The Florida Gators have basically a week and a half left in the 2025 campaign before it all comes to a merciful end next Saturday. The Gators are 3-7 and are eliminated from bowl contention for the 2nd time in three years.
With two rivalry games to close out the season, there is still pride to play for in Gainesville. But even though Tennessee is coming to town, Billy Gonzales says he hasn't made one notable streak against the Volunteers a point of emphasis with the team this week.
Tennessee hasn't won in Gainesville since 2003
Lost amid the Lane Kiffin chatter is the fact that Florida has a notable streak on the line this Saturday:
They have not lost at home to Tennessee since 2003.
For as dumpster fire as it has been at time in Gainesville over the past 20 years, Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen, and even Billy Napier all managed to stay perfect at home against Tennessee.
Gonzales was asked during his SEC Teleconference about whether or not he has made this streak a point of emphasis with the team heading into Saturday:
"I have not, but I'm aware of it, obviously. We're preparing no differently; this is an extremely, extremely talented team that we're getting ready to play.
You're talking about going against Joey Aguilar. He's a complete player. He distributes the ball extremely well, closing in on 3,000 passing yards. Offensively, seventh in the nation in passing yards, seventh in the nation in yards per game, seventh in the nation in total offense. Defensively, second in the nation with six defensive touchdowns, fourth in fumbles recovered, fourth in sacks.
So, we're preparing for an extremely tough team this week. We know, obviously, what the past has been. Each year, it's a different team, and we gotta prepare for the different team we're about to play, which is a very talented team."
No bulletin board material here
It's clear Gonzales is trying not to give Tennessee anything to work with on the motivation front. Whether or not that's the approach Gator fans want is up for debate.
Because even in a lost season, winning and losing against a rival matters.
Even more so, given that Florida isn't going to play Tennessee next year, thanks to the reimagined SEC schedule the conference is going to use moving forward (the two teams will play in 2027), the winner of this game will have bragging rights for two years.
So while Gonzales may not be publicly playing up the rivalry, we do hope behind the scenes he is trying to make sure Florida has a little extra juice for this one.