The Florida Gators (3-2) are at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville this evening for a matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers (4-1). Kickoff time is set for 7:00 p.m. Follow along here for live game updates.
FINAL: Tennessee 23, Florida 17 - It was far from the start to the overtime period that Florida's offense was looking. A three-and-out led to a 47-yard field goal attempt by Smack that missed wide to the right. Tennessee's offense took over and constructed a five-play 25-yard scoring drive capped off by a one-yard rushing touchdown by Sampson.
End of regulation: Tennessee 17, Florida 17
Q4: 00:14 Tennessee had a chance to move into field goal range to seemingly end the game, but UT wide receiver Chas Nimrod dropped a pass from Iamaleava that hit him right in the hands on a crossing route.
Q4: SCORE - An explosive 27-yard punt return by Dike set the Gators up in Tennessee territory before Lagway delivered a 27-yard dart to Dike across the middle of the field to tie the game at 17-17 with under one minute left in the game.
Q4 - NOTE: Florida's offense has struggled immensely in the fourth quarter. The Gators have totaled just 15 yards of total offense and are 0-for-4 on third down.
Q4: 9:47 - SCORE: Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson broke through the heart of the Gators defense to give the Volunteers the lead just two plays after an impressive 17-yard punt return that put the Vols at Florida's 29-yard line.
Q4: 10:21 - Florida was called for a delay of game penalty on 3rd-and-10 that backed the Gators up to their three-yard line before Lagway's pass intended for Wilson III fell incomplete on 3rd-and-13.
Q4: 12:12 - Iamaleava scrambled on 3rd-and-8 to midfield but was brought down short of the first down marker by Florida sophomore edge Kamran James. Jackson Ross delivered an impressive punt down to the six-yard line.
Q4: 14:04 - It was decision time for Billy Napier as the Gators faced 4th-and-2 at Tennessee's 38-yard line. Florida elected to go for it, however, Lagway's short pass on a slant route to Wilson III fell incomplete. Iamaleava and UT's offense have the ball with a chance to take its first lead of the game.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: FLORIDA 10, TENNESSEE 10 - It looks like Florida will be hobbling its way to the finish line in this one, as both starting quarterback Graham Mertz and starting running back Montrell Johnson Jr. will likely miss the remainder of today's contest with a pair of respective lower body injuries. All signs point to true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway finishing this game out for the Gators, who will look to reclaim their lead after giving up 10 unanswered points to the Volunteers to close out the third quarter.
Q3 | 1:37 - Tennessee can't get anything going offensively following Arion Carter's interception, but kicker Max Gilbert still manages to convert on a 35-yard field goal to make this a tie ball game. Florida 10, Tennessee 10
Q3 | 2:47 - DJ Lagway replaces a hobbled Graham Mertz on Florida's subsequent drive and immediately throws an interception. Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter picks off the Florida freshman signal caller and takes it to the UF 20-yard line, as the Volunteers are now in prime position to take their first lead of the night.
Q3 | 2:57 - Tennessee takes it all the way down to its own 6-yard line before facing a 4th-and-1. The Volunteers go for it, and get more than they bargained for, as running back Dylan Sampson cruises into the end zone to get UT on the board. Florida 10, Tennessee 7
Q3 | 5:44 - Iamaleava finally connects with one of his receivers on a deep ball, this time finding Chris Brazzell on a 23-yard dot to flip the field for the Volunteers. Tennessee looks to be driving in response to Florida's score less than three minutes ago.
Q3 | 7:18 - Mertz finds Arlis Boardingham down the left sideline for a 13-yard touchdown, and the Gators are now up by two scores. However, Mertz appears to have been shaken up after the throw, as he limped off the field in pain as Boardingham celebrated in the end zone. Florida 10, Tennessee 0
Q3 | INJURY UPDATE - Johnson Jr. was injured on his big run, with his knee being twisted as he went down on the tackle. If he is unable to return, this could prove to be a big loss for an already-depleted Florida running back room.
Q3 | 9:35 - Florida's offense is rolling once more. Graham Mertz opens up the new drive by finding Haysen Hansen and Chimere Dike on back-to-back first down gainers. Montrell Johnson Jr. follows suit with a 20-yard run to cross over into Tennessee territory.
Q3 | 11:32 - The Gators' defense responds by forcing a three-and-out of their own, with Sharif Denson and Tyreak Sapp teaming up for a tackle for loss on third down to force another Volunteers punt. Florida will take back over at its own 8 to start the following drive.
Q3 | 13:13 - Florida's start to the second half goes from bad to worse, as DJ Lagway is downed for a four-yard sack on third down to force the Gators to punt from their own end zone. As a result, Tennessee will start the next drive at its own 42-yard line.
Q3 | 15:00 - The second half starts off with a chaotic kickoff, as Florida is whistled for an illegal blindside block that initially was reviewed for targeting. However, officials determined that there was no targeting on the play; the illegal block penalty, however, stood, backing up Florida to its own 13 to start the half.
HALFTIME NOTE: Tennessee entered Saturday's game against the Gators as the No. 5 rushing team in the nation. The Vols have totaled just 41 yards of rushing yards in the first half and haven't been able to muster much of anything offensively.
HALFTIME NOTE: Florida is just 1-for-4 in its red zone attempts thus far and could easily possess a 20-plus point lead heading into the break. Though, a turnover and questionable play calling in the first half certainly played a factor.
HALFTIME: FLORIDA 3, TENNESSEE 0 - UF kicker Trey Smack's 43-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half was good; however, Florida was penalized for having 12 men on the field, leading to a 10-second runoff on the game clock.
Q2: 1:11 - Iamaleava's pass on 1st-and-10 in UT territory was intercepted by Florida defensive back Sharif Denson and returned for 20 yards setting up 1st-and-10 for the Gators at Tennessee's 22-yard line.
Q2: 3:03 - Mertz drove the Gators down to UT's 1-yard line before fumbling the ball and turning it over to the Volunteers. Tennessee will take back possession just in front of its own goal line.
Q2: 5:28 - An explosive 23-yard burst up the middle by UF running back Montrell Johnson Jr. followed by a huge truck stick against a Tennessee defender sets up 1st-and-10 for the Gators in Tennessee territory.
Q2: 6:25 - Mertz is set to re-enter for the Gators at quarterback following Lagway's first and only drive of the game that resulted in a turnover. On his first play back in as signal caller, Mertz delivered a 17-yard strike to tight end Hayden Hansen on 1st-and-10 moving the ball to UF's 37-yard line.
Q2: 8:14 - The Gators come away with a massive break as Iamaleava's deep pass intended for Squirrel White was incomplete as the speedy wideout was streaking wide open down the middle of the field.
Q2: 8:52 - Montrell Johnson Jr. caught an 8-yard pass on 3rd-and-9 from Lagway setting up 4th-and-1 before Napier called a jet sweep pass to Wilson III who was smothered at the line of scrimmage. Tennessee takes back possession of the football at UT's 18-yard line.
Q2: 13:46 - Lagway completes corner route to senior wideout Chimere Dike for a pickup of 17 yards to UF's 31-yard line.
Q2: 15:00 - On the first play of the second quarter, Iamaleava was sacked for a loss of three yards at midfield on 3rd-and-26. Tennessee punts it away deep into UF territory as five-star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway has entered the game for the Gators for the first time.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: FLORIDA 3, TENNESSEE 0 - Florida's defense came to play this evening. Through the first 15 minutes of tonight's contest, the Gators have already come away with a fumble recovery and a pair of sacks to keep the Volunteers off the board to this point. Offensively, Florida has struggled to get anything going on the ground, averaging just 1.8 yards per carry so far tonight. In the air, Graham Mertz is currently 4-for-6 for 38 yards tonight. DJ Lagway is expected to take to the field for the first time tonight upon Florida getting the ball back.
Q1 | 0:00 - As the clock hits all zeros at the end of the first quarter, Florida's defense comes roaring back with a pair of sacks to back Tennessee out of field goal range. Credit linebacker Jaden Robinson and edge rusher Tyreak Sapp on the back-to-back sacks to take the Volunteers out of striking distance.
Q1 | 1:11 - Nico Iamaleava has a 22-yard scramble called back on a holding call, but he gets those yards right back on a 20-yard pass down the middle to Chris Brazzell II for a fresh set of downs inside Florida territory.
Q1 | 3:15 - UF running back Jadan Baugh is stuffed for a loss of four yards on 3rd-and-1, forcing the Gators to settle for a 42-yard field goal. Trey Smack sends it through the uprights with ease, as Florida is now officially on the board first in this one. Florida 3, Tennessee 0
Q1 | 5:15 - Florida looks to be driving following a pair of third-down conversions on the ground from Mertz. The Gators will line up for 1st-and-10 at the Tennessee 29-yard line.
Q1 | INJURY UPDATE - Tennessee veteran linebacker Keenan Pili has officially been ruled out for the rest of tonight's game.
Q1 | 8:06 - After running the ball on three consecutive plays, Tennessee is held to a quick three-and-out before being forced to punt out of its own end zone. Florida will take back over with excellent field position, as the Gators will start the next drive on their own 49.
Q1 | 9:58 - After UF quarterback Graham Mertz opens up Florida's first offensive drive with back-to-back first down passes, the Gators end up stalling out near the middle of the field and are forced to punt the ball away to the Tennessee 10-yard line. Potential injury to watch out for: Volunteers linebacker and defensive captain Keenan Pili needed to be helped off the field after sustaining an apparent knee injury on UT's third down stop.
Q1 | 12:32 (TENNESSEE TURNOVER) - Florida stops Tennessee right in its tracks with a fumble scooped up by linebacker Grayson "Pup" Howard. The Volunteers end up empty-handed in their opening drive, as the Gators will take over on their own 26.
Q1 | 13:45 - Tennessee opens up tonight's action with some quick no-huddle offense, with quarterback Nico Iamaleava flipping the field on a 24-yard third-down strike to wide receiver Squirrel White. The Volunteers will now line up at the UF 33-yard line for a fresh 1st-and-10.
Q1 | 15:00 (KICKOFF) - Florida wins the coin toss and elects to defer possession to the second half. Following a touchback on the opening kick, Tennessee will start on its own 25-yard line.
4: SCORE
PRE-GAME | INJURY REPORT - Notable players out for Florida today include safety Asa Turner (knee), running back Treyaun Webb (knee), defensive back Ja'Keem Jackson (lower body) and wide receiver Marcus Burke (undisclosed). Wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, defensive lineman Joey Slackman and offensive tackle Austin Barber are all expected to be active in tonight's contest, although it remains to be seen how many reps each one will receive. Wilson III (knee) has not played since UF's win over Samford on Sept. 7, while Barber (lower body) and Slackman (knee) were listed as questionable earlier this week.
Jack Meyer is a fourth-year journalism major and the Assistant Sports Editor for The Alligator. In his free time, he enjoys reviewing music, spending time with friends, playing video games and going to the gym.
Max Tucker is a junior transfer student at UF. After obtaining his A.A. in Journalism from Santa Fe College in 2023, he chose further his education at Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. Max is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a specialization in sports and media. He enjoys golfing and going to the beach with his friends in his free time.
