GAINESVILLE — Florida’s 23-7 loss to Oklahoma left coach Jon Sumrall with no easy answers as his first season continued to crumble, with the Gators’ fourth loss in five games.

Here are five things we learned Saturday night in the Swamp.

Sumrall’s currency has run out

Sumrall won over fans during the offseason with intensity, personality and promise of a better future. He then backed up that optimism on the field, leading Florida to a 4-0 start.

But as the season continues to spiral, Sumrall is increasingly drawing Billy Napier comparisions. Beyond their Group of Six backgrounds, the similarities between their Florida teams are becoming difficult to ignore.

Costly mistakes. Unimaginative offenses. Bewildered expressions on the sideline. A coaching staff that appears overmatched.

Athletic director Scott Stricklin is back in the crosshairs, as his third football hire at Florida begins to resemble his last one.

Florida fans are unforgiving, if not merciless.

Sumrall inherited a massive challenge, and there are no obvious or easy answers ahead.

A roster overhaul is essential, especially along both lines of scrimmage. The quarterback situation is a glaring concern. And an unflinching staff evaluation is unavoidable.

Sumrall’s track record — including three conference titles in four seasons — and his determination demonstrate he has the ability to turn things around. But the goodwill Sumrall built has quickly evaporated.

Past 2 weeks especially troubling

The Oct. 17 Texas upset helped offset a stunning home loss to South Carolina a week earlier. A bye week before facing Georgia on Halloween suggested Florida just might be capable of challenging the Bulldogs.

Despite a 27-8 beatdown by the SEC’s best program, November still appeared promising. If Florida took care of business and pulled off an upset Nov. 14 at Kentucky, a 9-3 finish remained possible, along with some potential College Football Playoff buzz — and certainly an invitation to a respectable bowl game.

Instead, the Gators (5-4, 3-4 SEC) delivered their worst performance of the season in front of a sold-out Swamp. On a night Urban Meyer was honored with his Ring of Honor induction, Sumrall’s Gators embarrassed themselves.

Rather than eyeing a 9-3 finish, Florida must now simply finish with a winning record. If the season goes completely off the rails, a fifth losing season in six years is even possible.

2 QBs equals no QB

Sumrall was confident he could keep winning with either Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones Jr., each of whom had helped deliver a victory over a Top 10 opponent.

Now, the Gators appear to be without a reliable solution at the sport’s most critical position.

Georgia crushed Philo’s confidence, intercepting him twice in three series. Jones himself had two turnovers, with a third overturned. The sophomore made a few impressive plays, too, just as he had in the clutch at Texas while Philo sat out with a shoulder injury.

Sumrall decided to stick with Jones against Oklahoma, give him all the first-team snaps and find out whether he was the quarterback of the future.

Jones responded with a performance that offered virtually no silver lining. The 19-year-old appeared unsure, if not rattled, as Florida reached Oklahoma territory just twice, finished with a season-low 203 yards and ran just 47 plays — also the fewest in 2026.

Oklahoma sacked Jones three times and intercepted him twice. Philo briefly relieved Jones after he lost his helmet, but Sumrall never seriously considered a quarterback change.

“I really felt like I wanted to give him the full game,” he said about Jones.

Philo earned the starting job during the offseason and won the confidence of his coaches and teammates in September. The 21-year-old Georgia Tech transfer might still be Florida’s best option between two quarterbacks who have yet to establish themselves as dependable starters.

The Gators might find some relief after just facing two of the SEC’s top defenses in consecutive weeks. But that might not matter much unless the quarterback play improves considerably.

Myles Graham and Duke Clark were bright spots

Graham continued to lead the defense, while Clark returned from a two-game absence to provide an offensive spark.

Since his no-show at Missouri, Graham has re-established himself as Florida’s most productive defender. Against Oklahoma, he recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and consistently pressured OU quarterback John Mateer.

Graham leads the Gators with 70 tackles. With 47 stops over the past four games, he could challenge for 100 tackles, a mark last reached by David Reese in 2017.

Returning from an ankle injury sustained against South Carolina, Clark had a 13-yard run that helped ignite Florida’s only touchdown drive. His 33-yard catch to Oklahoma’s 24 put the Gators in scoring position before the Sooners intercepted Jones in the end zone. The turnover came after Sumrall opted not to kick a field goal on fourth-and-three in a 13-7 game.

“I thought Duke Clark flashed,” Sumrall said. “But outside of that, I didn’t really feel like we had a very good performance.”

Percy Harvin’s time could come

Meyer waited more than a decade to become the seventh member of Florida’s exclusive Ring of Honor. The Gators’ understandably rigourous standards for inclusion leaves Meyer as the last man who is qualified.

Whatever the criteria, though, Meyer believes Percy Harvin meets them.

Without the former Gators’ star, Florida might not have won the 2006 and 2008 national, even with Tim Tebow’s dominance and leadership. Harvin averaged 11.4 yards per touch from scrimmage and scored 32 touchdowns in 36 games.

Meyer, who coached 17 years (2001-18) and is now an analyst for Fox, cannot recall a player with Harvin’s playmaking ability. In his mind, Harvin’s case for the Ring of Honor is airtight.

“It’s probably not fair for me to say greatest player in Florida history,” Meyer said. “He’s the greatest football player I’ve ever coached, and I’ve coached a bunch of them — so I’d say of course (he belongs).”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next

What: Florida (5-4, 3-4) at Kentucky (7-2, 5-2)

When: 6:15 p.m., Saturday

Where:Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

TV: SEC Network

Favorite: Kentucky by 2.5 points

Source: Yahoo Sports