NO. 23 TENNESSEE (2-0, 0-0 SEC) AT NO. 25 FLORIDA (0-1, 0-0)
3:30 p.m. › Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. › CBS & 106.5 FM
THE MATCHUP
A combined three games played this season by these teams have done little to establish the identity of either. Florida brings uncertainty at quarterback into today’s Southeastern Conference opener for both sides, with redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks likely to start over graduate transfer Malik Zaire and junior Luke Del Rio. Whoever is behind center for the Gators will be handicapped again by the likely absence of leading returning receiver Antonio Callaway and leading returning rusher Jordan Scarlett. The two were among 10 Florida players suspended for the team’s opener and are likely to be absent today. In a 33-17 loss to Michigan two weeks ago, the Gators’ offense did not score a touchdown. That fact brings us to Tennessee’s defense. All eyes are on second-year coordinator Bob Shoop’s group today after the Volunteers allowed a school-record 535 rushing yards in a season-opening, double-overtime win over Georgia Tech. Last week’s 42-7 win over Indiana State at Neyland Stadium could be interpreted as a baby step forward for the defense. But if it struggles to contain a downtrodden Florida offense, it probably means the Vols are in for a long season.
THE ONE TO WATCH
Tennessee junior quarterback Quinten Dormady is making his first road start. What a place to do it. The Swamp has made heroes out of some talented Tennessee quarterbacks and humbled others. In 2013, redshirt freshman Nathan Peterman threw for 5 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns on 11 passes while making his first career start in a 31-17 Tennessee loss. Peterman had talent — he transferred to Pittsburgh and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills this year — but debuting in the Swamp altered his Tennessee career in a bad way. Vols coach Butch Jones was asked this week what he likes to see from a quarterback making his first road start. “Poise, calmness, leadership capabilities,” Jones responded. He went on to say that great quarterbacks have the ability to lead their teams to victory even from behind on the road. “If you look at all the great players that have played this game, whether it’s at the collegiate level or a professional level, that’s what separates them, is being able to go on the road and win and perform in a hostile environment against a very, very competitive football team,” Jones said.
IN THE END
This is shaping up to be another memorable chapter in an SEC East rivalry that had fresh life pumped into it in 2016. The Vols snapped an 11-game losing streak in the series last year in Knoxville, and now they want to end a six-game losing streak in Gainesville. Florida knows the exact number of tackles it missed against Tennessee the past two seasons (78), and the Gators did not appreciate when a photo surfaced this week of the Steve Spurrier statue on campus cradling a “Power T” flag. The Gators have the emotional edge of playing at home and rallying around a state ravaged by Hurricane Irma, but there is little else trending in their favor. The storm threw Florida out of its expected schedule for a week at a point when it needed to be improving after a rough neutral-site loss to Michigan. Jones has repeatedly mentioned how the Vols are playing their third game in 13 days, but last week’s win over Indiana State was more of a medium-intensity scrimmage. Do not expect to see much polished football on a dreary, muggy day in the Swamp. Do expect a low-scoring affair that will leave pundits scowling and saying, “Georgia is going to win the SEC East.”