It's a lot to digest.
Facing Florida in the CBS national broadcast. A sold-out Neyland Stadium with a checkerboard display. The arrival of ESPN's "College GameDay" show.
And the stat that's being tossed around like candy corn at Halloween: Tennessee has defeated the Gators one time in the past 17 meetings.
"It really hasn't been that different to this point," Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Wednesday of the hype surrounding Saturday's anticipated showdown between the No. 11 Volunteers and the No. 20 Gators. "There is a little bit more media that our players had to do Monday and Tuesday, as well as a couple of things for me. Really, the beginning of the week was status quo.
"I think routine is important for your team and for your coaching staff, and it's been a big part of the improvement inside of our program from when we first kicked off at the beginning of last season. Our kids have been methodical in preparing in a good way."
For the rivalry's latest chapter.
When Jamie Wilhoit drilled a 50-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining to give Tennessee a 30-28 topping of Florida inside a frenzied Neyland in 2004, it gave the Vols a 19-15 series advantage over their top Southeastern Conference Eastern Division rival. Florida's recent dominance has resulted in a 31-20 series lead, with the Gators having scored at least 31 points in the past four meetings and at least 26 in the past seven.
Nobody on Tennessee's roster has experienced a win in this rivalry other than redshirt sophomore left tackle Gerald Mincey, who transferred from Gainesville in December, and Vols players had different reactions earlier this week when asked about the challenge.
"To be honest with you, I look at it like every other week," junior edge rusher Tyler Baron said stoically.
Fifth-year senior safety Trevon Flowers was more open for discussion.
"This means a lot to me," he said. "We play a lot of people in the SEC, so every game means a lot to me, but this is kind of more of the, 'This is what I came here for. This is what I stayed for.' It means a lot more to me, especially since this is my last year.
"I've been through the ups and downs here at Tennessee — the good, the bad and the ugly — and this is what I stayed for. I know we're all locked in."
A slew of Florida's victories during its recent run have transpired via blowouts, which include the 59-20 and 30-6 beatings Urban Meyer's Gators administered to Phillip Fulmer's last two Vols teams in 2007-08. The three matchups when Dan Mullen and Jeremy Pruitt were the competing coaches from 2018-20 weren't pretty either for Tennessee, with the Gators rolling 47-21, 34-3 and 31-19 — the result in their most recent Neyland meeting two years ago that was 31-7 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Gators won 38-14 last season in Gainesville.
"There is definitely an awareness," Gators first-year coach Billy Napier said Wednesday of Florida's series success. "There is so much history and tradition behind this game, and anyone who's up to speed on college football understands Florida-Tennessee. It's always been an important game, and certainly this Saturday is an important game."
Said Heupel: "Everybody came to Tennessee to play in these types of games. That's why you want to be here, and that's why there is a huge stadium a block from where I'm sitting. We've got a passionate fan base, and everybody understands that this is a big football game."
Florida's 31-20 series lead is all the more overwhelming given that Tennessee won the first 10 meetings from 1916 to 1953. The rivalry was at its zenith when Steve Spurrier's Gators and Fulmer's Vols combined to win the first 10 SEC East titles from 1992 to 2001, with Florida winning the 1996 national title and Tennessee claiming the crown two years later.
"I grew up watching Peyton Manning trying to beat the Ol' Ball Coach," Vols running back coach Jerry Mack said. "I remember watching those rivalries all the time, so from a young age, I understand how important this is."
Behind Richardson
Napier said Wednesday that if starting quarterback Anthony Richardson gets injured Saturday, the Gators would turn to redshirt freshman Jalen Kitna, the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna.
"I thought Jalen Kitna had his best week last week, particularly last Thursday," Napier said. "He had a good day of practice yesterday, and he's our No. 2. Jalen has done a great job of making good decisions, and he's been very accurate. Each week, he gets a better understanding of our system."
Napier added that redshirt sophomore Jack Miller III, the transfer from Ohio State who had to undergo thumb surgery in August, has a "still to-be-determined" role Saturday.
Odds and ends
Tennessee will wear orange jerseys and white pants. ... The Vols were 10.5-point favorites as of Wednesday night. ... Napier on 6-foot-5, 415-pound sophomore Desmond Watson getting his first start at nose tackle: "He's only getting started. I couldn't be more proud of the guy."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.