Vols aim to end Gators’ hold on rivalry
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Coach Josh Heupel learned quickly just what playing Florida really means to Tennessee.
“Probably 30 seconds after I arrived on campus,” the second-year Tennessee coach said. “This is one of the ballgames that this fan base and our players point to.”
This hasn’t been much of a rivalry the past two decades, not with Florida winning five in a row and 16 of the last 17.
No. 11 Tennessee (3-0) feels much more confident as a double-digit favorite looking for its best start since 2016 with fans painting a sold-out Neyland Stadium an orangeand-white checkerboard for the Vols’ SEC opener.
This will be the third team ranked inside the AP’s Top 20 that the 20th-ranked Gators (21, 0-1) have faced in the opening month, the toughest start in the Bowl Subdivision.
The Gators are just above South Carolina at the bottom of the SEC East after holding off South Florida 31-28 last week in the Swamp.
Tennessee routed Akron 63-6 running Heupel’s up-tempo offense designed to wear out opposing defenses. The Vols rank third nationally with averages of 553.7 yards of offense and 52 points a game.
And this is the Gators’ first road game of the season with ESPN bringing GameDay to Knoxville for the show.
“It’s a big game for everybody,” Florida safety Tre’Vez Johnson said. “Can’t make the moment too big. We’ve still got to go out there and play.”
A year ago, quarterback Hendon Hooker made his second consecutive start for Tennessee after replacing an injured Joe Milton in a 38-14 loss to Florida. Hooker graded that performance as a D, and he still is looking for more this season.
“I haven’t played to my standards yet, but we’ve been winning ballgames and that’s the total end story that I’m looking for, is are we winning?” Hooker said. “It doesn’t matter how I play or how somebody else plays if we’re winning.”
With Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson still looking for his first TD pass of the season, coaches decided to do something to get him and his receivers on the same page. Richardson and his receiving corps watched last week’s game together and broke down Vols’ film together.
“Just trying to understand what can help us in different coverages and stuff like that,” Richardson said. “So we’re going to try a new philosophy this week and see how it goes.”
Richardson rushed for 106 yards in the season-opening win over No. 7 Utah. In two games since then, he’s had 30 net yards.