The Florida Gators (3-7, 2-5 SEC) host the No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers (7-3, 3-3 SEC) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. Follow along for live updates.
The last time Tennessee beat Florida in The Swamp was in 2003. Since then, the Gators have won a staggering 10 straight games against the Volunteers in front of their home crowd. Florida has lost its last three games, while Tennessee is coming off a blowout victory against New Mexico State.
FINAL: Tennessee 31, Florida 11 - The Volunteers were in control of this one from the very start, dominating the Gators in every facet of the game. They win their first game in Gainesville since 2003, and improve to 8-3 on the season. Meanwhile, the Gators fall to 3-8 and 2-6 in SEC conference play. Florida faces rival Florida State (5-6, 2-6 ACC) next Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Tennessee out-gained Florida 452-261. They had 28 first downs, while UF only had 15. Joey Aguilar completed 17-22 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, while DeSean Bishop had 24 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
DJ Lagway went 11-17 for 116 passing yards and a touchdown. Jadan Baugh finished with 131 all-purpose yards and scored UF's lone touchdown.
Q4 | 1:54: Aguilar finds Davis for a gain of 15 and the first down. UT can run the clock out at this point.
Q4 | 2:00: Its the two minute timeout. The number of Volunteers' fans remaining nearly equals the UF fans, who have poured out of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium over the past hour and change.
Q4 | 2:38: Another Volunteers' first down, this time by Morris. UT is up to the UF 27 yard line as the two minute timeout inches closer.
Q4 | 3:48: Bishop takes a 3rd down carry six yards and moves the chains yet again. The clock continues to tick.
Q4 | 5:48: Morris just gets over the line on a 3rd and 1 before Jaden Robinson and Aaron Chiles bring him down. UT is nearing midfield as the clock continues to run.
TOUCHDOWN: Q4 | 8:15: Lagway finds a wide-open Baugh, who walks into the end zone untouched for a 33 yard score. UF goes for a two-point converstion, and Lagway finds Livingston, who crosses the plane. That drive was 7 plays, 68 yards and took a hair under 3 and a half minutes. Tennessee 31, Florida 11.
Q4 | 9:12: On 3rd and 1, Lagway hands it to Baugh, who fights forward for the 1st down. Lagway fakes a handoff on the next play and finds Hayden Hansen wide open for a gain of 13. UF up to the UT 33 yard line.
Q4 | 10:10: Baugh continues his shifty running, breaking down defenders and gaining earned yards. This time, he broke a tackle and ran towards hir right for a gain of 6 to put UF past midfield. Jaxson Moi is down for UT and is being helped by trainers.
Today's attendance was 90,465, but half of that crowd, if not more, has left. The biggest cheer of the past 30 minutes was when "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey was played during a TV timeout.
Q4 | 11:28: Nice run by Baugh, who uses his signature spin move to push forward for a 10 yard gain.
MISSED FIELD GOAL: Q4 | 11:44: On a 3rd and 12, Aguilar connects with Radarious Jackson well short of the line. Then, Gilbert's field goal attempt is wide to the left. UF will take over at its own 32 yard line.
Q4 | 13:28: On another 3rd and 1, Thomas gets five yards, before he is tackled by freshman Drake Stubbs. The highly-touted recruit is making his first defensive appearance for UF.
Q4 | 14:34: Bishop is back in the game, and he powers forward for a 1st down on a 3rd and 1. UT up to the UF 47.
END OF THE 3RD QUARTER: Tennessee 31, Florida 3. The Gators get on the board after an impressive drive, but the Volunteers have a hefty lead and continue to pepper the banged-up UF defense. UT has 373 yards to UF's 193, 78 of which came during its two drives during the 3rd quarter.
Q3 | 1:02: The Aguilar-Brazzell connection keeps on churning. They link up again, this time for a 15 yard gain. He's up to 4 catches for 53 yards on the day.
FIELD GOAL MADE: Q3 | 2:04: The streak lives. Smack hits from 46 yards out, and it is now 472 straight games that the Gators have not been shutout. That drive went 13 plays, 71 yards and took 8 minutes. Tennessee leads 31-3.
Q3 | 2:38: On 3rd and 12, Lagway keeps it. He tries to bounce out right, but he's taken down by the talented defensive back Colton Hood, a projected early round pick in next year's NFL Draft. Its a 4th and 8 now for UF, who keeps the offense out on the field. As the ball is about to be snapped, the Volunteers call timeout. Lagway currently has 10 carries for 40 yards, the most he has had this season and the second most of his career.
Q3 | 3:48: On the ensuing 1st and 10, Lagway runs and is quickly tackled. The ball might have come out, but he's ruled down by contact. He lost 3 on that play.
Q3 | 4:18: Lagway makes his best throw of the day, finding Sturdivant for a 20 yard gain. That one was right in the breadbasket. UF moves up to the UT 30.
Q3 | 4:51: On 3rd and 3 from just below midfield, KD Daniels gets the carry and rushes for a first down. Nice run there by the redshirt freshman for a 7 yard gain.
Q3 | 6:31: On this drive, it's only been about running the "Baugh." He has six straight carries for 37 yards and has gained three first downs.
Q3 | 8:41: Baugh powers forward for a first down. Then, he eludes a few defenders and rushes for another first down. After the play, a personal foul is called against Caden Jones for UF and Tyre West for UT. Those penalties offset.
Q3 | 10:04: Thomas is stopped well short of the line to gain, and Ross will punt. It's a perfect kick and it is downed at the 1 yard line after a bounce. Again, Florida starts its possession well within its own territory. Despite an extended break after the kick, Lagway doesn't like what he saw when UF lined up and he calls a timeout. Not a great moment for the Gators there.
Q3 | 11:23: For the second time today, Bishop goes down after a run. He's been a workhorse today, taking 22 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Coming into today, he paced the Vols with 777 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He is helped off the field by trainers.
Q3 | 12:20: Two straight penalties by the Volunteers. First, Braylon Staley is called for a hold, before Lance Heard is dinged for a false start. 1st and 25 coming from midfield.
Q3 | 13:18: Devin Moore is being helped off the field by trainers. Another injury in UF's secondary. UPDATE: He later returned in the 3rd quarter.
Q3 | 13:40: On a 3rd and 3 from the UF 9, Lagway rolls out right, and there is a hold before Lagway throws the ball away. The penalty is declined, and Doman sets up to kick from deep in his own end zone. It's an okay punt, going 42 yards and before it is fair caught at the UT 49 yard line.
Q3 | 15:00: UF starts the second half with another mistake. Tennessee's kickoff looks like its hitting the end zone, but it bounces back and UF will start the drive at the 2 yard line after Baugh signaled for a fair catch.
HALFTIME: Tennessee 31, Florida 0 - An absolutely dominant half of football by the Volunteers, who out-gained the Gators 323-110 and converted 19 first downs to UF's 6. Joey Aguilar is 11-13 for 146 yards and a touchdown, while the Volunteers have a combined 177 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 31 carries. DJ Lagway ends the half 7-12 with 40 yards, and an additional 35 yards on the ground.
FIELD GOAL MADE: Q2 | 0:00: Gilbert hits from 26 yards out to end the first half.
Q2 | 0:26: Bishop bounces out a carry for a 28 yard gain before being pushed out of bounds by Woods at the UF 11. The play is under review to see where his foot went out of bounds. The ruling is upheld.
Q2 | 0:32: Aguilar connects with the wide-open Davis for a gain of 15. He fires again to Davis, who drops the screen throw. Tennessee is up to the UF 39.
Q2 | 0:44: Brendan Bett is flagged for roughing the passer. Tennessee moves up to its own 46 yard line.
FIELD GOAL MISSED: Q2 | 1:31: Trey Smack's kick is ruled no good from 38 yards out. That's his first miss since he missed three field goals on Aug. 30 against Long Island. UF's 471 game scoring streak remains in jeopardy.
Q2 | 1:20: On 2nd and 11, Lagway fakes the handoff, and throws towards J. Michael Sturdivant, but the toss is far short. Then, on the following play, a 3rd and 11, he is pressured and quickly sacked by Daevin Hobbs. Its a loss of 7 yards.
Q2 | 2:00: Lagway once again connects with Livingston, this time for a 8 yard gain that brings the Gators to midfield. Then, he runs a QB draw play, spinning away from defenders and showcasing some of the athleticism that made him a highly-touted recruit. It's a 38 yard carry, by far his longest of the season and of his UF career.
Q2 | 3:30: On 1st and 10, Lagway dishes it to Tony Livingston, who goes 14 yards for UF's second 1st down of the game. Then, Baugh bounces off multiple tacklers for a 16 yard gain. Back-to-back first downs for a UF offense that has struggled mightily thus far.
Q2 | 4:33: On a 3rd and 6 from midfield, Aguilar hands it to Morris, who is stopped quickly by Caleb Banks and Kamran James. Tennessee keeps the offense out there on 4th and 5, but they opt to take the delay of game penalty. For the first time today, Jackson Ross punts it away. His kick goes 48 yards and bounces into the hands of Brown, who immediately goes down at the UF 5 yard line. A good punt there by Ross to put UF in bad field position.
Q2 | 6:24: Aguilar is pressured by Lagonza Hayward on a 1st and 10, and he throws it away for his first incompletion of the day.
Q2 | 7:15: On 3rd and 6 from the UF 39, Lagway is chased immediately by a blitzing Jalen McMurray and is forced to throw it away. Doman skies his punt, and it only goes 28 yards before heading out of bounds. Tennessee will start its possession at its own 33 yard line.
Q2 | 7:31: Lagway with a play-action throw to Aidan Mizell, which is broken up. Lagway took a hit after the throw, but there is no penalty.
Q2 | 8:12: Lagway with two straight completions to Brown, who looks explosive in his return from injury. That one goes for a 12 yard gain and gets the 1st down.
TOUCHDOWN: Q2 | 9:14: Tennessee rewards Thomas for his 52 yard carry by handing it to him at the goal line. He scurries in for the 1 yard score. That drive was 4 plays long and went 46 yards. The extra point is good. Tennessee leads the Gators 28-0 in what is quickly becoming a blowout.
Q2 | 9:31: On the ensuing 3rd and 17, Star Thomas takes the carry and breaks out for a 52 yard carry. He is chased down by Devin Moore at the 1 yard line. It's a big defensive breakdown by the Gators on their best chance to get off the field. The play is under review to see if Thomas broke the plane, or if the ball came out beforehand and there will be some sort of fumble on the play. The ruling on the field is ultimately upheld.
Q2 | 10:35: Aguilar looks deep on a 3rd and 9, but the ball is swatted out of his hands by Jayden Woods. Aguilar hops on his own fumble, but Tennessee loses 8 on the play.
TURNOVER: Q2 | 11:03: On a 3rd and 8, Lagway drops back after a shotgun snap, and is immediately pressured. He takes off, nearing the 1st down marker but is hit hard a yard away from the line. UF lines up quickly on 4th and 1, trying a Lagway QB sneak, but he is stopped short of the line to gain. It's a turnover on downs. Tennessee takes over at the UF 46 yard line.
Q2 | 12:22: After almost an hour of real time, the Gators have a first down. Baugh takes a carry for six, breaking a tackle in the process.
TOUCHDOWN: Q2 | 13:08: On 1st and Goal from the UF 1 yard line, Aguilar hands it off to Bishop, who punches in his second score of the day. That drive went 12 plays for 67 yards and took 6 minutes on the dot. Tennessee leads 21-0.
Also notable, the Volunteers have 13 first downs, while UF has 0. The Gators have only run 6 offensive plays.
END OF THE 1ST QUARTER: Tennessee 14, Florida 0. The Volunteers have out-gained the Gators 190 to 1, and Joey Aguilar is 9-9 passing for 126 yards. UT has a 1st and 10 on the UF 12 yard line to start the 2nd quarter.
Former UF head coach Urban Meyer was just recognized for his achievement as a College Football Hall of Famer. He will also be inducted as the 7th member of the Florida Ring of Honor next season.
Q1 | 0:00: Aguilar hands it to Bishop, who is ruled to have converted the first down. Jordan Castell is limping gingerly off the field for the Gators. Meanwhile, crutches have been brought into the blue medical tent for McClain, and he is now being carted to the locker room.
Q1 | 0:12: On the 3rd and 3, Aguilar hands it to Bishop, who fights for the 1st, but is ruled just short of the line to gain. 4th and 1 incoming. Tennessee calls a timeout to talk the play over and sends the offense back out.
Q1 | 1:18: On a 2nd and 3, Aguilar hands it to Morris, who is immediately brought down by Kofi Asare for no gain. A Tennessee offensive player is down, causing an injury timeout. 3rd and 3 incoming from the UF 15 yard line. It is David Sanders Jr., who gets up without help after an extended period of time on the ground.
Q1 | 2:23: Aguilar stands calm despite pressure, finding Jack Van Dorselaer for a gain of 6 and a first down. Cormani McClain made the tackle, but he remains on the ground after the play. Yet another injury in UF's already banged-up secondary. McClain is yanked up by trainers and is brought to the medical tent putting no weight on his left leg.
Q1 | 3:13: A gain of 14 on the first play of the UT drive, as Aguilar finds Mike Matthews. Then, Aguilar sends a dart in the middle of the field, which Matthews grabs for a 21 yard gain. UT is rolling offensively once again, and Aguilar hasn't missed one throw thus far.
Q1 | 4:08: On 3rd and 9, Lagway drops back and soars a throw towards Brown, but its about five yards ahead of the freshman. Brown wanted a hold, but no dice. Doman on to punt. His second punt of the day goes 41 yards and is fair caught at the UT 33. Through two drives for each team, UT has outgained UF 135 to 1.
Q1 | 4:45: The Gators take over at their own 25 after a touchback. On a 2nd and 7, Lagway hands it to Baugh, who is quickly taken down by Tyre West.
TOUCHDOWN: Q1 | 5:34: Bishop takes the carry and soars over everyone for the touchdown. He completed a full somersault before he landed on the ground. Gilbert nails the extra point attempt. 14-0 Tennessee after a 3 minute, 13 second drive that went 60 yards on just 7 plays. For context, Aguilar is 5-5 on passing attempts for 78 yards and a touchdown. That puts him at a 297 passer rating through the opening two drives.
Q1 | 6:04: On 2nd and Goal from the 3, Aguilar hands it to Bishop, who is stuffed at the goal line. Tennessee has a 3rd and Goal incoming from the 1 yard line.
Q1 | 7:10: Aguilar finds Brazzell once again, this time for a gain of 14 yards. Then, UT quickly runs a jet sweep to Mike Matthews for a 20 yard gain. Tennessee now is inside of the UF 10 yard line.
Q1 | 8:38: Aguilar slings it on the opening play of the second drive, and he finds the dynamic Chris Brazzell II for a 19 yard gain. Brazzell is the SEC's leading receiver coming into today with 873 yards.
Q1 | 8:46: On 3rd and 22 after a 2 yard Lagway draw play, the sophomore QB throws a screen to Baugh, who is quickly tackled after only gaining 2 yards. Tommy Doman is out to punt. He sends his kick 45 yards, and it is fair caught by Daune Morris at the UT 40 yard line. UF gained 0 total yards on that drive.
Q1 | 10:37: Lagway drops back on 2nd and 14 and finds a wide open Baugh, who flips the field with a huge play. However, Austin Barber is called for a hold that nullifies what would have been a 42 yard gain. Brutal break for the Gators.
Q1 | 11:01: UF takes over at its own 25 after Josh Turbyville's kick goes for a touchback. On UF's opening play, DJ Lagway fakes a handoff to Jadan Baugh, is nearly sacked, breaks a tackle before Edwin Spillman takes him down for a loss of four.
TOUCHDOWN: Q1 | 11:28: Aguilar finds Davis out left, who has plenty of space to run. He tip-toes the sideline and takes it 23 yards to the end zone for the score. Max Gilbert hits the extra point. Tennessee is up 7-0.
Q1 | 12:00: Bishop gains six yards and gets another first down. However, he goes down after the play and is helped off the field by trainers. He had six carries for 30 yards on this drive so far.
Q1 | 12:55: On a 3rd and 1 from the UF 41, DeSean Bishop gains four. Tennessee picks up its third 1st down of the drive.
Q1 | 14:44: Joey Aguilar completes a throw to Ethan Davis for 12 yards and the first chain movement of the day.
KICKOFF: Trey Smack sends the kickoff for a touchback. Tennessee takes over at its own 25 yard line.
COIN TOSS: Florida wins the toss and chooses to defer to the second half. The Gators will defend the south end zone.
WARMUPS: Vernell Brown III is fully uniformed and is going through warmups. He looks on track to play tonight. Bryce Thornton, however, was standing on the sidelines in sweatpants. A likely blow to UF's secondary against an electric UT pass game.
Senior defensive back Alfonzo Allen Jr. was announced as a starter in place of Thornton. He's only made one start this season, but he was a standout in that contest, making 15 tackles against Mississippi State Oct. 18.
PREGAME: Wide receiver Vernell Brown III and defensive back Bryce Thornton, two of UF's top players, are listed as game-time decisions today. Brown III missed last week's loss to Ole Miss with a shoulder issue, while Thornton played in that game.
12 Gators have already been ruled out, per the SEC Availability Report. Inactives include edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. and defensive lineman Michai Boireau.
For the Volunteers, star cornerback Jermod McCoy remains out. He has not suited up this season after suffering an ACL tear in January. Productive tight end Miles Kitselman is also out for UT. He has 25 catches for 250 yards on the season.
Max is in his sixth semester at The Alligator and now serves as The Alligator's Football Reporter and is a junior sports journalism student. He previously served as The Alligator's Sports Editor, and served as reporter for women's tennis, volleyball and lacrosse. He also has made multiple appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. He wants to shoutout his cats, Scooter and Zoe, and niche former Florida Panthers players (shoutout Tomas Kopecky).
