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Tennessee football: Vols top 10 greatest games in 2010s decade

By Caleb Calhoun

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers rides the shoulders of Gavin Bryant #36 after making the game winning catch against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers rides the shoulders of Gavin Bryant #36 after making the game winning catch against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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4. Oct. 13, 2018

Tennessee Volunteers at No. 21 Auburn Tigers

30. 839. Final. 24. 842

Just a few weeks before their huge win against the Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee football scored an even more impressive signature win in Jeremy Pruitt’s first season. And the win did a heck of a lot to uplift the program and faith in Pruitt.

Heading into the game, the Vols were 2-3. They had suffered three losses, all by 26 points, to the West Virginia Mountaineers, Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs, and their only two wins were against the FCS ETSU Bucs and the UTEP Miners. So there was little hope in this team.

However, after the UGA loss, Pruitt touted his team and how they played. Then came a bye, and he was set to face an Auburn Tigers team that was reeling at the time under Gus Malzahn. Things started off rough, with Auburn scoring a touchdown on the opening drive. But UT responded by getting into Auburn territory and nailing a field goal on their opening drive.

Sure, they were down 7-3, but that field goal gave them hopes of competing. Then, after Auburn got inside the five-yard line on their next drive, UT’s defense came alive and held them to a field goal. Down 10-3, Auburn then got the ball back, but Bryce Thompson came away with an interception. Jarrett Guarantano responded with a touchdown pass to Ty Chandler.

All of a sudden, this game was tied. Auburn went up 17-10 with another TD and took a 17-13 lead into halftime. But after getting stopped on a 4th and 1 on their opening second-half drive, the Vols got the ball back and took the lead on a 12-play 85-yard drive that included four 3rd down conversions, the final one being a TD pass from Guarantano to Jauan Jennings.

On the next drive, the defense got a forced fumble returned for a touchdown. All of a sudden, they were up 27-17. Tennessee football then held on to win 30-24. It was their first victory over a West team in eight years and their first victory over Auburn in 19 years. The historic nature of that win is what puts it so high on this list.

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