Top 10 Bowl Game Victories in Tennessee Football History

Jan 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Football fans walk to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome before the Sugar Bowl between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

6. 1991 Sugar Bowl: Tennessee Beats Virginia 23-22

It seemed almost impossible for the Tennessee Vols to follow up their historic Cotton Bowl win in 1990 with something better the next year. But that’s exactly what they did.

The 1990 Vols had repeated as SEC Champions, but entering this Sugar Bowl ranked No. 12 with an 8-2-2 record, it was a season of what could have been.

In by far the toughest schedule played that year, the Vols had tied the eventual national champion Colorado Buffaloes in the season opener. But then they blew a 26-9 fourth quarter lead to tie Auburn on the road, and they followed that up with a fluke loss to unranked Alabama at home before throwing a late interception to lose to the top ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the time.

All of this had Vols fans a little deflated going into this Sugar Bowl, and as they faced the former No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers, it showed early. Tennessee fell down 16-0 in the first half.

But in traditional Andy Kelly fashion, he rallied the team and engineered an incredible comeback, capped off with a late touchdown run by senior Tony Thompson. The Vols won a thriller 23-22 to finish with a 9-2-2 record and maybe three plays away from a national title.

As SEC Champions though, it was a great cap off to the season and the last time the Vols played in the Sugar Bowl.

Next: #5: 1939 Orange Bowl