No. 8 Tennessee secured a thrilling 23-17 overtime victory against Florida on Saturday night in Knoxville, thanks in large part to standout tailback Dylan Sampson. The Gators managed to contain Sampson, the SEC’s leading rusher, in the first half, keeping the game competitive in front of a sold-out Neyland Stadium crowd.
In overtime, Sampson pushed through from one yard out on Tennessee’s first possession, marking his third touchdown of the game. Earlier, he had scored a key 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that allowed the Volunteers to take their first lead at 17-10 with under ten minutes remaining. Florida, listed as 15.5-point underdogs, fought back after losing their starting quarterback, Mertz, to a knee injury in the third quarter. Freshman quarterback Lagway threw a 23-yard touchdown pass just 29 seconds before the end of regulation, leveling the score at 17-17. Initially, Florida coach Napier considered a two-point conversion but opted for an extra point, hoping to secure the game in overtime.
Tennessee won the coin toss and chose to defend first. The Gators drove back on three plays, losing four yards, and then returned to kicker Smack, who had earlier made a 42-yard field goal. Unfortunately, his 47-yard attempt in overtime was missed, allowing Tennessee the opportunity to clinch the game.
The Volunteers methodically moved down the field, requiring five plays to cover the 25 yards, culminating in Sampson’s game-winning touchdown. Sampson finished with 112 rushing yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns. Tennessee’s offense, ranked fifth in the nation, struggled throughout the game, finishing with just 312 total yards.
Despite the loss, the Gators actually outgained Tennessee with 361 yards of total offense. Lagway completed nine of 17 passes for 98 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Mertz was an efficient 11-of-15 for 125 yards before his injury.
Florida’s early lead could have been much larger, but they squandered three scoring opportunities in the first half. A field goal was nullified due to a penalty, and both a failed fourth-down conversion and a fumble at the goal line prevented the Gators from capitalizing on their drives.
After finally scoring in the second half, Florida briefly gained momentum, but Tennessee responded strongly to tie the game before Sampson clinched the win in overtime. This marked Tennessee’s third victory over Florida in the last 20 matchups, underscoring the rivalry’s intensity.
Florida (3-3, 1-2) will return home to face Kentucky (3-3, 1-3), who has had recent success against them, aiming to reverse their fortunes after a tough loss to Vanderbilt.