Top 10 Bowl Game Victories in Tennessee Football History

Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the stadium before the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns during the Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

8. 1990 Cotton Bowl: Tennessee Beats Arkansas 31-27

This was the end of the first season of an amazing 16-year run in Tennessee football history. The Vols had orchestrated one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history under Head Coach Johnny Majors.

After on 0-6 start in 1988, they finished that season on a five-game winning streak and carried that into a 10-1 1989 season and an SEC Championship under the leadership of sophomore quarterback Andy Kelly and running back Chuck Webb.

This Cotton Bowl match-up featured the Vols against eventual SEC rival but then-Southwest Conference Champion, the Arkansas Razorbacks. Just like Tennessee, Arkansas was also 10-1, and with the Vols ranked No. 8, the Razorbacks were ranked No. 10.

Aggressive play by the Tennessee defense led by eventual superstar wide receiver Carl Pickens along with key touchdowns from Andy Kelly and a dominant rushing attack from Chuck Webb kept Tennessee in control of the game.

In a back and forth showdown, they pulled out an elating Cotton Bowl win to finish the year 11-1 and ranked No. 4 in the country, their best season since 1970. It was also win No. 600 for the Vols and the first of what would be exactly 100 wins in the 1990s, so the milestones alone were impressive.

Next: #7: 1971 Liberty Bowl