Top 10 Bowl Game Victories in Tennessee Football History

Sep 20, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; General view of the Liberty Bowl before the game between the Memphis Tigers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

9. 1974 Liberty Bowl: Tennessee Beats Maryland 7-3

The Tennessee Vols were in the midst of a major fall from grace during this part of the decade under head coach Bill Battle, but they still managed to string together some nice seasons with All-Everything Condredge Holloway at quarterback.

This was one of those seasons.

The Vols were 6-3-2 in the regular season and unranked with losses to Auburn, LSU, and Alabama along with two ties against UCLA and Vanderbilt. Meanwhile, Maryland was 8-3 on the year, but they won eight of their final nine games and entered the game ranked No. 10 in the country as ACC Champions.

But the weakness of the ACC was on full display in this game. With a group of over-achievers displaying all heart, the Vols won a thrilling defensive battle. They fell down 3-0 at halftime, but that score held until the fourth quarter.

Then, in an ugly affair, a bad snap from a Maryland punter set up Tennessee with the ball on the seven-yard line. With Holloway on the sideline due to injury, backup quarterback Randy Wallace hit Larry Seivers for the game-winning touchdown, and the Vols pulled away 7-3.

It’s the prettiest, ugliest bowl victory in Tennessee history. And the upset was enough to propel them into the Top 20 in the final rankings.

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• Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay

Next: #8: 1990 Cotton Bowl