Tennessee football: 10 heartbreaking game-winning TD drives Vols allowed

6. Oct. 21, 1972

No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 10 Tennessee Volunteers

Final score: Alabama wins 17-10

The Alabama Crimson Tide have had other game-winning drives against Tennessee football. Most notable, they had one in 1994 against Peyton Manning, and they orchestrated another one in 2015. However, both of those were rebuilding periods for the Vols, and just staying in those games were encouraging.

It was a different story in 1972. Alabama had returned as an elite program under Bear Bryant due to the wishbone, but the Vols were still riding high under Bill Battle, who was benefitting from the program Doug Dickey built. Battle was able to add to that by bringing in Condredge Holloway, and this game was their chance to end a two-game losing streak to the Tide.

But despite Holloway’s arrival, defense was the name of this game, as it often was in the Third Saturday in October. UT was up 7-3 heading into the fourth quarter and 10-3 after a field goal in the fourth. The Tide then came to life on offense, mounting a 52-yard touchdown drive with two and a half minutes to go.

This game is a heartbreaker not because of the drive but because of the play that set up the drive. On the Vols’ next offensive possession, Holloway made one of his few mistakes in his career. He fumbled on UT’s 17-yard line, and John Mitchell recovered. Still, there was a chance for a defensive stand.

That would not come to fruition. Alabama scored on a Terry Davis touchdown run to put them in front 17-10, and they would walk away with a thrilling victory on their end. But that run alone was the heartbreaking drive for the Vols, set up by a heartbreaking fumble.