Dylan Sampson's third touchdown of the game capped off an inspired Tennessee comeback and gave the Vols a 23-17 overtime win before a checkered crowd at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.
After the Gators scored in the last half minute to force the extra play, Tennessee won the toss and elected to go on defense. Florida was backed up, leaving only a 47-yard field goal try by Trey Smack that narrowly missed to the right.
Tennessee needed only a field goal to win, but instead punched it in on a pass and four running plays that left Sampson standing in the end zone and the capacity crowd roaring.
Smack connected on a 42-yard field goal to put Florida up 3-0 in the first quarter. The Gators knocked at the door twice and were stopped only by a fourth down tackle and later by a James Pearce takeaway at the goal line.
Tennessee was hampered in the first quarter by a Nico Iamaleava fumble that led to the Florida field goal. He later threw an interception that resulted in the Gators in possession on the Tennessee 22.
The score was still 3-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Graham Mertz and running back Montrell Johnson Jr. then led the Gators on a 92-yard scoring drive. Both would go down to injury and not return, with Mertz suffering a leg injury after apparently getting his foot caught in the turf. Touted freshman DJ Lagway led Florida the rest of the game.
Tennessee's offense finally got going, moving 75 yards in 11 plays to pull to 10-7.
A 35-yard Max Gilbert field goal tied it at 10-10. It was set up when a DJ Lagway pass was snagged by Arion Carter, who returned it 15 yds to the Florida 20.
Sampson ran 23 yards for a score that gave Tennessee its first lead at 17-10.
Lagway, at the 29-second mark, hit a streaking Chimere Dike for a 27-yard score down the middle of the field to force OT.
Sampson rushed for 112 yards, while Iamaleava passed for 169.
Tennessee moves to 5-1, 2-1 with the only blemish last week's loss at Arkansas. Florida falls to 3-3, 1-2.