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.

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.

It was Florida's first victory in any location against the nation's No. 1 team since it beat Ohio State in the 2007 national championship game. The outcome left college basketball with no more unbeaten teams after the Volunteers established themselves as the last team standing over the weekend.

Florida ’s legitimacy, in an arduous SEC race and nationally, is crystal clear after the Gators’ first week of conference play — capped by Tuesday’s 73-43 rout of No. 1 and previously unbeaten Tennessee.

Florida basketball looks to bounce back from its first loss of the 2024-25 campaign on Tuesday night but it will not be an easy task for the Orange and Blue. The Gators welcome the top-ranked Tennesse