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Tennessee football: 10 memorable game-winning touchdown drives in Vols history

By Caleb Calhoun

14 Nov 1998: An overall view from inside Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Volunteers defeated the Razorbacks 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport
14 Nov 1998: An overall view from inside Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Volunteers defeated the Razorbacks 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport /
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Photo by: Ken Levine/Getty Images
Photo by: Ken Levine/Getty Images /

8. 1987-88 Peach Bowl: Jan. 2, 1988

No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers vs. Indiana Hoosiers

Final score: Tennessee wins 27-22

There was a lot more than usual at stake in this game. Tennessee football had followed up its 1985 season with a disappointing 7-5 1986 campaign. But in 1987, they finished the year 9-2-1 and in the top 25.

A Peach Bowl win over the Indiana Hoosiers could end another drought the Vols had been suffering and waiting for Johnny Majors to end: the drought of no 10-win seasons. They had already gotten over the SEC title and top 5 finish humps. This would be another one.

But they would have to beat Indiana, and that became a lot more difficult than initially expected. Despite building a 21-3 lead, Indiana fought back in the second half and scored three straight touchdowns, missing on two two-point conversions, to go up 22-21 midway through the fourth quarter.

So with six minutes to go, the Vols got the ball back at the Indiana 40-yard line and one final chance to win the game. Jeff Francis opened the drive with an incomplete pass and then a 6-yard completion before Reggie Cobb got them a first down well into field goal range with a 3rd and 4 run. Francis then scrambled for a clutch 3rd and 14 conversion.

Then, despite his two fumbles that allowed the Hoosiers back into the game, the Vols counted on Cobb to close the deal. He had an eight-yard run first, and two plays later, on 3rd and 2, carried the ball into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with under two minutes to go. It was the perfect redemption story on the final drive for the eventual Peach Bowl MVP.

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