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10 Times the Tennessee vs Alabama Game Meant the Most to Both the Vols and the Tide

By Caleb Calhoun

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Nov 14, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the North Texas Mean Green. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the North Texas Mean Green. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

5. 1996: Tennessee 20 Alabama 13

Unfortunately, this win did not have much of an impact in the long-term prospect of this season, but it seemed like it would at the time. The Tide entered the game 7-0 under Gene Stallings, while the Vols were 4-1 with a heartbreaking loss to the Florida Gators.

Both teams were ranked in the Top 10 at the time. For Alabama, a win puts them in the national championship picture. For Tennessee, a win keeps them alive in that same picture.

Oh, and the Vols were looking for what would be their second straight win in the Tennessee vs Alabama series at the time.

So Neyland Stadium was rocking.

Alabama jumped out to a 13-0 lead, though, selling out to stop Tennessee from running the football with Jay Graham. That’s when Peyton Manning decided to make them pay.

Late in the game, he hit Joey Kent for a quick touchdown pass to cut the game to 13-6. Then, he later mounted a long drive that ended with a game-tying touchdown.

And with a 13-13 score, the Vols scored on one play the next time they got the ball back: an 80-yard run from Graham to give them a 20-13 lead. After Leonard Little forced a fumble on the next drive, the Vols had a huge win in a Tennessee vs Alabama game that featured two Top 10 teams.

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