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.
“It’s not fun. It’s not good,” he said. “It sucks for me to be up here.”
Florida interim head coach Billy Gonzales watches the Gators during a 31-11 loss to Tennessee Saturday night in the Swamp. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
With a national TV audience tuned in and renowned analyst 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 Vols scored on their first four possessions, led 31-0 at halftime and coasted to their first victory in Gainesville since 2003.
“We were filled with joy, relief,” Tennessee tight end Ethan Davis said. “Coming down here and winning in the Swamp is never an easy task. Every single game is personal, but this one holds a little more weight to us, to the fanbase, to our coaches.”
UF squandered an early chance to stay in the game when quarterback DJ Lagway and tailback Jadan Baugh connected for a 42-yard completion. But a penalty by Austin Barber negated it, drawing boos from the crowd.
“It deflates you,” Gonzales said. “It’s hard to dig yourself out of a hole when you have a big play and all of a sudden now you’re moving behind the sticks.”
Things soon began to snowball.
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.
“Make the main thing the main thing,” Baugh said. “We were all recruited here to play football and finish the mission.”
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.
Former Florida head coach Urban Meyer watches the first half of the Gators’ loss to Tennessee, the Vols’ first win in Gainesville since 2003. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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.
“We want to continue to fight, continue to win,” Gonzales said. “I just got done telling them sometimes life has to break you completely before you truly discover who you are. That kind of resonates with me.
“You’re searching, obviously. There’s been a lot of change and a lot of different emotions that have went on through these last five weeks.”
Saturday night may have been the low point.
The Kentucky loss came on the heels of an emotional 24-20 loss to Georgia Nov. 1 in Jacksonville. Against Tennessee, the Gators were back home for the first time since a narrow win Oct. 18 against Mississippi State, the day before UF fired Napier.
The Vols were 4.5-point favorites, but a sellout crowd and Meyer’s powerful presence set the stage for an electric atmosphere and competitive game.
Instead, the Gators never had a chance.
Tennessee scored on its first four possessions, finished 9 of 13 on third down and with 452 yards. Florida managed just 261 yards and was 2 of 9 on third down.
Florida extended 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, given Smack had missed earlier from 38 yards, ending a streak of 13 straight field goals.
A 33-yard touchdown pass from Lagway to 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. But it was small consolation for the 20-year-old sophomore.
“It’s been difficult the whole season,” he said. “But we continue to just keep coming in the facility and giving our best. To the game, Florida State, it’s another day in the office, going in there, keeping our head on straight, and preparing the right way.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com