Florida's 2026 season hinges on this crucial midseason SEC matchup

CBS Sports pinpoints Florida football's home game against South Carolina as a matchup that could define the Gators season.

The contest might be a turning point in Jon Sumrall's first campaign and the beginning of a new era on the gridiron for the Orange and Blue. Florida was slated at No. 23 in the CBS Sports post-spring top-25 rankings and has seen expectations balloon as the hype continues to grow in Gainesville this offseason.

Florida's clash with the Gamecocks is the beginning of a grueling stretch for Sumrall's team — Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma immediately follow the Oct. 10 matchup and illustrate the hefty demands of SEC scheduling. Dropping this game could spell an early-season spiral for Florida; all three of these competitions will take place away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, marking the importance of protecting the Swamp early on.

Conversely, if Florida can emerge victorious, the program has a cushion to lean on before starting this tough stretch.

Solidifying winnable home games will be crucial if Florida wants to meet national expectations — CBS Sports also pegged Florida to be bowl eligible in 2026. The game is framed as a should-win contest for the Gators, as South Carolina is coming off a 4-8 season and is projected to win just 5.5 games this year.

If the Gators hope to find themselves in the college football postseason, this is a near must-win SEC game for Sumrall, who is surprisingly already under pressure before coaching his first regular-season snap.

The goal for Florida should be to come out of Week 6 at above .500. This would mean they'll need to either win on the road at Jordan-Hare against a rival Auburn team or pull off an upset against No. 9 Ole Miss at home.