Can Tennessee Flip Momentum in the Florida Rivalry?

In recent history, Florida has dominated the Tennessee Volunteers in the classic SEC rivalry. But, could it be time for the Vols to flip the script?

At this point, it is not really a secret that the Florida Gators have dominated Tennessee during the Third Saturday in September. Before last season's 38-33 win for Tennessee, the Volunteers had won just once before (2016) since 2005.

If you go back even further, the Vols have won just eight times since 1976. The only time in history where they have dominated the rivalry was the beginning, as they went from 1916 until 1971, when the Vols went 13-2 in the first 15 matchups. That stretch of games also included ten straight wins to start the rivalry. But since then, the Florida Gators have had their way with the Volunteers.

Tennessee WR Bru McCoy celebrating with TE Jacob Warren after scoring a touchdown against Florida in Knoxville, Tennessee, on September 24, 2022. (Photo by Randy Sartin of USA Today Sports)

Florida holds the all-time record on Tennessee being 31-21. This upcoming season, head coach Josh Heupel and his team will look to do something that has yet to be done in 19 years: go back-to-back against Florida. This time they will have to work to do it in Gainesville on the road. The last time Tennessee won in The Swamp was in 2003, the last time they went back-to-back.

This can shift the direction of this classic college football rivalry. Back-to-back wins against Florida would be huge for not only momentum within Tennessee football but also for Heupel early in his tenure in Knoxville. This is very much possible, too, since the Gators have had back-to-back years under .500 with two 6-7 records. The Tennessee and Florida football programs seem to be heading in opposite directions as far as where they sit competitively. This fall, the Gators will face off against the Volunteers for the 53rd time in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16th at 7 p.m. E.T. 

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