Top 10 Opening Games in Tennessee Football History

Nov 22, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; A general view of Neyland Stadium home of theTennessee Volunteers following the game against the Missouri Tigers. Missouri won 29-21. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

6. 1985: Tennessee Vols Tie UCLA Bruins at 26

This is now one of the most important games in the history of the Tennessee Vols football program, and it ended in a tie. But that does not matter.

This started the magical 1985 SEC Championship run for a team that started the year unranked in Tennessee but finished the year ranked No. 4 after blowing out the Miami Hurricanes in the Sugar Bowl.

And it began the return to glory for the Vols that lasted through 2007, a 23-year period that included five SEC Championships and a national championship.

But this was the game that started that season. The Vols were unranked and hosting the No. 10 ranked UCLA Bruins in Knoxville.

In a way, this was a huge disappointment because Tennessee led this game 26-10 with five minutes to go and really had complete control of the football game, but UCLA reeled off two touchdowns and two two-point conversions to end the game in a tie. The Bruins made a switch at quarterback that Tennessee could not account for, which is what allowed the comeback.

It was sickening, yes, but it was a great sign of things to come that year.

And the next week the Vols thumped top-ranked Auburn 38-20 to begin their magical SEC run. This was a crucial opening game tie in the process.

Tennessee showed it was back and belonged right there with the other elites of college football by tying the Bruins at 26, and the nation was ready to take notice.

Next: #5: 1975 Maryland