Steve Spurrier appears to be taking Florida’s 23-17 overtime loss to Tennessee as a moral victory.
Entering Neyland Stadium as two-touchdown underdogs, the Gators nearly handed the Volunteers a costly second loss. Florida gained more total yards (361) than Tennessee (312), but the Gators fumbled one yard away from the end zone and missed two fourth-down conversions against their SEC foe.
Discussing Saturday’s outcome on Another Dooley Noted Podcast, Spurrier said those missed opportunities made all the difference in an evenly-matched game.
“Sometimes when you don’t cash in those opportunities, it can come back and bite you, and obviously that’s what happened the other day,” Spurrier said. “I mean, we’re just as good a team as Tennessee, easily, and it was at their place. We had all kinds of chances but just didn’t get it done.”
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The AP poll doesn’t agree with Spurrier. Florida remains unranked with zero votes after falling to 3-3 with one SEC win this season. Tennessee fell three spots to No. 11, but the 5-1 Volunteers would remain firmly in the College Football Playoff picture if they can defeat Alabama this Saturday.
Florida is more focused on securing its first winning season since 2020. The program that won a national title behind Spurrier is 14-17 under head coach Billy Napier.
It’s now up to DJ Lagway to lead Florida’s offense. Graham Mertz will miss the rest of the 2024 season after tearing his ACL on Saturday.
Florida will host Kentucky this Saturday before facing two juggernauts in Georgia and Texas that not even Spurrier can think the Gators are just as good as.
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