Tennessee will head down to Gainesville and face the Florida Gators under the lights in The Swamp next weekend, because of course they will. ESPN used their flex option on the game on Saturday night, announcing
the decision to put the game in the 7:30 ABC slot.
Missouri-Oklahoma gets the noon slot, Kentucky-Vanderbilt will be on ESPN at 3:30, while Texas-Arkansas will be on ABC at 3:30.
Tennessee hasn’t won in The Swamp since 2003. Josh Heupel is 0-2 in Gainesville during his time coaching Tennessee, losing 38-14 in 2021 and 29-16 in 2023. He’s won both opportunities in Knoxville, making his record against the Gators 2-2.
Florida fired head coach Billy Napier after a 3-4 start to the season. The Gators have dropped the following three games, losing to Georgia, Kentucky and Ole Miss. Florida put up great efforts against both Georgia and Ole Miss, but were blown out by Kentucky two weeks ago. Which effort will Tennessee get on Saturday night?
Florida is 3-1 at home this season which includes wins over Texas and Mississippi State. They haven’t played in Gainesville in over a month.
Tennessee and Florida will not play next season as the SEC adjusts to a nine-game schedule with 16 teams now in the league. Florida will come to Knoxville in 2027 and Tennessee won’t return to Gainesville until 2029. So even though there’s not a lot on the line nationally here, it’s still a big spot and sort of a closing chapter of this rivalry.
Florida leads the series all time, 32-22.
