Florida football playing out season for pride in return home against rival No. 20 Tennessee

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

With bowl eligibility out the window, Florida football will use the rivalry card as motivation when it returns to The Swamp to face No. 20 Tennessee on Nov. 22 (7:30 p.m., ABC).

The Florida Gators (3-7, 2-5 SEC) lost their third straight under interim coach Billy Gonzales, falling 34-24 at No. 7 Ole Miss on Nov. 15.

Like Ole Miss, Tennessee features an explosive, high-tempo offense under fifth-year coach Josh Huepel. The Volunteers (7-3, 3-3 SEC) lead the SEC and rank second nationally in total offense at 495.0 yards per game. Tennessee starting quarterback Joey Aguilar, a transfer from Appalachian State, leads the SEC in passing at 294.1 yards per game.

"They're explosive," Gonzales said. "They do take some shots downfield … and then they've got a quarterback that's come in and done a fantastic job for them this year."

Florida's defense has struggled in its last two losses to Kentucky and Ole Miss, allowing an average of 36.0 points, 469.5 yards and 235.0 rushing yards over its last two games.

"Going into the next two games, you know, we're just focusing on standing together as a team," Florida linebacker Aaron Chiles said. "On defense especially, we're trying to better our communication to make sure we're all on the same page."

UF is looking to avenge a 23-17 overtime loss to the Volunteers last season, but has won 10 straight games against Tennessee at The Swamp, dating back to 2003. Florida will honor former coach Urban Meyer for his induction into the College Football Playoff before the game, adding to the emotion of UF's first game in The Swamp since Oct. 19.

"We need to continue to fight," Gonzales said. "We need to continue to take accountability, both as coaches and players, continue to focus, we need to continue to lock in, and we have to put another great week of practice."

Tennessee has been one of UF's traditional rivals, dating back when the Vols and Gators routinely played for SEC East division championships in the 1990s and early 2000s under coaches Phil Fulmer and Steve Spurrier. But the two schools will no longer play annually starting in 2026 due to the SEC expanding to a nine-game conference schedule.

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football will try to extend its 10-game home win streak vs Tennessee

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos