8. 2005: Cory Anderson fumble kills late red zone drive
Some may call this a historic defensive struggle. Both defenses were indeed very good this year. But the offenses were awful, as the Vols had the Erik Ainge/Rick Clausen issue while the Alabama Crimson Tide, thin on depth since they were just off probation, lost their only offensive weapon, wide receiver Tyrone Prothro, to a career-ending injury.
The result set the stage for a hideous showdown. Alabama was 6-0 and had gotten into the top five in Mike Shula’s third year. Despite a No. 3 preseason ranking, Tennessee football had already lost to the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs and was down to No. 17. However, this was their chance to turn things around for a strong finish.
In a defensive struggle that lived up to its billing, the first half went scoreless, thanks in large part to a red zone turnover by the Vols. Alabama then cashed in off two crucial UT mistake in the second half. The first was Lucas Taylor getting on his knees to field a punt, inexplicably, which resulted in a fumble. A field goal off that put the Tide up 3-0.
Then, after the Vols had tied it up at 3, they were driving down the field late for a game-winning score. Gerald Riggs had run the ball 23 yards to the Alabama five for a first down. On the play, however, he suffered a season-ending injury, meaning he would not be able to finish the deal.
Mistake after mistake came at that point. First there was a false start. Then, on 2nd and goal from the 8, Clausen threw an illegal forward pass. That brought up 3rd and goal from the 15. There, Randy Sanders made one of the greatest calls of his career, a delayed screen to Cory Anderson.
As Anderson caught it, he was running into the end zone for a touchdown. However, one hit knocked the ball out. Alabama didn’t recover, but in a play that is always based in luck because of the stupidity of the rule, it went out of the back of the end zone. So the Tide got the ball at the 20.
That fumble combined with the two penalties was bad luck enough, particularly the illegal forward pass. If UT just runs out the clock there, they kick a game-winning field goal. However, it got worse on the next drive.
Brodie Croyle, who had done nothing all day, found D.J. Hall for a 44-yard gain on 3rd and 9. That allowed Alabama to set up a game-winning field goal, and Jamie Christensen nailed it. So the Tide won 6-3, and this sent Tennessee football into a tailspin that resulted in them going 5-6.