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Tennessee football: 5 heartbreakers Vols suffered right before facing Florida

By Caleb Calhoun

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: The line of scrimmage is seen during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: The line of scrimmage is seen during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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3. 1971: Auburn beats Tennessee 10-9

Tennessee football suffered a blowout loss to the Auburn Tigers 1984 before facing the Florida Gators. However, that was expected, especially, as we already mentioned, since it followed the heartbreaking tie against the Army Black Knights.

But we’re sticking with the 1970s here, before this game became a rivalry. Even then, the Vols 1971 game against the Gators was a big match-up. Again, Bill Battle’s team likely wasn’t looking ahead to that game, but they blew an opportunity here.

Ranked in the Top 10, the Vols were hosting a No. 5 ranked Auburn team in the second game of the year. The 1970 loss to Auburn cost Tennessee an SEC and national championship. In 1971, they could get revenge. They didn’t.

Despite leading the entire game at home, this had an outcome very similar to the 2014 Florida game. Auburn and Pat Sullivan led a game-winning drive with two minutes left, going 86 yards and scoring a late touchdown to win 10-9. It was one of those games where the defense, despite looking flawless most of the time, choked in the end. That’s a major heartbreaker.

Tennessee beat Florida in The Swamp the next week, 20-13, with its own late-game drive. That would also be the Vols’ last win against the Gators in Gainesville until 2001. However, the Auburn loss still left a sour taste in their mouth. A loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide later in the year sent them to a 10-2 season.

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