has been one of the team’s biggest strengths through the opening three games.

The Gators have scored at least 44 points in every game this season, including their 44-point performance against Auburn. Running back Jadan Baugh has been a major part of that production, entering the matchup with 458 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Baugh’s ability to consistently create explosive plays will be especially important against an Ole Miss defense that will be looking to limit Florida’s ground game and force the Gators into difficult passing situations. Florida will also need to protect the football and avoid putting itself behind the chains. Against Auburn, the Gators committed 16 penalties for 138 yards, an area Sumrall has emphasized cleaning up before facing the Rebels.

Trinidad Chambliss Leads Explosive Ole Miss Attack

The biggest challenge for Florida’s defense could come from Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

Chambliss has been one of the SEC’s most productive offensive players early in the season, throwing for 924 yards and seven touchdowns through three games while also providing a threat as a runner. He accounted for 363 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in the Rebels’ victory over LSU. That combination creates a difficult assignment for Florida’s defense. The Gators must maintain discipline in the secondary while also accounting for Chambliss when he breaks containment. Florida’s defense cannot afford to lose track of receivers when Chambliss extends plays outside the pocket.

Ole Miss’ Ground Game Could Be A Question

Ole Miss could enter the game without one of its most important offensive weapons. Running back Kewan Lacy suffered a left shoulder injury during the LSU game and is considered uncertain to play against Florida. Lacy has 191 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 39 carries this season, and an MRI reportedly showed no long-term damage. His status will be monitored throughout the week. If Lacy cannot go, the Rebels could lean more heavily on their other backs while continuing to use Chambliss’ mobility to keep Florida’s defense off balance.

Florida Must Limit Explosive Plays

Ole Miss enters the matchup with plenty of offensive firepower. Head coach Pete Golding has emphasized the importance of distributing the ball based on defensive looks, with the Rebels capable of getting production from several receivers. Against Charlotte earlier this season, Ole Miss distributed the football to nine different receivers, highlighting the challenge Florida faces in defending the entire offense rather than focusing on one target. For Florida, communication and tackling will be critical.

The Gators cannot afford to allow Chambliss to turn broken plays into explosive gains, and they will need to finish tackles in space against an Ole Miss offense capable of creating big plays after the catch.

A Major Test For Florida’s New Era

Saturday represents more than another SEC game.

Florida is entering its SEC home opener after beginning the season 3-0 and winning on the road at Auburn. Ole Miss, meanwhile, has already established itself as one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams after victories over Louisville and LSU.

Sumrall has repeatedly stressed the importance of moving on quickly from each game, and that message will be especially important this week. After the Auburn victory, he called Ole Miss a “huge challenge” and stressed that Florida would need to play better football than it did against the Tigers.

Now, the Gators get their opportunity to show how far they have come.

What To Watch

Florida’s rushing attack: Can Baugh and the Gators’ offensive line establish the run against an SEC opponent ranked inside the national top five?

Chambliss vs. Florida’s defense: The Gators must contain both his arm and his ability to extend plays with his legs.

Turnovers and penalties: Florida cannot afford the type of self-inflicted mistakes that extended Auburn drives last week.

The Swamp: With Ole Miss coming to Gainesville for Florida’s SEC home opener, the atmosphere inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium should be a major part of the matchup.

The Bottom Line

Florida and Ole Miss arrive in Gainesville undefeated, ranked and coming off statement victories.

The Gators have already shown they can win a high-scoring SEC road game. Now they face a top-five opponent with an explosive quarterback and a versatile offense. For Florida, the formula will be familiar: run the football, protect the ball, limit explosive plays and force Ole Miss to execute consistently. If the Gators can do that, Saturday’s matchup should provide one of the clearest indications yet of what this Florida team can accomplish in its first season under Jon Sumrall.