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Tennessee football: Getting to know Florida from a Gators expert

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 17, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier talks with Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) works out prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier talks with Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) works out prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 25, 2021; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) recovers the fumble against the Florida Gators during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) recovers the fumble against the Florida Gators during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Does Florida still consider Tennessee football a rivalry at all after winning 16 of 17 games? 

If you were to poll most Florida fans, this game still means something. I think right now if you were to rank Florida’s rivals in terms of value fans place on winning the game, the list would look like this:

1. Georgia
2. FSU
3. LSU
4. Tennessee

Georgia and FSU could be swapped. I make the case Georgia is the bigger rival simply because they directly stand in the pathway of where Florida is trying to get to right now. Tennessee and LSU could also be swapped, but the LSU games have been far more chippy since Florida and LSU have been matched up as an annual cross-divisional game.

Given Florida’s dominance in the series against the Vols, how personal should the Gators take it that they’re two-score underdogs?

Coming out of the Utah game, it seemed unfathomable the Gators would be 10-point underdogs three weeks later. After escaping USF, it’s understandable why Florida is a 10-point underdog. Most fans are okay with it because it puts the pressure back onto Tennessee, even if there is an argument to make why Florida should still be favored.

Which memorable wins or moments against Tennessee stand out the most to Florida fans?

In recent memory, the 2017 walk-off bomb from Franks to Cleveland is as good as it gets. Antonio Callaway running for 63-yards on 4th down in 2015 is also up there. I’m also partial to the 2014 game with Treon Harris leading a comeback.

For my father-in-law, he loves to point out every chance he gets that Peyton Manning never beat the Gators.

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