Tennessee football’s 10 most unlucky losses of all time

6. 2017: Feleipe Franks Hail Mary caps off Butch Jones incompetence

This was the game that universally put Butch Jones on the hot seat. Failing to win the East the year before amidst a slew of games with questionable decisions didn’t stop him from having his supporters because of the way he had rebuilt Tennessee football. However, there was no excuse for losing at the Florida Gators.

At the time, UT was 2-0, ranked No. 23 and already had a thrilling 42-41 double-overtime win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Florida was 0-1 after a loss to the Michigan Wolverines, and they entered this game with 10 players suspended, most notably wide receiver Antonio Callaway.

Given the circumstances, the Vols were destined to make it two straight over Florida after ending the long losing streak the year before. An ugly first-half thanks to a tough Florida defense gave the Gators a 6-3 lead. However, the Vols let so many opportunities slip away in the second half, and that’s why this made the list.

First, Marquez Callaway caught a pass and appeared to get in the end zone for a touchdown. The referees ruled him down at the one-inch line. Jones was smart to not waste a challenge, assuming UT would get in. However, on 1st and goal, offensive coordinator Larry Scott let Quinten Dormady check out to a pass that was almost intercepted.

Dormady was hit on the play, drawing a personal foul, but his injury brought in Jarrett Guarantano and messed up the rhythm, which resulted in a false start. All of a sudden, they went from the one-inch line to the six-yard line. Then Dormady came back in, and Scott called three pass plays. The third was intercepted. It was the worst coaching combined with the worst luck.

UF then stopped the Vols on another drive thanks to a sack when Scott inexplicably called play-action on 3rd and 1 in the red zone. Then they went up 13-3 thanks to a pick-six. Finally, the Vols’ offense came alive, and the teams traded scores, with UT scoring twice. Rashaan Gaulden got an interception, and the Vols drove inside the Florida 10-yard line with a minute left.

Now, Florida was super-tired at this point, and running back John Kelly had 19 carries for 141 yards along with six receptions for 96 yards to that point. With the Gators tired and the Vols not wanting to give them the ball back, three running plays made sense. So Jones and Scott, in their brilliance, called three pass plays, all of which were incomplete.

As a result, the Vols tied the game up with a field goal, and Florida got one last chance. Well, with less than 10 seconds left, Feleipe Franks found Tyrie Cleveland for a 63-yard touchdown pas when Tennessee football, for some reason, wasn’t in a dime package knowing a Hail Mary was coming.

Florida converted to win. Hail Mary plays combined with red zone miscues are always bad luck, but this also came with bad coaching. It only got worse over time, and the Vols collapsed en route to a 4-8 record with Jones getting fired.