With the 2026 college football season right around the corner, it's time to take a deep dive into the Florida Gators' schedule for the upcoming season.

The Gators, under newly hired head coach Jon Sumrall, will have their work cut out for them this year, as the program's schedule includes matchups against some of the best teams in the Southeastern Conference. However, before Florida is in the heart of its conference schedule, Sumrall's squad will begin SEC play against the Auburn Tigers in Week Three.

Here's everything you need to know for the Gators' matchup against the Tigers during the 2026 college football season:

Instead of examining the previous matchups between Florida and Auburn, looking at the Gators' battle against the USF Bulls in 2025 would give fans a clearer picture of what this year's contest could look like in Week Three. Former Bulls' head coach Alex Golesh managed to bring plenty of his stars from last season to Auburn this offseason.

The earlier-season matchup between the Bulls and the Gators was a brutal watch for the struggling fanbase, as Golesh's squad heartbreakingly defeated Florida, 18-16. Auburn's newest quarterback, Byrum Brown, threw for 263 yards and one touchdown, while the defense held former Gators' quarterback DJ Lagway to 222 passing yards.

The biggest question surrounding Auburn heading into the 2026 season will be the program's brand-new offense under Golesh. The Tigers' projected starting lineup is set to include 10 transfers, with former USF quarterback Byrum Brown at the helm this year.

Brown was a key reason why USF was able to find success during the 2025 season, as the redshirt senior transfer threw for 3,158 yards, 28 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 66.3 percent of his pass attempts. In addition to his strong efforts through the air, Brown also recorded 1,008 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground last year, proving himself to be an electric dual-threat quarterback.

Luckily for Golesh and Brown, the Tigers' offense will include multiple veterans, including fellow USF transfer wide receiver Keshaun Singleton and running back Jeremiah Cobb.

Singleton led the Bulls in receiving yards last year with 877, while Cobb handled a majority of the workload on the ground for the Tigers, tallying 969 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The familiarity throughout the offense should help Brown ease into his new school, while also instilling confidence in offensive coordinator Joel Gordon's offensive game plan.

Unlike the massive amount of transfers on the offensive side of the ball, Auburn's defense will feature a blend of returning playmakers and transfer portal additions in 2026.

One of the main contributors for the Tigers last year was redshirt sophomore linebacker Xavier Atkins. The former LSU defender completely dominated in his first season with Auburn, recording 84 tackles, 17 tackles for losses, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2025.

Now, with a full season under his belt, Atkins will once again be a threat for the Gators during the Week Three contest.

Outside of Atkins, the Tigers' secondary unit will look to be the glue that holds the unit together this season.

Redshirt senior Rayshawn Pleasant and senior transfer Andre Jordan Jr. are primed to become the boundary cornerbacks, with the duo combining for 11 pass deflections and two interceptions in 2025. Golesh's secondary unit was his kryptonite with the Bulls last year, as his defense allowed an average of 242.8 passing yards per game, which ranked 12th in the American Conference.

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