2. Vols strip-sack for defensive touchdown vs. Auburn
Now we get to the good stuff. There have been numerous references to plays in Tennessee football’s huge win over the Auburn Tigers on this list because it was such a big win. But none of them were of this magnitude.
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The Vols had used the Bryce Thompson interception to gain momentum in the game. The Jauan Jennings touchdown reception in the third quarter gave them the lead and let them know that they can compete.
This play put them in control and all of a sudden had fans expecting to win. Right after Jennings’s go-ahead touchdown, a personal foul penalty by Auburn prompted Jeremy Pruitt to try an onside kick. His team didn’t recover the ball.
However, that was a blessing in disguise. On 2nd and 5, despite beginning to get tired, the Vols’ defensive line came through again. Shy Tuttle got the necessary push to force Jarrett Stidham out of the pocket. Alexis Johnson and Kyle Phillips were then able to run him down.
As they tackled Stidham, he fumbled the ball. Alontae Taylor then recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown, which was upheld after a review. With that, the Vols took a two-score lead, as they were up 27-17 in the second half.
This was a defensive touchdown and the biggest play in one of Tennessee football’s two biggest wins of the year. Of course it would be very high on the list, and if it didn’t make No. 1, there’s a legitimate question as to what did.