The Florida–Tennessee football rivalry, a contest between the Gators and Volunteers, surprisingly didn't fully blossom until the early 1990s, despite their first meeting in 1916 and both being founding members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1932. The rivalry intensified significantly after the SEC expanded in 1992, placing both teams in the Eastern Division and leading to annual matchups often dubbed the "Third Saturday in September." This era saw both programs, under coaches like Florida's Steve Spurrier and Tennessee's Phil Fulmer, regularly contend for national championships, making their clashes pivotal.
While Tennessee initially dominated the early series, holding a 13–2 lead by 1971, Florida has since seized the advantage, currently leading the all-time series 32–23 following their 2025 victory. However, further SEC expansion and a new league schedule mean this once-annual tradition will transition to a biennial event, with the teams playing every other year starting in 2027.