Tennessee football: Vols top 10 upset wins in school history

3. 2001: Tennessee beats Florida 34-32

We all remember this one. It shouldn’t be too much of an upset when you just look on the field. But all the circumstances surrounding it make this game not just one of the greatest upsets in Tennessee football history. It remains the greatest win for the Vols this century so far.

For context, the Vols had lost to the Gators five years in a row in the mid-1990s. But in the previous three, they were 1-2 with the two losses by a combined six points. The year before, Florida won at Neyland Stadium off a phantom touchdown.

Still, they always seemed to have the upper hand in the series. And the Vols had not beaten them in The Swamp since 1971. On top of all this, the tragic events of Sept. 11 moved this game to Dec. 1, and both teams entered 9-1 with a chance to play for the SEC Title and the national title.

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Despite identical records, all those other factors made analysts favor the Gators heavily. On top of that, Florida’s one loss was considered just a hiccup on a windy night at the Auburn Tigers. Outside of that, they had blown out the Georgia Bulldogs, who beat the Vols, and the South Carolina Gamecocks, Kentucky Wildcats and LSU Tigers, all teams that Tennessee football only beat by one score. Rex Grossman was putting up Heisman-like numbers.

So even though both teams were in the Top 6 with a chance to play for a title, all of these factors made Tennessee football an 18-point underdog. AN 18-POINT UNDERDOG!!! It was the worst line ever in college football, and if I were an adult at the time, I would have put everything in my bank account on that game, betting against the Gators to cover.

But the College GameDay crew agreed, with Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso saying this wouldn’t be a close game. It was an ultimate sign of disrespect, as everybody believed the Gators would blow them out.

It didn’t happen. Travis Stephens ran down their throats, the defense pressured Grossman all night, and the Vols really dominated. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead but spotted the Gators a 20-14 halftime lead thanks to two turnovers and a missed field goal.

In the second half, Florida only remained alive because the Vols committed a third turnover, Jeff Chandler hit every difficult field goal, the refs missed two clear fumbles by the Gators, and the Vols inexplicably went for two after a touchdown and botched the play.

Amidst all that, they had a 34-26 lead late. Florida scored a touchdown but couldn’t get the two or the onside kick. Tennessee football won a thriller. It was an upset for the ages, but it was an upset that shouldn’t be on this list. No reason Florida should’ve been favored by 18.