Florida vs. Tennessee: College GameDay headed to Knoxville

After an offseason of hype — and Florida and Tennessee only arguably meeting, and certainly not exceeding, their expectations to this point in 2016 — the latest meeting between the Gators and the Volunteers was sure to be a national spectacle. Now we know that it will be the national spectacle next Saturday, as ESPN’s venerated College GameDay announced Sunday morning that it will broadcast from Knoxville.

College GameDay has not come to a Florida game since the 2013 Sugar Bowl — suddenly a weirdly important touchstone for the Gators, seemingly. But this will be Florida’s 37th appearance in the GameDay limelight, breaking a tie with Alabama to once again give the Gators the most GameDay appearances in the show’s history.

The Gators have also had remarkable success against the Vols in GameDay games. Florida and Tennessee have played seven times with GameDay in town, with the Gators posting a 6-1 mark in those games — despite just one of those appearances coming during Florida’s current and ballyhooed 11-game winning streak against the Vols.

Florida also has a perfect 4-0 record against Tennessee in Knoxville when GameDay is in town, winning the last two such meetings — including one in 2012 — by 17 points.