Urban Meyer's first SEC victory as the Florida coach was against Tennessee, so it makes sense that the former two-time national championship coach is back in Gainesville to watch the Gators-Vols again.
Meyer, who will be honored by the National Football Foundation in an on-field ceremony for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, was 6-0 against Tennessee during his time at The Swamp.
The game is officially sold out.
Best fans in the country 🐊 pic.twitter.com/upx2QwOWFf
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 19, 2025
Meyer put an emphasis on beating rivals
It was appropriate that Tennessee was Meyer's first SEC game with the Gators because he made beating the rivals a priority in the season. The games against Tennessee, Georgia and FSU were the ones where you saw Florida at its best. The Gators were their most explosive, most physical and executed at their highest rate against the rivals.
Meyer went 16-2 against the Volunteers, Bulldogs and Seminoles during his six-year run. And he loved running up big numbers on those guys. Florida put up 59 points on Tennessee in 2007.
When Cam Newton trucked a Tennessee defender and had Tim Tebow hyped on the sideline 💪pic.twitter.com/SXM7erAEQJ
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) October 19, 2025
Meyer told Scott Carter that his first game against Tennessee gave him an idea of what SEC football was all about.
"Every snap. That's when I was first exposed to the size, strength and speed of the SEC,'' Meyer said.
Meyer still has high hopes for Gators
It's been a long time since the Gators were truly contending for a national title, probably not since 2009, when Florida went into the SEC championship game undefeated before losing to Alabama.
And, in case you haven't heard, Florida is back on the hunt for another coach after firing Billy Napier midway through the season. The job has been linked to Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and the news on that front continues to change by the hour.
Still, Meyer believes that the Gators are the right game away from being among the best in college football again.
"They have great facilities, it's an elite academic school, great support, great town. You have everything you need to be successful."Urban Meyer