Jim, your photo doesn't show.

Ants can make an opening as large as you describe and larger than that, too.

Lots of other things can too, including things that hatch underground and eat their way out.

Why not ask your neighbors? They probably know more about what's going on right there than we do, and it'll give you a reason to chat and get to know them.

Local Extension office may have somebody who knows.

Can you please provide a picture? Otherwise it could be aliens you never know. Lol

Perhaps from mole crickets, quite common in your location. A picture would help with the identification.

Click HERE to see images of mole crickets.

Even in areas where this insect is a common pest, they aren't often seen. They tend to stay in their underground tunnels, coming out after dark to mate.

hehehe... OJ always cracks me up!

Oops!

Burrowing crawfish could be another possibility ;) Or so I'm told, we don't have them here...

Try your photo again using 'Houzz Photo' if by chance you used the regular 'Photo'...I found last week my pictures wouldn't show with the latter, only the former.

Yep, that's Florida soil, or rather sand, as deep as you can dig.

Crawdads (crayfish) maybe? Images here.

That's a crawfish hole! Believe me I have dug up enough in my youth lol

theyare everywhere in South Louisiana

I'll repeat my suggestion of mole crickets, plus add earthworm holes, and solitary wasp or bee nests. Solitary ground diggers (wasps) love sandy soils.

Inspect your yard for other holes, then take your good picture in to your local UF/IFAS Extension office. CLICK HERE FOR COUNTY OFFICES.

Looks like a cicada killer nest. Are those the solitary wasps, rhizo?

Cicada killer nests

Second the cicada-killer.

Yes, Cicada Killer wasps are of that solitary group. Their nest chamber almost always has an entry path to the tunnel, a groove that I don't see in Jim's picture. But it's not always present.

These wasps, even the very large Cicada killer, should be considered harmless even if they behave ferociously. The males can't sting and the females will only do so if forced. I stepped on one in bare feet and will never forget it, lol.

I vote for crawdad.

Crayfish chimney

They can be various hights and widths some with tall chimneys some with none, in dry dirt, wet mud, sand and a grassy lawn. Crawfish bury themselves. That's why there's a crawfish season, it's crawfish season when they unbury themselves and come out of the holes. So us Cajuns can snatch up the little buggers and throw them in the boiling pot. It's crawfish season right now! In fact I will be feasting on some Tuesday for lunch at the crawfish special.

That's why the hole is open.

Jim_1 second picture is a crayfish hole with chimney typically dug in wet clay soils. Usually, there is a stream or waterhole nearby. These holes will be partly filled with water and can maintain that water well into periods of dry weather.

Jim_1 first picture does not seem to be a crayfish hole. Its too small. Its more like a bumble bee or yellow jacket nest. The quickest way to find out may be to ask an established resident in the neighborhood. If that fails, ask the county agricultural agent or google it.

The hole you found is typical of a small crab burrow.