4. Vols committed too many dumb penalties.
Heading into the game, Florida was outside of the top 100 in terms of fewest penalty yards racked up with 69 per game. Meanwhile, Tennessee football was actually in the top 50 in fewest penalty yards, racking up less than 50 per game. That was a sign of encouragement and, with so many UF injuries, brought real reason to believe the Vols could make this close.
It didn’t happen. In fact, the Vols immediately began sabotaging themselves with penalties. Down 7-0 on the first drive, they were moving the ball until K’Rojhn Calbert had a late hit that killed it. The late hit came near midfield after Jarrett Guarantano hit Austin Pope for a five-yard pass on 1st and 10. It was devastating.
Then there was a facemask penalty committed on Florida’s touchdown drive to go up 24-3. That was in response to Brian Maurer cutting the game to two touchdowns on a field goal drive to open the second half.
Finally, there was a bit of momentum again in the fourth. The Vols were driving, and with Jarrett Guarantano back in, they had crossed midfield again. Sure, they were down 24-3, but there was still outside hope for a comeback.
But Riley Locklear committed a false start on the first play of the fourth quarter. A fumble by Eric Gray followed, and that ended any chance they had of a comeback. They allowed another Florida touchdown on the next drive to fall behind 31-3.
UT had seven penalties for 74 yards on the day, despite Florida being the team usually more penalized. That ended up being a killer, as the Gators only committed five penalties for 44 yards. When they came was also brutal.