A revitalized coaching staff and high-octane offense collide with a roster-gutting transfer exodus as the Gators enter a high-stakes Black Friday battle against their fiercest rivals.
The newly released football schedule paved a daunting path for the Florida State Seminoles.
The non-conference portion has been packed with matchups against ranked opponents, to build credibility entering the ACC slate. Chief among them is the final game of the regular season, against one of their most hated rivals, the Florida Gators.
The Gators have gone through major changes in the offseason and will likely be at their best in time for their Nov. 27 matchup against FSU. Having the game the day after Thanksgiving, also known as “Black Friday” is a fitting date for a game that could have implications beyond points on the scoreboard.
Here is a way-too-early look at what to know about the Gators that could affect how the Seminoles approach this game, depending on how the season plays out.
Napier Out, Sumrall In
The Billy Napier era is over in Gainesville. Former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall takes over for a team that won less than 50 percent (.489) of their games with Napier on the sideline.
Sumrall comes to Florida after leading Tulane to an American Conference championship last season and a berth in the College Football Playoff. He is a coach who is known for infusing energy into his programs and consistently putting a winning product on the field.
Sumrall has won 78 percent of his games and has posted winning seasons every year as a head coach, with double-digit wins in three of those four seasons at Troy and Tulane. He and his staff hit the ground running in recruiting, as the Gators currently have the No.7 class for the 2027 recruiting cycle.
Buster Faulkner as Offensive Coordinator
Sumrall hired Buster Faulkner, formerly of Georgia Tech, as his offensive coordinator. Last season under Faulkner, the Yellow Jackets ranked No. 11 in total offense as they averaged 460 yards per game.
In addition, Georgia Tech averaged 32 points (No. 26) and 262 yards passing per game (No. 32). By contrast, Florida ranked No. 104 in total offense (341 yards/game), No. 111 in scoring offense (21 points/game), and No. 93 in passing offense (204 yards/game) last season.
Among his many coaching stops, Faulkner won two national titles with the Georgia Bulldogs from 2020-2022 as an offensive quality control coach/quarterbacks coach.
Lagway Transfers Out
During the transfer portal window in January, the Gators lost 34 players from last season’s roster, most notably starting quarterback DJ Lagway. That is a massive hit to Sumrall’s offense.
Lagway transferred to Baylor, a team his dad played for back in the 90s. He threw 12 touchdown passes, nine interceptions, and completed 59 percent of his passes in 12 games last season.
With no clear replacement at signal-caller emerging from spring practice, the rebuilding project at Florida is still underway and could affect its play on the field. That could prove beneficial to the Seminoles.
Series History
Florida holds a 39-28-2 advantage in the series that began in 1958, and the Gators have won the last two meetings. Florida State last beat Florida in Tallahassee in 2022 by a score of 45-38. The teams have split the last 10 meetings in this hotly contested rivalry. In 2025, the Gators outscored the Seminoles 23-7 in the second half in a 40-21 victory in The Swamp.
It is a long football season, and a lot can happen over 12+games. Teams can meet or exceed expectations, or continue their fall from grace. The Seminoles have posted a dismal 7-17 record over the past two seasons and coach Mike Norvell coaching seat is clearly engulfed in flames. At this point, the only way to go for Florida State football is up.
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