Even with a strong two weeks to finish their regular season, the Tennessee Volunteers have no real chance to compete for a national title when they play Florida in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday in their last annual meeting with the Gators.
The No. 20 Volunteers (7-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) picked the wrong campaign to suffer three losses. A slew of one- and two-loss teams in front of them makes it almost impossible to have any shot at a second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance.
Former SEC East powerhouses, Tennessee and Florida have played every season since 1990 when they rotated back onto each other’s schedule during Florida coach Steve Spurrier’s first year in Gainesville.
The conference split into two divisions two years later, and the teams were placed in the SEC East and sidled up yearly at the top of the standings along with Georgia.
Yet new SEC alignment has the programs not meeting next season and getting back at it in 2027 in Knoxville.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said the rivalry’s flame still burns against Florida (3-7, 2-5) despite their disappointing seasons.
“Got an opportunity, go on the road, play a team that’s playing extremely well,” the fifth-year coach said. “You know, (they) lost some close ball games, but (it’s a) rivalry game here and (I’m) sure it will be a great atmosphere down in Gainesville.”
Tennessee won 23-17 in overtime last season, giving the Rocky Top school two victories in the past three meetings.
However, the Gators have won the past 10 against Tennessee on the Gainesville campus, with the Volunteers’ last road triumph occurring on Sept. 20, 2003.
“We talked about it today briefly,” Heupel said on Monday. ” … One play doesn’t have anything to do with the next, and a previous trip down to Gainesville doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
Florida led 24-20 at halftime at Ole Miss Saturday night, but Lane Kiffin’s group rallied for a 34-24 win.
Gators interim coach Billy Gonzales has reiterated the importance of the game and the passion in rivalries, something former coach Urban Meyer expressed.
Tennessee and cross-state rival Florida State round out the schedule by coming to the Swamp over the next two weeks.
“One thing that these players understand (is) that Tennessee, there’s a deep-rooted history, both Tennessee and the next week, but we’re focusing on this week,” Gonzales said on Monday. “(The Volunteers) are an exceptional football team, but obviously our players understand that this game has always been a heated rivalry, so we will continue to talk to our players about it.”
Under Heupel’s offensive system, Joey Aguilar has passed for 2,941 yards and 22 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.
The lion’s share of the passing yardage has gone to junior wideout Chris Brazzell II, who has 52 receptions for 873 yards (16.8 per catch) and eight TDs.
Topping the SEC in almost every receiving category, the Midland, Texas product was chosen Monday as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which recognizes the most outstanding FBS receiver.
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway was 16-for-31 passing for 218 yards with a TD and an interception against the Rebels. He rushed for a season-high 34 yards and scored his first career rushing touchdown.
With 808 rushing yards, Florida’s Jadan Baugh is closing in on 1,000 for the season. The Atlanta sophomore leads the team with six scores.
