When Tennessee football hosts Florida on Saturday, it will be another tally on the long-standing rivalry.
This year will mark the 54th clash between these two SEC foes and the 34th consecutive season they’ve faced off. Over the decades, this historic rivalry has produced countless legendary names and unforgettable showdowns.
Although the game is a must-watch nowadays, the two didn’t have much of a rivalry in their early years. They played 21 times between 1916 and 1992 when the SEC expansion took place. Tennessee dominated this early era, winning the first 10 matchups and posting a 14-7 record against the Gators through the 1991 season.
The SEC expansion in 1992 completely changed the course of this rivalry. It split the SEC into two divisions — East and West. The Vols and the Gators were both slotted in the East until divisions were removed before the 2024 season.
The two typically met in late September, earning the rivalry nickname “The Third Saturday of September.”
In the modern era, Florida has decimated Tennessee. The Gators are 25-7 against the Vols since 1992, including an 11-game win streak dating from 2005 to 2015.
Leading up to the 2024 matchup, the Gators are leading the series, compiling 31 wins compared to the Vols’ 21.
Perhaps the most notable game of this matchup occurred in 2001.
Tennessee traveled down to Gainesville in early December, and both teams sat at 9-1 on the season. The winner of this contest would represent the SEC East in the SEC Championship. Despite their 9-1 record, the Vols were a big underdog in the game with the Gators being an 18-point favorite.
Tennessee stopped Florida’s 2-point conversion at the end of the game to pull through for the win, shocking the Gators and winning 34-32. Tennessee would eventually go on to lose to LSU in the SEC championship.
Although an upset win is always a great feeling, Vols fans also enjoyed the victory over then-head coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier, a Tennessee native, played quarterback at Florida before becoming head coach prior to the 1990 season.
This loss to Tennessee would be Spurrier’s last game with the Gators before accepting a head coaching position in the NFL with the Washington Commanders.
Doug Dickey is synonymous with the Vols-Gators rivalry. He played for Florida in the early 1950s, became head coach for the Vols in the mid 1960s, coached Florida throughout the 1970s and served as Tennessee’s athletic director from 1985-2002.
Last year, the Gators upset the No. 11 ranked Vols in the Swamp. This was the Vols’ first loss of the year with the final score being 29-16 in favor of the Gators.
This season, Tennessee opens as a 15-point favorite over Florida. However, since 2012, the game has only been decided by more than 15 points four times.
This year will be a critical game for both sides. Tennessee sits at No. 8 in the AP Poll, fresh off a road loss to Arkansas last week to drop its record to 4-1. Florida will enter the matchup unranked with a 3-2 record. However, the Gators will have momentum after a victory over UCF last week.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is 1-2 against the Gators since he was hired in 2021. Meanwhile, Florida head coach Billy Napier is 1-1.
This will be another dogfight in a must-win game for Tennessee. Although Florida is a two-score underdog, expect to see another classic game in this historic rivalry.
