ESPN should apologize to Tennessee after disrespecting the Vols in favor of Deion Sanders and Colorado

ESPN should apologize to the Tennessee Vols and the UT fan base for the stunt it pulled at the end of the Volunteers' win against the Florida Gators on Saturday night.

Despite being a 14 point favorite, Tennessee needed overtime to beat the Gators, which made the game take a little bit longer than it otherwise would've.

The win was just Tennessee's third against Florida since Phillip Fulmer stepped down as the program's head coach in late 2008.

Anytime the Vols beat the Gators, it's a big deal on Rocky Top and in college football in general. It's one of the biggest rivalries in the sport, even though it's been one-sided for most of the last 20 years.

ESPN, however, didn't appear to care about how big of a win it was for Tennessee's program. Almost immediately after Dylan Sampson scored the game-winning touchdown, ESPN switched to the Colorado vs Kansas State game, which was still in the first quarter.

No post-game interview with Vols head coach Josh Heupel or Sampson. Nothing with quarterback Nico Iamaleava or the Tennessee defense that played yet another terrific game. Nope, ESPN just had to get to the first quarter of the Colorado game, which was actually being aired on ESPN News due to the Florida vs Tennessee game going a bit long.

ESPN couldn't have waited another two minutes to go to the Colorado game? They couldn't interview the first Tennessee head coach to win multiple games against Florida since Fulmer? They just had to get to Colorado vs Kansas State?

I know Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes generate a ton of interest. And I know Colorado has the best player in college football in Travis Hunter. But that feels incredibly disrespectful to Tennessee and what the rivalry means to the Vols fan base.

That was a major misstep by ESPN and a slap in the face to Tennessee.

I bet they wouldn't have cut away from Sanders if the Buffaloes had came through and beat Kansas State...

Related: Florida HC Billy Napier explains controversial decision at the end of the Gators' loss to the Tennessee Vols