The heralded showdown between the No. 8 Gators and No. 1 Tennessee never evolved into a barn-burner, which requires a degree of flammability from both parties. Instead, the Gators (14-1, 1-1 SEC) held the Vols to 12 field goals — and a 4-for-29 effort from 3-point range — in a 73-43 romp before an Exactech Arena crowd of 11,011.

Florida defeated a No. 1 team in the regular season for the first time in program history behind an 18-point effort from Alijah Martin.

A loss would not necessarily undo Florida’s 13-0 start, but a win would deliver a boost of momentum in a league with very little let-up on the schedule.

The Gators moved to 3-17 all-time the Associated Press’s No. 1 team, picking up their first win since the 2007 national title game against Ohio State and first home victory in six tries.