ATLANTA (Sept. 28, 2026) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Florida head football coach Jon Sumrall has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week.
 
The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
 
Led by the tailback duo of Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark, No. 21 Florida racked up 302 rushing yards on the way to a dominant 52-28 win over No. 4 Ole Miss on Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Baugh ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns, while Duke Clark added 126 yards and a score on the ground. Transfer quarterback Aaron Philo continued to impress for the Gators, throwing a touchdown pass and scoring another on the ground to contribute to the offensive attack. The Rebels cut the Florida lead to three points twice in the third quarter, but rushing touchdowns from Clark and Philo stretched the lead back to 10 each time. The Gators were able to limit Ole Miss to a season-low 28 points, thanks in large part to the efforts of sophomore linebacker Jayden Woods, who racked up a pair of tackles for loss and a strip sack resulting in a crucial takeaway late in the third quarter.  Florida's 52 points marked the most points against a top-five team since beating Florida State 52-20 in the 1996 national championship game.
 
Just four games into his tenure at Florida, Sumrall has the Gators off to their first 4-0 start since 2019 and their highest ranking in the AP Poll since 2020. Saturday's win over No. 4 Ole Miss marked the Gators' highest-ranked victory since their 2015 matchup with the Rebels, ranked third in the country at the time.
 
"Coach Sumrall has already made quite the impression in his first season in Gainesville," said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "Florida is a program with a rich history and a bright future if Coach Sumrall continues on his current trajectory."
 
Off the football field, Florida players have had success in the classroom, recording a 1000 Academic Progress Rate and an 85 Graduation Success Rate during the 2024 season. The Graduation Success Rate measures the number of student-athletes who graduate from their school within six years of entering.
Before ever coaching a game at Florida, Sumrall emphasized the importance of giving back to Gainesville, organizing a day of community service with his players in January of 2026.
 
"This was the kind of victory that helps a new coach make a statement to the SEC and the nation," said Peach Bowl, Inc. President and CEO David Epps. "In the early stages of his time at Florida, Coach Sumrall has the Gators moving in the right direction, both on and off the field."
 
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc., The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. The award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
 
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The winner of the 2026 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.