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Tennessee vs. Arkansas Rivalry History: Five Greatest Games

By Caleb Calhoun

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Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fan cheers for his team during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Neyland Stadium. Oklahoma won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

3. 2002 Six-Overtime Thriller

Tennessee Wins 41-38

This was one of the longest games in history for either team, and it remains the longest game in history for the Vols.

Going into this game, Arkansas had just been stunned by the Alabama Crimson Tide and was at 2-1, while Tennessee was 3-1 with a 30-13 loss the only blemish on their schedule. However, the Gators had lost earlier that day to Ole Miss, so if the Vols could pull this game out, they would be back in contention for the SEC East and to meet their preseason Top Five expectations.

The Vols seized control of this defensive struggle to take a 17-3 lead in the fourth quarter of the game, but as Fulmer all too often would do, he decided to sit on the lead to early. The result was allowing Arkansas to come back and tie the game at 17, the second touchdown scored off of a busted coverage play.

The injury bug had bit the Vols all season long, and it continued into this game and in overtime. And the overtimes were crazy.

After exchanging field goals in the first OT, Arkansas kicked another field goal to go up 23-20 in the second OT. Then the Vols had to use their backup kicker, Phillip Newman, for field goals since Alex Walls was hurt. His kick was blocked, but somehow it still went through the uprights without an inch to spare.

In the third overtime, Tennessee fumbled the ball, but terrible coaching by Houston Nutt set up a field goal at an angle that Arkansas missed. Both teams exchanged touchdowns with missed two-point conversions in the fourth and fifth overtimes.

But after Arkansas took the lead on a field goal in the sixth, Casey Clausen ended the game with a touchdown pass to Jason Witten that was nearly intercepted.

The win was elating and exciting for the night. But it was not without cost. The game caused an injury to Clausen, and that combined with all the other injuries that bit that game along with the fatigue caused the Vols to lose 18-13 to the Georgia Bulldogs the next week. The injuries continued to pile up, and Tennessee stumbled to 8-5 on the year.

But Arkansas recovered and managed to win the SEC West before losing 30-3 in the SEC Championship game to Georgia.

Next: #2: Clint Stoerner's Revenge in 1999

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