GAINESVILLE — A pregame talk from championship coach Urban Meyer, long-awaited return to the Swamp and visit from rival Tennessee did little to slow Florida’s season-ending free fall.
The Gators actually hit new lows Saturday night, while the Vols pummeled them 31-11 to end a 10-game, 22-season losing streak in Gainesville.
On a night to celebrate Meyer’s Dec. 9 induction into the College Football Hall of the Fame, the Gators gave the 61-year-old icon and a reported crowd of 90,465 little else to cheer. UF announced plans to induct Meyer into the Ring of Honor in 2026 on a night Gators dishonored a man who never lost to Tennessee in six tries and embarrassed themselves.
Interim coach Billy Gonzales, Meyer’s receivers coach at three stops, including UF from 2005-09, his staff and his players failed to put up a fight against the Vols (8-3, 4-3 SEC) as the Gators’ losing streak reached four games to end SEC play. With a national TV audience tuned in and Kirk Herbstreit in the house, UF (3-8, 2-6) quickly fell behind 14-0 and trailed 21-0 with 13:08 remaining in second quarter having gained 1 yards to Tennessee’s 202.
The performance was Florida’s worst showing in the Swamp since Missouri staked 42-0 lead during homecoming in 2014 during a 42-13 win during Will Muschamp’s final season.
After fans belted out Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” following the third quarter, they bolted for the exit to leave the Swamp as sparsely filled as a spring game.
Florida will host Florida State (5-6) look to avoid a season with fewer than four wins for the first time since an 0-10-1 finish in 1979.
But whatever happens against the struggling Seminoles, the Gators hope to win big in the Lane Kiffin Sweepstakes. The Ole Miss coach announced Friday he will reveal his future plans a day after the No. 6 Rebels visit Mississippi State.
Ole Miss, LSU and UF are vying for the 50-year-old’s service, with each school reportedly offering Kiffin around $13 million annually. Whoever becomes their next head coach, the Gators will require a significant overhaul and attitude adjustment.
Since Billy Napier’s Oct. 19 ouster, Gonzales and the Florida players declare their allegiance to each other and to their university. But the Gators were a no-show in both a 38-7 loss Nov. 8 at Kentucky and Saturday night.
Florida did extend its scoring streak of 472 consecutive games on a 46-yard field goal by Trey Smack with 2:04 remaining. The kick drew a mild cheer.
A 33-yard touchdown pass from DJ Lagway to tailback Jadan Baugh later cut Tennessee’s insurmountable lead to 31-10 with 8:15 to go. Baugh has been a rare spot for the Gators. Early Saturday night, he became the first Gator since Kelvin Taylor in 2015 with more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
Baugh finished with 96 rushing yards and another 35 receiving to give him 1,114 yards from scrimmage in 2025
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com