All for Tennessee
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 12
Next
Photo by Doug Pensinger /Allsport
Photo by Doug Pensinger /Allsport /

4. Dec. 4, 1965 (in Memphis)

No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 5 UCLA Bruins

Final score: Tennessee wins 37-34

It’s time to dive back into history for this Tennessee football game winning drive. And we look at the signature win to prove the Vols were back under Doug Dickey under a new era with the fashionable T-formation.

The changing offenses at the time meant there would be more opportunities for game-winning drives, and UT got their signature chance in this game. For the background, Dickey had gone 4-5-1 the previous year.

But his offense came together in 1965. The Vols tied the Auburn Tigers and eventual nation Alabama Crimson Tide, upset the No. 7 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and were an upset loss to the Ole Miss Rebels away from winning the SEC. With their bowl game locked up, a rare December regular season showdown against the No. 5 ranked UCLA Bruins would define them.

Also, the game was in Memphis. And Dewey Warren, the future start quarterback, had just become the starter. So that set the stage for this game. In a shootout, the Vols went up 20-7 at halftime, but they fell behind late 34-29.

This is where the legend of Warren was born, though. He had already put up a great game, but with one final drive, he would emerge as a star. Warren led the Vols down the field and converted on a 4th and goal by running the ball in himself for the game-winning touchdown.

One last defensive stand secured the victory, but Warren’s final drive was the key moment. It ushered the Vols back into the national stage, as this would be the first of 10 straight seasons in which they would have top 25 finishes.

Home/Vols Football