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Tennessee football in top half of SEC Power Rankings for Week 1 of 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Volunteers gather and sing the alma mater after the Tennessee vs Ball State football game in Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.Utvsballstate 2461
Volunteers gather and sing the alma mater after the Tennessee vs Ball State football game in Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.Utvsballstate 2461 /
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Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA;Florida Gators linebacker Amari Burney (2) celebrate as he intercepted the ball against the Utah Utes during the second half at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA;Florida Gators linebacker Amari Burney (2) celebrate as he intercepted the ball against the Utah Utes during the second half at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

team. 840. . 1-0. . Gators . 2

Defeated Utah Utes 29-26

And just like that, Florida is a major threat in the SEC. They are one of two teams from the conference to actually beat a Power Five foe, and if you did take last year into account, they would belong in the top two anyway based. Simply put, they clearly belong up here in our SEC Power Rankings, and they’re now a threat to Tennessee football.

Billy Napier relied on Anthony Richardson and an opportunistic defense to win this game, and it worked. Sure, Florida had the advantage of playing in The Swamp, but Utah was looking like a College Football Playoff contender. They were the favorites to win the Pac-12.

It wasn’t a lucky win either, as the Gators outgained Utah on the ground 451-446. Richardson looked like he may have begun his own Heisman Trophy campaign, and he will be a force throughout the rest of SEC play. You really can’t overstate how significant of a debut victory this was for Napier.

Florida’s schedule doesn’t get any lighter, though, and they could be No. 1 by next week, as the Kentucky Wildcats head to town Saturday. The South Florida Bulls on Sept. 17 are their first Group of Five foe, but then they visit Tennessee football, so they never get a break this month.

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