Florida has already matched its entire 2025 season win total, and it is only September, thanks to the immediate, undeniable impact of first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. It’s wild how fast things can turn around in college football when the right leadership steps in, challenging every single preseason notion we all had.
Sumrall’s Gators Are The Real Deal
Sumrall has completely remade the Gators in his image: tough, physical, and smart. It’s exactly what that program needed. Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner runs one of the most creative and entertaining offenses out there, featuring what many are calling the best running back in the country, Jadan Baugh. This team isn’t just winning; they are looking like a top-10 squad for the first time in five years, proving it with a massive win at home over Ole Miss in Week 4. Who saw this kind of turnaround happening this quickly? It definitely makes you question how much we really know heading into any season.
The Playbook Spreads: UCLA and Oklahoma State Join the Party
The coaching impact isn’t just in Gainesville. We’re seeing similar magic happening with other first-year head coaches too. Bob Chesney’s UCLA squad, now ranked for the first time this season, has already racked up three wins over Power 4 teams, with two of those coming on the road. It feels like the “JMU playbook” is officially a thing, with coaches bringing their assistants and players to a new Big Ten school and finding immediate success. Then there’s Eric Morris at Oklahoma State, who pulled a similar move, bringing 21 players with him from North Texas. That fast-tracked their rebuild, too, culminating in star quarterback Drew Mestemaker leading a stunning upset of Oregon. Let’s not forget Kentucky either, who are also ranked this week after a huge road win against Texas A&M. These guys are delivering some of the most impressive wins of this young season, and everyone’s noticing, even if some voters are a little late to the party.
What Comes Next For These Unexpected Contenders?
These teams are absolutely writing some of the most interesting stories of the season. Dylan Raiola stepped up massively for Oregon in Week 4, and we saw a potential Heisman moment from Jeremiah Smith, but the biggest story has to be these coaches. We do not know if these programs will be battling for conference titles or College Football Playoff spots come December, but right now, they’ve shown us that immediate turnarounds are absolutely possible. Keep an eye on these teams, because if they keep this momentum, the entire landscape of college football could look way different by the time the leaves start falling for real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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