Tennessee committed six turnovers in a disastrous start to the 2019 start of the SEC season before a near sell-out crowd at Neyland Stadium.
Florida won 47-21 after jumping out to a 26-3 first-half lead as the Vols self-destructed.
The first-half disaster included three fumbles and an interception.
There was a near UT touchdown that sputtered away from Austin Pope into the back of the end zone, giving the ball to the Gators rather than launching a hoped-for Vol comeback.
Florida also added two points with a tackle in the end zone after a punt put the Vols with their backs to the wall.
To further leave the Vol fans dumbstruck, there was a fumble on the opening kickoff of the third quarter. Florida scored on the next play with a 19-yard scamper by Jordan Scarlett.
Felipe Franks passed for three touchdowns, going 10-19 for 186 yards.
Without the Vol miscues, Tennessee and Florida were nearly even in total yardage. Tennessee out-gained Florida through the air, 208-186, with redshirt junior receiver Jauan Jennings hauling in four catches for a season-high 60 yards. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarrett Guarantano finished the evening seven of 18 passing for 164 yards.
Sophomore Ty Chandler and redshirt senior Madre London each had 66 yards rushing to pace a Tennessee ground attack that produced 156 yards. London and freshman Jeremy Banks had touchdown runs for Tennessee.
Freshman cornerback Alontaie Taylor forced a fumble by Florida running back Lamical Perine, and senior defensive end Kyle Phillips returned it four yards to set the Vols up at the Gators 34. UT moved the ball to the UF 15 before sophomore placekicker Brent Cimaglia came on to book a 32-yard field goal and cut the deficit to 14-3 with 13:13 left in the second period.
With redshirt senior quarterback Keller Chryst on in place of an injured Guarantano, the Vols moved 69 yards in 11 plays to tally their first touchdown of the game. London finished the drive by plowing into the end zone from one yard out. Cimaglia added the PAT to make the score 33-13 Gators.
After another Florida score, Banks plunged into the end zone from two yards out to cap a 12-play, 76-yard drive. A two-point conversion pass from Chryst to Jennings was good, bringing the score to 40-21 with 5:04 left on the clock. Florida would score again to add to the final margin as Dameon Pierce raced 47 yards to the end zone.
Tennessee drops to 2-2 in their first season under Jeremy Pruitt.