Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley has visited Knoxville a number of times for games at Neyland Stadium.

But through all his visits, Utley has never been to a Tennessee-Florida game.

That will change Saturday night. Utley is a four-star prospect from Ensworth ranked as the No. 2 overall 2025 player in Tennessee and the No. 23 defensive lineman nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. He will be among what’s expected to be a large group of 2025 commits that will visit Tennessee when it hosts Florida.

“I’ve been to Tennessee-Kentucky twice and Tennessee-South Carolina. But I think that the Florida game will be something different, especially at night time,” Utley said. “Checkerboard Neyland, wearing the traditional home uniforms. I’m excited to see it and I’m excited to see my friends and future teammates.” 

UT is holding a Checker Neyland game for the eighth time. Fans are encouraged to wear orange or white, depending on their seat location, to make a checkerboard board pattern throughout the stadium. 

More: How Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley honors brother’s memory. ‘I’m living both our dreams out’

What Ethan Utley said about Tennessee football loss to Arkansas

Utley let out a long sigh when asked about Tennessee’s 19-14 upset loss at Arkansas last week. 

It was not a fun watch, but Utley saw a silver lining.

“Watching that game, it gave me hope,” Utley said after Ensworth’s 24-7 win over Father Ryan on Friday. “There’s still more to learn. The defense got its back against the wall a few times and came up with some huge stops. Those guys are still playing electric and not folding, kind of like we did tonight.” 

More: Pearl-Cohn, East Nashville in Class 2A? Key takeaways from TSSAA’s football classification release

Utley has helped Ensworth (7-0) get off to its best start since 2013, but every Saturday he’s closely watching Tennessee. 

“I’m locked in at all times. Me and my best friend (Tennessee commit) Dylan Lewis, who’s from Atlanta, we’ll FaceTime and watch the game together,” Utley said. “We’ll talk about it, kind of envision ourselves on the actual defense itself.”

Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.

Local independent bookstores have never been more important. With fair access to literature under political attack, bookstores are a bulwark against censorship and an asset to the communities they serve. 

Each week we profile an independent bookstore, discovering what makes each one special and getting their expert book recommendations.

This week we have Leah Gilkerson and Kaitlyn Parker of The Unkind Raven in Dandridge, Tennessee!

What’s your store’s story?

We had a vision that The Unkind Raven Booktique could bring our community together in a non-traditional way by hosting workshops, fundraisers and events. Our charming indie bookstore is nestled in downtown historic Dandridge inside a quaint 1845 building known as the Historic Hynds House. As a women-owned establishment, we’re proud to have opened our doors in December 2023, extending a warm welcome to all who step into our shop.

What makes your independent bookstore unique?

We stand out by fostering community bonds through an array of classes, gifting children’s books, and housing a dedicated museum within our historic building, creating a space where stories come to life. Our commitment to creating a holistic literary experience sets us apart as more than just a bookstore, but a cultural hub for all to enjoy.

What’s your favorite section in your store?

Our most cherished spots within the bookstore are the cozy rooms, where one can immerse themselves in books, or enjoy spirited games with friends, creating lasting memories within the heart of our historic house.

What book do you love to recommend to customers and why?

Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” will always be recommended because of its stance against censorship and the upholding of literature. Additionally, John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” is such a classic that gets overlooked!

Why is shopping at local independent bookstores important?

It’s crucial as it directly supports the local economy, preserves community character, and sustains neighborhood livelihoods. These small shops often offer personalized recommendations, unique selections, and a sense of belonging, fostering a vibrant literary culture that celebrates individuality and diversity.

What are some of your store’s upcoming programs or partnerships you would like to share?

We are continuing to achieve this vision through the month of October with pottery, jewelry making, a release party and reading, The Unkind Raven One Year Anniversary Booktacular, cookie decorating, stained glass, and Halloween fun. 

Over 100 years ago, Florida and Tennessee faced each other for the first time in history. Although both programs were early members of the SEC, Tennessee’s immediate dominance prevented the series from being much of a “rivalry” at the time.

The Volunteers won their first ten matchups against Florida, while the Gators took nearly 40 years to pull off their first win. The series became an annual matchup in 1992, when the SEC became a 12-member league and split into two divisions. 

Despite Tennessee’s early success against Florida, the Gators lead the all-time series 32-21. Over the past 20 years, the Volunteers have only beat the Gators three times. 

Over time, the intensity of the rivalry grew, partly due to the conference and national championship implications stemming from the game’s result. On 11 occasions, both programs have been ranked among the top 10 teams in college football at the time that they faced each other.

Here, we’ll look back at some of those landmark games that helped define the rivalry.

1969 Gator Bowl: “Super Sophs” Pull Off The Upset 

Powered by their eventual record-breaking passing offense, the Gators faced off against the Volunteers (SEC champions) in the Gator Bowl, for a rare postseason match-up.

Led by future NCAA all-time passing yards leader John Reaves and Florida’s current career receiving yards leader Carlos Alvarez, the two sophomores helped the Gators pull off a 14-0 upset against the Volunteers, just their second win of all-time against Tennessee. 

Just days after the game, Tennessee’s head coach Doug Dickey, a former Florida quarterback, left the program to return to his alma mater as the Gator’s head coach.

This game signaled a turning point in the series, as Florida would go on to win six out of their next ten matchups.

1991: “Faxgate”

Leading up to the game, rumors began to circulate surrounding former Tennessee assistant coach Jack Sells sharing confidential strategic information with Gators defensive coordinator (and future head coach) Ron Zook.

Based on an investigation by a Knoxville newspaper, Sells faxed copies of Tennessee ‘s offensive game-plan to Zook just three days before the two teams faced off. 

Florida would go on to win the game 35-18, forcing Tennessee’s offense to turn the ball over five times.

The incident was later officially investigated by the NCAA, but nobody was punished.

1998: Down Go The Goal Posts

With head coach Steve Spurrier leading the way, Florida had built up a five-game winning streak against Tennessee, notably beating Peyton Manning every time that they faced him.

 At that point in time, the Gators were the second-ranked team in the country, while the Volunteers were the sixth-ranked team, fresh off an SEC Championship season. 

After Manning left for the NFL, his predecessor Tee Martin helped break Florida’s win streak, by pulling off a 20-17 overtime win at Neyland Stadium. 

Martin went on to have one of the most efficient passing seasons in NCAA history, leading Tennessee to their second straight SEC championship, and their first National Championship in over 30 years.

2000: Tennessee’s Record Crowd Comes Short

Throughout this era, Florida and Tennessee assumed complete dominance of the SEC. One of the two teams reached the SEC championship every year from 1992 to 2001. 

In 2000, the sixth-ranked Gators faced off against the eleventh-ranked Volunteers in front of over 108,000 fans, setting a record that still stands today at Neyland Stadium

Although Tennessee held the lead well into the fourth quarter, Gators quarterback, Jesse Palmer, connected with wide receiver  Jabar Gaffney for a touchdown with just 14 seconds left on the clock. Florida went on to win the game 27-23.

Although the game was won in an exciting fashion, it did not go without controversy. While the play was ruled a touchdown, Gaffney did eventually lose control of the ball after it was swatted away by a Tennessee defensive back. However, the officials determined that Gaffney held possession long enough for it to be ruled a catch.