Tennessee football’s 10 most unlucky losses of all time

3. 1990: Stacy Harrison blocked kick sets up game-winning field goal

If there was ever a time when the Alabama Crimson Tide had an inexplicable winning streak over Tennessee football, it was the period from 1986 to 2002. UT had a far better team in 1987, 1989 and this year. In 1990, Gene Stallings was in his first season on the job, and the Tide started 0-3 before entering this game at 2-3.

The Vols, meanwhile, were 4-0-2, having tied the eventual national champion Colorado Buffaloes and the No. 3 rankedAuburn Tigers on the road. Coming off a 45-3 win over the No. 9 ranked Florida Gators, they had moved up to No. 3 in the national rankings, and Johnny Majors’ team was firmly in the hunt for a national championship.

However, out of the blue, the high-powered offense of Andy Kelly, Carl Pickens, Alvin Harper and Tony Thompson along with an offensive line that had four future NFL starters couldn’t muster up anything. Stallings’ blitz packages were too much.

Still, the Vols had driven into Alabama territory late for a potential game-winning field goal. That’s where the bad luck came into play. Stacy Harrison blocked the kick. Not only did he block it, but it rolled all the way into Tennessee territory.

As a result, the Tide were able to attempt their own game-winning field goal, which they converted.  Alabama would win 9-6 because of that in a year when they would go 7-5. Although the Vols still won the SEC, this game put an asterisk by it as Florida had the better record by a half game but was ineligible for the title due to probation.

It also may have cost the Vols a shot at the national title with the way things ended that season. Simply put, it was the most fluke loss in the series for Rocky Top, and it all came down to that one crazy play.