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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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5. Oct. 26, 1996

No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers

Final score: Tennessee wins 20-13

Peyton Manning made a splash the year before with the way he ended Tennessee football’s then 10-year drought of beating the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was a 41-14 thrashing that proved the Vols had reached the next level under Phillip Fulmer.

But this year, things were going to be a lot more difficult. After a second straight heartbreaking loss to the Florida Gators, the Vols had rebounded again to get to 4-1 and remain in the top 10. Alabama, meanwhile, started the season 7-0 and was also in the top 10.

So Gene Stallings took his team to Knoxville looking to end that UT winning streak at one game. And early on, that’s what happened. The Tide built a 13-0 lead by selling out to stop Jay Graham and frustrating Manning with non-stop blitzes.

But Manning finally took advantage of it with a quick slant to Joey Kent that was taken back for a touchdown. A missed extra point by Jeff Hall, however, would set up the need for a game-winning drive. The game-tying drive, was the beautiful and complete one, as it ended with a Jay Graham short run.

Still, the game-winning drive was memorable in its own right. The Vols finally got the ball back late in the fourth tied at 13. They were looking for a long drive to win late. But Graham, who clinched the game a year before with a 75-yard touchdown run, repeated himself. He only needed one play on this drive, and he took the ball 80 yards for a touchdown.

That resulted in giving the Vols the lead, and their defense held, allowing them to run out the clock. It wasn’t a long drive, but the magnitude of a second straight Alabama win and the legendary repeat effort of Graham puts this on the list.

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