Florida vs. Tennessee: Final Preview
In the words of Motley Crue, “I’m on my way, home sweet home.”
It feels like an eternity since walking out of Neyland Stadium on September 14th . It also feels like a millennium since the offense we’ve come accustomed to has shifted out of first gear. While Fayetteville is still fresh on the mind and questions abound, Josh Heupel and his #8 Volunteers (4-1) are ready and eager to turn the page, and what better way to right the ship than with a primetime showdown under the Neyland lights against the Florida Gators (3-2).
Through five games there have been plenty of storylines to come from this rendition of the Volunteers already. From the highs of stellar play of Dylan Sampson, glimpses of beaming potential in Nico, and an astronomically improved defense to the lows of a shaky offensive line lacking depth, underwhelming play calling, and the most unexpected being an offense looking out of rhythm for more prolonged periods than expected. Each one of those topics is enough for a whole other article, but I digress. Even with all of that it’s finally time to be back on Rocky Top in the peak of the college football season and for this one the two sides enter this weekend coming off two completely different games to say the least.
For Florida a 3-2 record off a 24-13 victory over UCF in the Swamp feels rather monumental for them considering the way the season started with absolute thrashings at the hands of the Miami Hurricanes and Fightin’ Texas Aggies in Gainesville. Napier’s team has run a two-quarterback system with Graham Mertz taking the majority of the snaps while holding a 5/2 touchdown to interception ratio. Behind Mertz, freshman DJ Lagway has received multiple snaps and series leading to Lagway having the most passing yards between the two while having a worse touchdown to interception ratio holding a 4/3 mark. One surprising note for the Gators this season is that unlike in years past, there isn’t a major superstar in the making that pops off on the stat sheet this season. So far, the only major stat popping athlete has been senior wide receiver Elijhah Badger who has 346 receiving yards on 17 receptions with 2 touchdowns. Outside of his performance there hasn’t been much to really get excited about in Gainesville. On top of a dull offense the defense is ranked as the 96th overall unit according to the total defensive metrics. If there was ever a time and better chance for the Big Orange to break into second and third gear on the offensive side of the ball, this would be the week.
On the home side of the equation the Vols enter the friendly confines of home sweet home off a disappointing 19-14 loss in Fayetteville to an incredibly sneaky Arkansas Razorbacks team. Despite showing flashes of brilliance on the offensive side of the ball earlier in the season, the Big Orange struggled mightily against the Hogs on practically all fronts. Rising star Nico Iamaleava showed his first true signs of youth Saturday with inconsistent play all while running for his life for the majority of the night with abysmal blocking up front. Despite the shortcoming of the o-line Dylan Sampson was once again a bright spot with his 138 yards on 22 carries with Tennessee’s lone two TDs of the night. If there was any major positive for the orange and white it was that once again the defense is proving itself as a legitimate force of nature. While the secondary showed some cracks the defensive line once again made major plays with the biggest ones coming in the red zone. If there’s been one consistency over the last few years with DC Tim Banks, it’s been that bend but don’t break mindset. Even though they weren’t able to fend off the Hogs on their final drive, Banks’ group gave it their all to keep the game closer than it truly felt. Now coming into this Saturday, the Vols know that the goals and hopes of the season are still on the table. However, the only way that goal of making the playoff can be reached is if the rest of the year truly becomes a one game season each week. That all begins this week with the Florida Gators to kick off this four game homestand. While betting odds and pundits have the Vols heavily favored, Heupel and crew can’t fall into a similar trap like they did in Arkansas of overlooking the competition and becoming complacent. Coming into this matchup Heupel holds a 1-2 record against the Gators with the lone win coming back in 2022 off a 38-33 thriller in Neyland. A win not only secures the bragging rights, but also serves as a sigh of relief to the fanbase as we all know what awaits following this weekend. Riding much needed momentum would be massive to say the least as the bulk of the SEC schedule awaits.
To say that Heupel and this fanbase need this victory is like saying a fish needs water, it’s just common sense. Coming into the season this was one of the “must win” games for Heupel and the Big Orange considering that the Gators are a shell of what they once were under head coach Billy Napier, as well as having them in the 865 for the annual matchup. However, when looking at this matchup the importance of it has only increased with the loss to Arkansas. A loss in this spot would not only eliminate all chances of a potential playoff spot or possible SEC Championship appearance, but the murmuring in the stands and especially online will only increase. Not to mention, it’s the Florida Gators. Opportunities to annihilate an archrival on home soil rarely occur in this rivalry, but if there has ever been a time for the Volunteers to do it, this is that time. Don’t think that last season’s debacle in Gainesville has been forgotten about either. Only time will tell what the rest of the season will hold for this Tennessee team, but one thing is for certain, the Vols have their chance to solidify themselves all while sinking a hated rival in the process. You can’t write a better script than that.
