Top 5 College Football Games I’ve Attended- #3

By Tucker Harlin

Ahead of the 2024 football season, I have been to 75 college football games over the last 18 seasons. I will be adding at least seven more to that tally this fall.

Of course, a vast majority of that 75 is Tennessee, and a good chunk of the last 20 years for the Vols has been rough sledding.

Given that fact, my selection of Tennessee games for this list was pretty easy.

These are in ascending order, broken up by game, with an honorable mention.

This is my third favorite college football game I’ve attended.

#3- FLORIDA at TENNESSEE, 2016- Vols 38 Gators 28

My second and third favorite games on this list were a bit of a toss up, but the 2016 Florida game had to go in at three.

Per usual, the week leading into the Florida game was an angsty one for Tennessee fans.

For one, the Gators had won 11 straight heading into 2016, and the Vols had lost the last two in the most traumatizing ways possible.

Secondly, the start to Jim McElwain’s tenure in Gainesville was reassuring to fans as Florida had swept the SEC East and made it to an SEC championship in his first season.

And lastly, while the Vols had won their first three games in 2016, it wasn’t the prettiest looking 3-0.

Tennessee trailed much of its opener to Appalachian State, a game it survived 20-13 in overtime thanks to a fortunate bounce.

It won 45-24 in the second week over Virginia Tech in front of the largest crowd in college football history at Bristol Motor Speedway, but Tennessee was in a two touchdown hole early.

The Vols never trailed against Ohio in the third week, but they were never comfortable in the 28-19 win either.

Florida was better looking in the opening weeks, blowing through UMass, Kentucky, and North Texas.

However, starting quarterback Luke Del Rio suffered an injury against the Mean Green that would keep him sidelined a couple of weeks, forcing the Gators to turn to Purdue transfer Austin Appleby.

The first half of the game went exactly how Tennessee fans feared it would.

Antonio Callaway, the receiver that had broken the Vols’ hearts the year before quickly set up the Gators in a goal to go situation on the first possession. Appleby found tight end DeAndre Goolsby on the back left side of the end zone for the first score.

The Vols punted on their first possession, but Callaway muffed it inside his own 10. Tennessee recovered, but it couldn’t cash in on a prime scoring opportunity as it turned the ball over on downs.

Fast forward to the end of the first quarter following a Gators 3rd and long conversion on a screen to running back Jordan Cronkrite.

Appleby took a shot downfield and found Callaway for a 43-yard pass down the sideline.

Three plays later Appleby and Cronkrite once again connected for a 15-yard screen, this time to put the Gators ahead 14.

The Vols had a methodical drive going, but it ended very painfully on 3rd and goal as Josh Dobbs’ low pass was intercepted by Quincy Wilson in the back of the end zone.

To make matters worse for the Vols, this resulted in more points for Florida.

Productive pass plays to Callaway and fellow receiver Tyrie Cleveland aided the Gators on their 80-yard drive. Running back Jordan Scarlett punched in a rush touchdown to extend the Gators lead to 21.

Tennessee kicker Aaron Medley made a field goal on the next possession, but that was the only positive for the Vols in the first 30 minutes.

Evan Berry’s 43-yard kickoff return to start the second half gave Tennessee fans more false hope. Four plays later, Dobbs threw another red zone interception to Teez Tabor.

But the misery was about to end for the Vols.

They forced a three and out and followed it with a nine play drive that ended with Dobbs finding a wide open Jalen Hurd on a release for 23 yards and a touchdown.

Following a trio of three and outs, the Vols quickly strung together a scoring drive to cut the deficit to one score.

Dobbs connected with receiver Josh Malone for 30 yards to reach the edge of the red zone. Two plays later, Dobbs found tight end Ethan Wolf over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown pass.

The Gators were unable to pick up a yard as the fourth quarter began and they punted yet again.

The first couple of plays were enough to get a first down, but the Vols were about to take a shot.

Dobbs took the snap and peered to his right, noticing Teez Tabor had completely lost Jauan Jennings in coverage.

Seizing the opportunity, Dobbs threw the ball in Jennings’ direction. At first, Jennings juggled it, but he corralled it and dashed to the end zone to give Tennessee the lead.

Now trailing, Florida was in desperate need of momentum.

Appleby was immediately under pressure on first down. He twisted and turned and fired a low throw into the waiting arms of Tennessee safety Todd Kelly Jr.

The Vols stared at 3rd and 10 after two plays without a gain.

Dobbs found Malone crossing over the middle about 10 yards ahead, but Malone turned on the burners and extended Tennessee’s lead to 10.

Tennessee got the ball back after yet another Florida three and out and had no issue capitalizing once more.

The Vols kept the ball on the ground on all four plays. A bruising 19-yard run from Hurd put the ball at the Florida 5, and Dobbs did the rest with his legs.

Now staring up at the bottom of a 17-point hole, the Gators had surrendered 38 unanswered points to the Vols.

Florida would score on its next possession as Appleby found receiver Freddie Swain on the far left side of the end zone. But the Gators had taken 16 plays and over four minutes in a situation in which they couldn’t afford to move at that pace.

Tennessee closed out the 38-28 victory and snapped its 12-game losing streak to the Gators in emphatic fashion.

The duck had pulled the truck.

The Vols won a thriller at Georgia the following week but ultimately hit some bumps in the road that kept them from winning the SEC East.

Florida was roughed up in a pair of losses at Arkansas and Florida State, but it won the SEC East for the second year in a row and had the prize of getting roughed up by Alabama in Atlanta.

Both coaches had a bowl victory before entering their final and most dreadful seasons at their respective programs.