The Official #11/#9 Tennessee @ Florida Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

[YankeeVol]

#11/#9 Tennessee Volunteers: 2-0 (0-0 SEC)




@


Florida Gators: 1-1 (0-0 SEC)





GAME 3 | SEPT. 16, 2023 | 7 P.M. ET | GAINESVILLE, FLA. | BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM (88,548)


Weather
Hi: 87 / Low: 72 // Precip: 42%


Line: UT -5.5
O/U: 56


TV: ESPN / Watch
Radio: Vol Network (FM 107.7 in Knoxville) / Listen / Live Stats
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 133 or 190 // Online: Ch. 961
Online: WatchESPN.com


Floriduh Game Notes

 

[YankeeVol]

NEED TO KNOW​

Attacking Defense
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks' attacking defense leads the nation in tackles for loss per game (12.5) and is tied for first with Nebraska in sacks per game (5.5). Banks' unit has racked up 11.0 total sacks, which is tied for first in the nation, and 25.0 total tackles for loss, which is second in the FBS. Senior linebacker Aaron Beasley leads the nation in TFLs through two weeks with 6.0 for a loss of 25 yards. Beasley has an incredible 13.0 TFLs in his last five games combined, including 4.0 in the Orange Bowl victory vs. Clemson. Edge rushers James Pearce Jr. and Tyler Baron are both tied for first in the SEC and third in the FBS in sacks with 3.0. In 28 games under Banks (since start of 2021), the Vols are first in the SEC in tackles for loss with 221.0. They have produced nine double-digit TFL games under his watch, including two straight and three of their last four contests entering this weekend's SEC opener.

Running Wild
Tennessee's early offensive success this season can be largely attributed to the rushing attack, which ranks first in the SEC and fourth nationally in yards per game (257.5). The one-two punch of Jaylen Wright (25 carries for 233 yards) and Jabari Small (26 carries for 162 yards) is one of five FBS duos this season to have each recorded at least 25 rushing attempts and 150 rushing yards. The other four schools with such teammates are Jacksonville State, San Jose State, South Florida and UTEP.

September Success Under Heupel
After last Saturday's victory over Austin Peay, Tennessee has won six straight games in the month of September. In 2022, the Vols secured their first perfect September since 2016, going 4-0 with wins over Ball State, Pitt, Akron and Florida. UT has an 8-2 record during the month of September under Heupel.

Last Time Out
The Vols improved to 2-0 with a 30-13 victory over Austin Peay in their home opener. The Big Orange piled up a Heupel-era high seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss in the win. Beasley was all over the field, tallying nine tackles, two sacks and a career-high five TFLs, which were the most by a Vol in a single game since 2004. Kamal Hadden and Warren Burrell recorded takeaways with an interception and fumble recovery, respectively. After trailing early, UT scored 20 unanswered points en route to Heupel's 20th victory at the helm of the program.

 

[YankeeVol]

SERIES HISTORY​

Florida leads, 31-21
Tennessee is seeking to win its second straight against Florida and earn its first win in the Swamp since 2003. Saturday's contest will mark the final meeting between the two teams as SEC Eastern Division foes with divisional play ending after this season. The Gators lead the all-time series 31-21, but the Vols are coming off a thrilling 38-33 victory last year in Knoxville.

 

[TAF]

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[YankeeVol]

ABOUT FLORIDA​

Florida is in its second season under head coach Billy Napier, who led the Gators to a 6-7 record in 2022. UF is off to a 1-1 start this season after a 24-11 road loss at No. 14 Utah to open the year and a 49-7 victory over McNeese last Saturday in Gainesville.

Defense has been the calling card for the Gators so far this season, as they lead the SEC and rank third in the FBS in total defense, allowing just 191.0 yards per game. Sophomore linebacker Shemar James is the team's leading tackler entering Saturday's contest with 19 stops and two tackles for loss.

Offensively, Florida boasts a stout rushing attack that features a trio of talented running backs in Montrell Johnson Jr. (18 carries for 125 yards, 2 TDs), Trevor Etienne (18 carries for 109 yards, 1 TD) and Treyaun Webb (15 carries for 74 yards, 2 TDs). Wisconsin transfer quarterback Graham Mertz has been solid in his first year with the program, completing 74 percent of his passes for 526 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Senior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has been Mertz's top target with a team-high 14 catches, 215 receiving yards and one touchdown reception.

 

[Behr]

 

[YankeeVol]

SEC OPENER AT THE SWAMP: No. 11/9 Tennessee seeks its first win in the Swamp since 2003 as the
Volunteers open SEC play against Florida at 7 p.m. Saturday on ESPN. It will be the final meeting between
the two teams as SEC Eastern Division foes with divisional play ending after this season. The Gators lead
the all-time series 31-21, but UT won last year’s meeting in a 38-33 thriller in Knoxville. This season, the Vols
were picked to finish second in the SEC East and fourth in the overall SEC race by the media.

 

[AlwaysOrangeNeverBlue]

Thank you Yankee!

WGWTFA today! At the coffee shop by the beach down here in the Bay Area, then driving up after breakfast. Can’t wait to take over Gainesville!

Go Big Orange!

 

[malinoisvol]

V

 

[BlinghamptonVol]

Napier’s seat gets way hotter in about 9 hours. Vols up by 21-24 points by halftime.

 

[YankeeVol]

V

O

 

[chuckb1448]

Good morning Volunteers! Been waiting for a year for this and now it's here.... my oh my I hope Milton plays well today... I hope all of our men do.... I'm a gator Hater

Go Big Orange

 

[suave410ec]

V

O

L

 

[suave410ec]

Yikes, hopefully my fried Gator bites goes better than that effort.

 

[JacketVol]

GBO

 

[NATHAN05]

I hope these boys are loose and ready to have fun and play.........because my a** is nervous and ill be lucky if I can sit still all day with anticipation.......im confident it's YEARS of bvs just coming to a head. GBO!!!

 

[TheVolunteer002]

Didn't sleep worth a flip last night. Hope it's a different story tonight after a fat W.

 

[Hobock]

GBO

 

[Behr]

GBO

 

[YankeeVol]

V

O

L

S

 

[vollygirl]

 

[CAVPUT]

I hope these boys are loose and ready to have fun and play.........because my a** is nervous and ill be lucky if I can sit still all day with anticipation.......im confident it's YEARS of bvs just coming to a head. GBO!!!

In all sincerity, thank you for spelling it correctly. Such bad mojo if you'd misspelled it today of all days.

 

[catss350]

GBO! Floriduh week always makes me uneasy cause no more what, floriduh seems have some kind of juju to find ways to win. I want the VOLS to stomp them so bad! Go VOLS!!!

 

[NATHAN05]

In all sincerity, thank you for spelling it correctly. Such bad mojo if you'd misspelled it today of all days.

Lmao!!!! Product of growing up in the 80s......you know, when we actually had to take spelling tests on paper (no autocorrect) and got grades for cursive and handwriting? These kids now...............granted AI will be writing everything soon anyways.

 

[kiddiedoc]