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Tennessee football: Vols greatest win vs. every current and former SEC opponent

By Caleb Calhoun

6 Dec 1997: Jamal Lewis #31 of Tennessee leaps over a pile of players for a touchdown during the Volunteers 30-29 win over Auburn in the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.
6 Dec 1997: Jamal Lewis #31 of Tennessee leaps over a pile of players for a touchdown during the Volunteers 30-29 win over Auburn in the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. /
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Photo by Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images
Photo by Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images /

11. Texas A&M Aggies (No. 9)

Year: 1957 (Gator Bowl)

Final score: No. 13 Tennessee wins 3-0

Tennessee football has not played any SEC school fewer times than it has played the Texas A&M Aggies. They have only played once since A&M joined the conference in 2012, and it was 2016, when the Vols came into the game 5-0 before losing in overtime in College Station to start a three-game losing streak.

The only other time they met was the Cotton Bowl to end the 2004 season. In that game, the Vols dominated, winning 38-7 behind Rick Clausen, elite speed by the receivers and an attacking, opportunistic defense.

But the only other time the schools ever met was this year. UT had a bit of a letdown after their 10-0 season in 1956 under Bowden Wyatt, and they stumbled to a 7-3 regular season. Still, they did enough to enter the Gator Bowl and face the 8-3 Texas A&M Aggies. Bear Bryant was A&M’s coach and at the time was known for being owned by Tennessee.

That was when he coached the Kentucky Wildcats, though, and when Robert Neyland coached the Vols. This would be different with guys like John David Crow and Charlie Krueger, right? Wrong. It was the same story.

In a defensive struggle, the game was scoreless through three quarters. Then, in the fourth, Sammy Burklow kicked what would be the game-deciding field goal to secure a 3-0 victory for the Vols. That resulted in UT finishing the year 8-3 and A&M finishing 8-4.

Bryant then left to take the Alabama Crimson Tide job. Still, beating him in his last game with the Aggies and doing it in a thrilling bowl game make it the Vols’ best win in school history over the Texas A&M Aggies.

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