Florida vs. Campbell prediction, pick and preview: Where to watch, TV channel, odds, spread, time

Football

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Image Credit: Michael Nash

It was a hot start for the Florida Gators inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to start the 2026 college football season, and there’s no reason the program should cool off one iota in Week 2 as it welcomes the Campbell Fighting Camels of the Football Championship Subdivision to Gainesville, Florida. With a 25-1 record against FCS opponents over the last five decades, the Gators are unlikely to sweat the Camels on Saturday night; rather, it will be an opportunity for head coach Jon Sumrall’s squad to work out some kinks before SEC play begins.

When Florida steps on the field, it will do so with a first-time-ever look: blue helmets, orange jerseys and white pants. [Related: 2026 uniform schedule]

The Gators will be aiming to improve across the defense and offensive line, as Sumrall outlined this week, with hopes that a particularly dominant victory could propel them firmly into the college football rankings with Auburn awaiting on the other side.

What will go down Saturday night in The Swamp? Let’s take a closer look with this game day preview.

Florida vs. Campbell: Tale of the tape

Injuries & absences

Probable (1): OL Eagan Boyer
Questionable (3): WR Eric Singleton Jr. (ankle), RB Evan Pryor (hip), TE Evan Chieca
Out (2): WR Davian Groce, RB Kelvin Jimenez

Where to watch Florida vs. Campbell

Date: Saturday, Sept. 12 | Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — Gainesville, Florida [88,548]

Stream (only): ESPN / SEC Network+ (Ted Emrich, Fozy Whittaker)
App: ESPN | SiriusXM: 138/247 | Radio: WRUF, TuneIn
Live updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter

Florida vs. Campbell game notes

» Florida is 25-1 against FCS opponents since 1981, outscoring opponents by more than 39 points per game. UF has never played Campbell, which is 0-14 against FBS teams and has never faced an SEC opponent.
» The Gators under Sumrall last week scored a program-record 66 points in a head coaching debut. Those 66 points were the most against an FBS opponent in 25 years and most in a UF season opener since 1994.
» Eleven former Florida coaches have started their careers 2-0.
» The defense has forced turnovers in 23 of the last 25 games across the last two seasons with multiple takeaways in 17 of those contests.
» Florida has allowed 21+ points in 10 consecutive games dating back to the 2025 season.
» The Gators went 18-8 at home under the last regime, 70-24 (.745) in The Swamp since 2011 after going 36-5 (.878) under Urban Meyer from 2005-10.
» Sumrall went 24-3 (.889) at home as a head coach at Troy and Tulane; he is 1-0 at UF.
» Florida went 17-7 against unranked opponents under the last regime, 88-29 (.752) against such teams since 2011 after going 47-5 (.904) from 2005-10.
» Sumrall went 45-6 (.882) against unranked opponents at Troy and Tulane; he is 1-0 at UF.
» The Gators have scored in 474 consecutive games, an NCAA record.

Florida vs. Campbell prediction, analysis

Spread: Florida -49.5 | O/U: 66

The Gators will win … by a lot. How much will be determined by Sumrall’s stomach for playing starters in the second half while up five or six touchdowns. This lines up as a get-right game or Florida defensively, an opportunity to work out some kinks from the FAU performance before SEC competition begins.

No one should be considering a wager on this game: all four side-and-total outcomes are equally as likely. History does not help narrow down the decision, either. UF whooped LIU 55-0 last year (cover, under), but it won 45-7 and 49-7 over its prior FCS opponents (no cover, under) before previously winning 41-34 and 70-52 (no cover, way over). The defense does have issues, but it’s far better coached than those 2021-22 teams.

What feels most likely is Sumrall going full bore in the first half, removing all starters and seeing what the second- and third-string players can achieve in the second half. Exceeding a seven-touchdown margin would be difficult in that scenario, as would going over.

2026 record: 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U

Odds & ends

» Uniforms: Florida will wear blue helmets with orange jerseys and white pants on Saturday night.