The Tennessee Volunteers take on the Florida Gators in SEC play during a three-game series this weekend.

The Vols are headed to The Swamp to take on SEC rival Florida Gators in a three-game series from Thursday to Saturday. They are coming from a loss to Lipscomb, ending a six-game winning streak. The Vols are looking to get back on track against the Gators, who currently sit in sixth place in the SEC East.

Tennessee is coming off six straight conference series wins, while Florida enters the series after going winless in all four of their series in April. Despite having a less-than-favorable record, Florida has found success when playing in Gainesville, holding a home record of 16-9. On the other hand, the Vols have only traveled nine times this year, holding an away record of 5-4.

Tennessee got the best of the Gators in their last trip to Gainesville, sweeping Florida back in 2022. Chris Stamos is taking the mound to kick off this year’s series is Chris Stamos, coming in with a 2.98 ERA on the season after pitching 2.2 scoreless innings during the Vols’ win over Missouri on April 25. In return, the Gators bring in lefty pitcher Pierce Coppola, having pitched three games in 2024 while holding a 10.50 ERA. The first pitch is set to take place at 7:00 pm.

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They’re here…

Parts of Tennessee are starting to see the emergence of Brood XIX cicadas, which have been dormant for the past 13 years. The brood wasn’t expected to emerge in Tennessee until around mid-May, but people around Middle Tennessee have already started to see their presence. It isn’t mass screaming droves just yet, but the bugs are coming.

Not all of Tennessee will have to deal with the cicadas like it does with the 17-year periodical cicadas, according to the University of Tennessee Extension. Only about 18 counties, mainly in Middle and East Tennessee, will see the insects of the 13-year brood.

Photos of the cicadas’ emergence have begun to circulate on social media. Have you spotted signs of Brood XIX yet?

Where have cicadas emerged in Tennessee?

So far they have been spotted in the Nashville, Middle Tennessee areas.

People have also posted about the emergence on social sites like Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter. Many with the comment, “They’re baaaaack”.

According to Cicadamania.com the following Tennessee counties are expected to see cicadas this year: Blount, Cheatham, Clay, Davidson, Grundy, Hamilton, Jackson, Loudon, Macon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Putnam, Rutherford, Sequatchie, Smith, Stewart and Summer.

Check out where Broods XIX, XIII will emerge in Tennessee, U.S.

The cicada broods will emerge in a combined 17 states across the Southeast and Midwest, with an overlap in parts of Illinois and Iowa. They will emerge once soil eight inches underground reaches 64 degrees. Take a look at exactly where the insects will emerge with this interactive map from USA TODAY.

How long are Brood XIX cicadas expected to be around?

The 13-year cicadas are expected to keep us company until about mid-June as the insects scream their hearts out to try and find mates before hibernating once again.

Where can I see the cicadas?

Cicadas are found across all continents, excluding Antarctica, and appear in deserts, forests and even urban areas. Much of the South is use to hearing annual cicadas during the summer months, but brood’s like Brood XIX are considered periodical cicadas since they only come around every 13 years.

Where else are cicadas emerging? Chicago? South Carolina?

Southern states are more likely to see the emergence of cicadas early on due to the warmer climate. But there isn’t a perfect science behind what day exactly members of Brood XIX and XII will emerge from the ground, because it is weather dependent.

People in South Carolina have reported seeing the emergence of cicadas, as well as in parts of Arkansas.

How can I send my cicada photos to The Tennessean?

Email your photos to trending reporter and digital producer Joyce Orlando at jorlando@gannett.com for them to appear in a future cicada story or gallery.

It appears that transfer Dylan Laible and incumbent Jordyn Potts will carry out their competition to determine Tennessee Tech’s starting quarterback into the fall.

Liable never played a snap for Missouri, one reason the former walk-on transferred to Tennessee Tech.

From all indications, he had an excellent spring, and in the spring game threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Yates.

Yates’ name may sound familiar.

He played three years at Georgia Tech, where he was a quarterback, before transferring to Sam Houston State. Yates will be a wide receiver for the Golden Eagles.

In 2021, Yates made six starts with the Yellow Jackets, completing 91 of 153 passes for 908 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns on 64 carries. In his first season with Sam Houston State, he ran 44 times for 195 yards and a touchdown, while passing for 265 yards on 32 completions.

Before matriculating to Missouri, Laible put up tremendous numbers at Hutchinson Junior College in Kansas. In 2022, he completed 161 of 281 passes for 2,182 yards and 22 touchdowns as he helped the team reach the 2022 NJCAA National Championship as Hutchinson went 11-1. In 2021, he completed 157 of 282 passes for 2,849 yards and 32 touchdowns to lead HCC to a 9-2 record, including a 66-34 win over Hinds CC in the Salt City Bowl.

The Golden Eagles also return running back Justin Pegues (91 carries for 387 yards) along with leading receiving Brad Clark (42 catches for 491 yards).

Veteran tight end Hunter Barnhart is also a key piece of the puzzle for Tennessee Tech.

All things are relative considering Georgia’s offense will by far be the best Tennessee Tech sees all year.

The Golden Eagles struggled in their opening two games last fall, giving up 45 points in a loss at Furman and 56 in a loss at New Mexico.

With the first two games of 2024 being against Middle Tennessee State and Georgia, expect similar numbers.

The Golden Eagles did add a pair of transfer defensive backs in James Edwards (Appalachian State) and Ty Moss (East Carolina), but expecting this group to hold up against Georgia the first Saturday in September? It’s liable to get ugly.

Let’s make no pretense.

Tennessee Tech is simply schedule fodder for the Bulldogs. Per an open records request, the program is receiving $550,000 for making the trip to Athens.

Although some fans may groan, games against the likes of Tennessee Tech are important for Kirby Smart.

No. 1, Smart has always said he believes games against non-Power Five teams are important because they supplement the budgets of the smaller schools. If such programs were to fade away, that’s fewer opportunities for young men to go and play the game.

No. 2, Smart likes these games because it enables him to get his younger players experience that will serve them well later on in the year.