The big things rarely come easily. Tennessee had more reason for optimism against the Gators than ever, but Florida, to their credit, was ready.
But play-for-play, over the course of 60 minutes – including a tense final few – we saw so much of not what the Vols could be, but what they are, present tense. And what they are is enough to beat Florida, move to 4-0 on the year, and say hello to the Top 10.
And we get a whole extra week to enjoy it.
Six years ago, Josh Dobbs and the Vols fell behind 21-0, then rallied for one of the great days in Neyland Stadium. Dobbs was brilliant on that day: 16-of-32 for 319 yards, four touchdowns to two interceptions, plus 17 carries for 80 yards and a score.
What word, then, do we use to describe Hendon Hooker yesterday?
22-of-28 for 349 yards, two touchdowns and, again, no interceptions. He ran 13 times for 112 yards and another score.
And much like Dobbs six years ago, who fired multiple second half touchdowns on third down, Hooker was at the helm for so many had-to-have it plays:
- Backed up deep after the Florida punt – the only punt of the entire game – the Vols had 3rd-and-10 at their own 12 with 1:15 left in the half. Hooker fired a strike to Princeton Fant right at the marker, who made a great catch for a first down. That enabled Ramel Keyton’s stupendous diving catch on the very next play.
- On the one yard line with no timeouts in the same drive, seven seconds to play, Hooker rolled out and showed great patience, hitting Bru McCoy in the back of the end zone. A crucial sequence that gave the Vols six instead of three before the half.
- A holding penalty with goal-to-go could’ve ended the next drive with just three. No problem: Hooker checked it down to Jabari Small, who walked in from 16 yards out. Over and over on Saturday, the Vols turned a negative into a positive. Penalties, sacks, and early mistakes never stopped a drive.
- Probably his individual highlight of the day: a 44-yard escape/run on the very first play of the next drive. Every time Florida scored in the early goings of the second half, the Vols answered immediately.
This was an all-time performance by a Tennessee offense. We’ve got a week to figure out just how high it might rank. The Vols averaged 8.23 yards per play against a Florida defense that surrendered 4.39 per play to Kentucky. Tennessee faced third down nine times and converted six of them. Josh Heupel and Alex Golesh put on a play-calling clinic; it’s one thing to have receivers running free against the Missouris of the world. Yesterday was something else entirely.
Defensively, the Gators picked up 6.83 yards per play, almost identical to their performance against South Florida and less than the 7.16 they picked up against Utah. Credit Anthony Richardson for making plays, especially on fourth down. Tennessee’s pressure was a lot of almost, which almost made for a frustrating afternoon. Both teams fumbled in the red zone. Richardson was obviously less accurate than Hooker, but when he hit, he hit. But credit the Vol defense for making the plays they needed to make, especially after a picture-perfect onside kick gave Florida life. Tim Banks sent pressure, and it led to victory.
We’ll see what kind of year Florida ends up having. But no matter the answer to that question, this Tennessee team – its players and coaches – have earned confidence to go against the Gators and win. Josh Heupel gets his third ranked win; for comparison, Butch Jones got his third ranked win in the Outback Bowl at the conclusion of year three. Heupel also moves to 3-3 in one-possession games, a stat we may see more of before this year is done.
Losses by Oklahoma and Arkansas will send Tennessee into the Top 10. If the Vols hit #8, it will be their highest ranking since 2006, when the Vols took #7 into October and were #8 the first week of November. There are two-thirds of this regular season left to play. And we’ll enjoy the bye, and then it’s Baton Rouge. You hit the Top 10, and they’re all big games.
This is Tennessee Football: a program with rich history and a long walk through transition. A team that can still improve.
And a team, right now, that we can believe in.
Go Vols.