Tennessee football’s Johnny Majors vs. Auburn’s Pat Dye: Ranking 11 games

1. 1990: No. 3 Tigers rally from 17 down to tie No. 5 Vols

Nothing described the wild ride of this series better than this specific game. It was just too wild. Tennessee football had shared the SEC Championship with the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide back in 1989.

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Entering the 1990s, the Vols were set to be an elite program of the decade, taking the mantle from Auburn in the 1980s. This was the crossroads game. UT entered ranked No. 5 thanks to a 3-0-1 record, a tie with the eventual national champion Colorado Buffaloes being their only blemish. Auburn, meanwhile, was ranked No. 3 with a 2-0 record.

It was the first time between Johnny Majors and Pat Dye that both teams entered ranked in the top 10, much less the top five. Well, the game lived up to its billing in every way and had one of the most inane finishes.

Rocky Top dominated this game for three quarters, taking a 26-9 lead into the fourth. However, Auburn fought back in a wild fourth quarter, scoring 17 unanswered to tie it up. The Vols drove into field goal range late to try a game-winning field goal. With 15 seconds left, Greg Burke had a dead-center 34-yard attempt to win the game. He hooked it left. Auburn held on for the tie.

Despite the game being a tie, Tiger fans celebrated so hard that, as Andy Kelly later said, it felt like a loss. Tennessee football still won the SEC Championship that year and went 9-2-2. However, they won it by default, as they finished a half-game behind the Florida Gators, who were on probation. This tie would have made the difference, since UT beat Florida.

For more posts remembering Johnny Majors’ accomplishments on Rocky Top as a player and coach for Tennessee football, please click here.