Tennessee Football dropped one spot to No. 10 in Sunday’s updated Coaches Poll, following the 23-17 overtime win over Florida Saturday night at Neyland Stadium. The Associated Press Top 25 has not yet been updated.
The Vols (5-1, 2-1 SEC) now turn their attention to rival Alabama and Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff on ABC next week at Neyland. The Crimson Tide stayed at No. 7 in the Coaches Poll on Sunday.
Tennessee on Saturday night rushed 43 times as a team for 171 yards and three touchdowns, with Dylan Sampson going for 112 yards on 27 carries while scoring all three times on the ground. Nico Iamaleava completed 16 of 26 passes for 169 yards and an interception.
Florida (3-3, 1-2) led 10-0 midway through the third quarter, only to see Tennessee scored 17 unanswered points to take the lead. The Gators forced overtime on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left, but missed a long field goal after getting the ball first in overtime.
Sampson scored the game-winning touchdown from a yard out.
Alabama rebounded from its 40-35 at Vanderbilt last week by hanging on for a 27-25 win over South Carolina Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa.
The Gamecocks scored a late touchdown, missed the two-point conversion then recovered an onside kick. The game-ending drive ended in an interception, though, after the Crimson Tide nearly gave up what was a 14-0 lead in the first half.
Jalen Milroe completed 16 of 23 passes for 209 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The Tide ran 38 times for 104 yards and three touchdowns and Germie Bernard caught four passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Alabama beat Georgia 41-34 before the loss at Vanderbilt. The Tide won 42-10 at Wisconsin in Week 3 and beat Western Kentucky (63-0) and South Florida (42-16) to start the season.
Tennessee dropped to No. 8 in both the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Poll last week, after the 19-14 loss at Arkansas, falling from No. 4 in the AP poll and No. 5 in the Coaches Poll.
The Vols had made steady climbs in both rankings after lopsided wins over Chattanooga (69-3), North Carolina State (51-10) and Kent State (71-0) and the 25-15 win at Oklahoma.
The AP Poll moved Tennessee up to No. 14 in Week 2, No. 7 in Week 3, No. 6 in Week 4 and No. 5 two weeks ago. The Coaches Poll had the Vols at No. 12 in Week 2, No. 9 in Week 3, No. 7 in Week 4 and No. 6 two weeks ago.
Tennessee moved up one spot to No. 4 in both the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Poll last week during the open date. The Vols started the season ranked No. 15 in both the Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25.